A World of Diving Adventures

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FAQs

Ghani
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Drones are strictly prohibited in Egypt. If found, the drone will likely be confiscated.

By all means, yes. There will always be a diving buddy for you. Many of our passengers come aboard as singles and it’s a great way to meet other likeminded adventure travelers who love to dive!

Fishing is not offered aboard All Star Ghani.

Yes, with prior arrangements, you can rent dive gear. For rental rates, click here. Please request these items on your Trip Application. Payment is made while on board. All rentals must be arranged prior to departure.

We have a list of hotels that we can recommend in Cairo, Hurghada and The Great Pyramid of Giza. To view, click here. We also offer land-based and river cruises. To learn more, click here.

In the U.S., it is best to check with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) when arranging your travel plans. Information can be found here. Non-U.S. citizens should check with the appropriate government health agency.

Yes! The sun’s rays are very strong year-round so bring lotion, hats, sunglasses and UV clothing. We do offer a sun shade over the top deck when needed.

It is required that all divers purchase diving accident insurance. Travel protection insurance is also recommended to help protect you and your trip investment. For more information and to purchase dive and travel insurance, visit the provider below: 

  • Diveassure: For annual combination trip and dive accident insurance. Included cancellation due to Covid.
  • Travelex: Travel protection for a single trip. You may choose the ULTIMATE policy and select the optional ADVENTURE COVERAGE upgrade which waives the policy exclusions for extreme sports such as scuba diving at depths more than 75′. Purchase of Travelex insurance must be within 21 days of your initial deposit date to be eligible for pre-existing medical condition coverage and certain trip cancellation or interruption reasons.
  • DAN World – This is a short-term dive insurance policy. This is NOT a travel insurance policy.

Solo dive certification is required for those divers who wish to dive alone. You must have the requisite solo dive gear. Otherwise you will be buddied up with another diver.

Yes, we have 3 x 250 liter air compressors and one Nitrox 1 x 450 liter. Standard tanks are 80 CF (12L). We have 50 CF (6L) and 100 CF (15L) available on request.

The All Star Ghani liveaboard features four decks and is 138 feet (42m) long and 25 feet (7.5m) wide.

Electricity on All Star Ghani is 220v. All of the outlets onboard are European Type C plugs – two round prongs (used in all European countries except the UK and Ireland). USB charging ports are available. While the vessel will have some outlet adapters guests can borrow, it recommended that guests bring their own outlet adapters.

Items can be recharged in the common areas. Devices should not be left unattended while charging in your cabin. Furthermore, each cabin and suite are equipped with USB sockets.

Complimentary local ground transfers will be provided on Mondays in Hurghada from/to the airport/hotel and vessel. If flying in on Monday they will meet you at the airport.   If staying in a hotel, they will contact you 1 to 2 days prior with a pickup time.

Up to 9-10 crew members ensure guests are well taken care of during your stay.

The number of night dives will vary depending on itinerary. There is typically at least one night dive offered per week with more being offered on select northern itineraries. Two light sources are required for night dives.  You may rent a dive light (torch) on board by the week. For more information on rental equipment, click here.

The liveaboard business is a service industry, and although the general public is seldom aware of it, gratuities are a major part of a crew member’s salary. Few other recreational activities rely so heavily upon the professionals in charge for your enjoyment and safety. A gratuity of 15% is customary, but many leave more when they feel the service was outstanding. If you are disappointed with the service, you should inform the cruise director of your feelings right away so he may rectify the situation.  You will also need $200.00 for the port fee.

Cash is preferred for gratuity. Egypt collects a 14% VAT (Value Added Tax) on all credit card payments. Credit and debit cards will also incur a processing fee.

We recommend that guests that wish to photo edit on board bring their own computer as software differs for each camera.

No, prices are the same for divers and non-divers alike.

Yes, there is ample fresh water onboard. All Star Ghani has a 45,300 liter (16 ton) tank and water making capacity of 600 liters (150 gallons) per hour.

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Yes. Connectivity on board is minimal thru our Wi-Fi system when not in port. Be sure to activate your international calling plan prior to arrival.

The $200.00 port fee covers the 14% Egyptian VAT and Egyptian park fees.

We provide tanks and weightbelts. If other gear is needed, it can be rented. Every diver is required to have a surface market buoy (SMB) and reel. For more information on rental equipment, click here. Please request rental items on your Trip Application.

The All Star Ghani doesn’t depart the marina until very early the next morning, but if you arrive after that you will most likely miss the trip. We highly recommend arriving a day early and purchasing trip insurance in the event there are issues with your travel plans or you have to cancel.

