What ?
A real underwater dream.
A week freediving and scuba diving between the most amazing coral formations and the most playful pods of dolphins.
Where ?
Marsa Alam area, Egypt.
You will spend the first 4 nights in a luxury tent at Marsa Shagra Village and the last 4 nights onboard Aziab Seafaris 50.5 ft sailboat anchored around the Dolphin Reef for a memorable diving experience.
When ?
20th to 28th Sept 2025.
Embark on a 8 night adventure exploring the underwater beauties of the Red Sea during it’s best season.
Who ?
You will join a very small number of people, up to maximum 8 guests. All will be young like-minded ocean lovers. The group will be lead by Alberto & Francesca, amazing freediving instructors.
Highlights of the trip
Wildlife is in fact wild. Nature cannot be controlled. We will do our best during this trip to organise sufficient excursions to give wildlife encounters the highest possible chance of happening. But please remember that we cannot control if the animals want to see us. We will always strive for respect and simplicity first.
Accommodation
Red Sea Diving Safari – Marsa Shagra Village
Enjoy 4 nights in the village of Marsa Shagra, the first of the Red Sea Diving Safari villages located in the south of Egypt, away from the touristy areas of Hurgada and Sharm el Sheik. It offers a wild and comfortable opportunity to experience and explore raw nature. All the RSDS villages are built following a sustainable tourism model, allowing only a limited number of people to visit the area per time. This means that nature remains well preserved and pristine offering a truly unique experience.
You will sleep in the Royal Tents. These tents are truly luxurious, wide and spacious, 5x5m (15x15ft) and equipped with everything you might need. The tents are positioned just a few steps away from the sea, with a guaranteed sea view and especially, a truly gorgeous sunrise view from the water.
Bathrooms and showers are shared but close to the tents. They’re cleaned very frequently. Food is served in a communal buffet area with tables under a tented space or indoors.
Zodiacs and boats depart every day, just next to diving shade and a few steps away from the tents and the dining area.
In addition the world-class house reef is just a few steps from the beach and offers safe and calm waters for snorkelling and diving.
Aziab Seafaris
Enjoy 4 nights aboard a 50.5 foot long sailboat, specifically built as a charter boat. Aboard this yacht we will sail our way to the Dolphin Reef where we will stay for 3 days (hopefully!) in the company of a beautiful pod of spinner dolphins.
The 2 double cabins at the bow of the boat have 2 separate private bathrooms and can sleep 2 people each (for a total of 4).
The 2 double cabins at the stern of the boat can sleep 2 people each (for a total of 4) but share a communal bathroom.
The cabin in the center of the boat right next to the galley has 2 bunk beds, thus sleeping a total of 2 people who share the same communal bathroom as the stern cabins.
Shared spaces include a galley with kitchen and dining table and sofa. On deck is where we will eat most of the time, on a centre table. The boat is also equipped with solar panels and outdoor shower.
Program
Day One
Arrive at Marsa Alam International Airport where you will meet a member of our team who will take you to a minibus. Travel for about 30 minutes to reach Marsa Shagra, the original Red Sea Diving Safari village.
Day Two to Four - Land exploration
Wake up at dawn and enjoy the first rays of the sun coming up from Red Sea. You will spend these 3 mornings onboard our zodiac as you travel between different amazing freediving spots.
There will be a dedicated excursion to try and spot dugongs and many turtles.
Lunches will be served back at the village in buffet style.
In the afternoons, Alberto & Francesca will host Freediving Workshops with the whole group, giving everyone the opportunity to chill by the beach as well.
Dinners will be served at the village in buffet style and you will all go to bed early in your tents under the stars.
Scubadiving day: one day will be dedicated to scuba diving! Certified divers will have the opportunity to dive as much as they want and explore the amazing coral formations of the Marsa Shagra house reef (Open Water certification is enough). Non-certified divers who are interested will do their first Discovery Dive to experience the joy and beauty of breathing underwater!
Extra*: it is possible to do additional scubadiving in world class sites like Elphinstone to swim with Oceanic white tip sharks if you are certified.
*Please note this is an extra and not included in the trip package price.
Day Five
This morning you will pack your bags quickly and after breakfast, you will leave for Hamata Harbour. There you will board the SY ROAGA sailboat with Aziab Seafaris. You will settle down and set sail for the Dolphin Reef. Once arrived you will have lunch onboard and begin scouting for the dolphins. You will sleep there in the bay under the stars.