  • Diveassure:  For annual combination trip and dive accident insurance. Included cancellation due to Covid.
  • Travelex: Travel protection for a single trip. You may choose the TRAVEL SELECT policy and select the optional ADVENTURE SPORTS COVERAGE upgrade which waives the policy exclusions for extreme sports such as scuba diving. Purchase of Travelex insurance must be more than 21 days from date of travel.
  • DAN World: This is a short-term dive insurance policy. This is NOT a travel insurance policy.

In the event you have delays in your travels, or missed the boat, please contact us as soon as possible to find out if there are any ways to connect with the vessel. The U.S. Reservations Office can take your calls Monday thru Friday 9:00am-5:00pm EST at (U.S. and Canada) 800.327.9600 or (Worldwide) 954.734.7111.

Vegetarian, vegan and gluten free are pretty easy to work with as well as allergies so let us know upon booking if you require special meals.

Please remember that you are participating in an adventure travel vacation that is occurring in a remote part of the world. Many of the modern conveniences, brands and pre-packaged goods we use at home are not available in remote destinations. As such, many special requests that are very specific may be difficult to accommodate.

Finally, if you are celebrating a birthday, anniversary, or other special life event, please let us know. Our crew stands ready to assist you in making your special day something to remember.

The boat is equipped with a satellite phone that is only to be used for emergencies. If someone needs to get in contact with you because of a true emergency, contact our U.S. Reservations Office and we will relay the message. The U.S. Reservations Office can take your calls Monday thru Friday 9:00am-5:00pm EST at (U.S. and Canada) 800.327.9600 or Worldwide 954.734.7111.

Dive liveaboard cruising is an appealing alternative to conventional land based dive vacations and larger cruise ships. We offer a richer travel experience – one that goes beyond the typical tourist sites. Aboard All Star Ghani you’ll get to experience a week of great diving and delicious meals in an intimate setting. With its size, diversity and expanse, this is the absolute best way to dive Red Sea!

The best time is anytime!

The liveaboard business is a service industry, and although the general public is seldom aware of it, gratuities are a major part of a crew member’s salary. Few other recreational activities rely so heavily upon the professionals in charge for your enjoyment and safety. A gratuity of 15% is customary, but many leave more when they feel the service was outstanding. If you are disappointed with the service, you should inform the cruise director of your feelings right away so he may rectify the situation.

Payments can be made on board, payable in cash (preferred) (USD$ dollar, GBP£ pound sterling, EUR€ Euro, or EGP£ Egyptian pound) or by credit or debit card, if the amount is greater than $25 USD. Credit and debit cards will incur a processing fee. American Express is not accepted.

Our staff is multi-lingual including English and Arabic. With advance notice, we can accommodate German, Spanish, French and Russian.

We provide 80 CF (12L) dive tanks. Additional tanks over limit are are available for a fee by the week. Upgrade to 100 CF (15L) for a weekly fee. Tec divers may also rent 100 CF (15L), 80 CF (12L) or 50 CF (6L) stage with rigging. For more information on rental equipment and pricing, click here.

For travel planning, boarding begins at 6:00pm. Please plan your flights accordingly so that you may board as close to this time as possible. We recommend arriving the day before to avoid any same day travel stresses.  The Hurghada Marriott Beach Resort offers day passes* and day rooms** for those who are arriving on Monday well before the 5:00pm boarding time. Click on the hotel’s link for pricing.

* Use of the beach, swimming pool and facilities.
** Includes a room with use of the beach, swimming pool and facilities.

Universal Time Coordinate (UTC) +02:00. UTC was formerly known at Greenwich Mean Time (GMT)

A passport and a visa are needed to enter Egypt. The passport must be valid for at least 6 months from date of entry into Egypt. A visa can be purchased at the airport for $30.00* USD. Non-U.S. citizens should check with the appropriate consulate regarding passports and visas.

*Subject to change.

Motion sickness medication should be brought along in the event that we encounter rough seas. We want you to be comfortable. The boat will spend the night in calm anchorages and normally scuba diving will be done from tenders. The best thing about a liveaboard diving vacation is that we can flex our schedule to go where the weather and conditions are best!

Currency can be exchanged at most major hotels. ATMs can also be found at the airport or marinas. Some restaurants and retailers will accept USD$ dollar or EU€ Euro, just double-check the exchange rate first.

Divers will need money or a credit or debit card for rental equipment, dive courses, alcoholic beverages, gratuities – including the dive boat crew gratuity, and port fees.

Payments can be made on board, payable in cash (USD$ dollar, GBP£ pound sterling, EUR€ Euro, or EGP£ Egyptian pound) or by credit or debit card, if the amount is greater than $25 USD. Credit and debit cards will incur a processing fee. American Express is not accepted.