Day Six to Eighth - Dolphins & Dolphins
Days onboard the sailboat will typically follow the sun’s natural hours and… whatever the dolphins decide to do 😉 From dawn to sunset you will look for dolphins, dive and play with them, explore nearby reefs and channel passages and shipwrecks, observe the stars and their constellations, watch the sky light up twice a day, all while literally living on the ocean. It can’t get much better than this! The schedule will be very flexible to accomodate everyone’s needs.
Depending on the group’s return flights, the boat will head back towards Hamata Harbour on Saturday evening.
Day nine
After your last breakfast onboard, you will pack our bags and head back to Marsa Alam International Airport for everyone’s return flights home.
Meet your group leaders - Francesca & Alberto
Freediving Instructors
Their story began 5 years ago when Francesca moved to Mexico and fell in love not only with freediving but also with Alberto, a charming local. They met through freediving, they improved together and they are now both freediving instructors. They have been working with us for a couple of years, they lead the Bonny&Gava Mexican Group trip in 2024 and will now be your group leaders for this amazing adventure!
They love meeting new people, creating a community of like-minded travellers and they are the most fun freedivers to be around. We are jealous of you because we won’t be able to join this amazing trip!
A team of expert local guides will be helping Francesca & Alberto in the water to ensure the highest safety standards and the best local knowledge so you can enjoy your dives making the most of your time in Egypt.
What's Included
Dive Deeper, Leave No Trace
Our mission is simple: inspire people to embrace adventure, explore the underwater world, and protect it for generations to come. The ocean is our playground, and we’re committed to keeping it as healthy and awe-inspiring as it is today.
That’s why this trip is designed with sustainability at its core. We’re proud to partner with eco-conscious leaders like Red Sea Diving Safari, renowned for being one of the most environmentally friendly and low-impact diving operations in the world. Their commitment to blending seamlessly with nature sets the standard for responsible tourism.
We’re also teaming up with Aziab Seafaris, the only commercial sailboat in the Red Sea. Sailing minimizes fuel consumption, making it a greener alternative to motorboats. By staying at the Dolphin Reef for several days instead of making daily trips, we significantly reduce engine use, preserving the serenity of the underwater world.
To further our efforts, we ask you to bring your reusable water bottle. On land, water is refilled, and onboard, it’s desalinated and filtered—no single-use plastics here!
Join us for an unforgettable journey that doesn’t just explore the ocean but actively works to protect it. Together, we can make waves for a better planet.
Pricing
CHF 1'999 pp
ROOM ARRANGEMENTS: Twin bunk beds with shared bathroom.
CHF 2'099 pp
ROOM ARRANGEMENTS: Double bed with private bathroom – Double bed with shared bathroom.
We will pair up participants in the shared rooms based on sex, age and interests to make it the best experience for everyone! Single occupancy is not available.
Our goal is to offer a closed package deal. Unless you have some particular or special requests, once you have paid for this deal, it is unlikely you will have to spend anything else during this trip (excluding international flights from your country)
Demand for this trip is really high. Book your spot now before it’s gone!
Requirements
Ocean Comfort
Free diving or scuba diving certifications are NOT necessary to participate, but a very good level of swimming and comfort in open waters is essential to enjoy the experiences. Of course, certification is welcome and training will be based on each individual’s level.
Insurance
A dive insurance is mandatory for this trip, we recommend DAN. Travel insurance is not mandatory but recommended.
Gear
Please bring your own gear if you own it (masks, fins, snorkels, wetsuits, cameras, weight belts..etc). We will provide everyone with weights if needed. If needed we can also organise to provide other missing gear, when duly noted.
Language
It is important for every participant to speak English at a basic level so that we can all have a fun time together without leaving anyone out.
Terms & Conditions
Deposits
To secure your spot on this retreat you will have to agree to our T&Cs and pay a non-refundable deposit of CHF 200.
Book your spot HERE.
Payment
The remainder of the payment after the deposit will be asked via invoice and payed via bank transfer.
The total will be due 90 days before the beginning of the trip.
Cancellation
Once the deposit has been made, if you cancel before 90 days prior to departure, then you will not be charged anything extra, although we will keep the deposit.
If you cancel after 90 days prior to departure, then unfortunately as we are a very small business we will not be able to refund you. Should we be able to find someone else to fill your spot in time then we might be able to return the full amount (excluding the deposit of CHF 200 and any bank fees).
Very Important Note for Everyone: this retreat is subject to a minimum number of participants. We will make sure we can confirm the trip to everyone as soon as possible (at latest 75 days prior to departure) but until then we recommend to refrain from purchasing non-refundable flights to avoid useless expenses.
F.A.Q.
What is the starting time of the trip?
The official beginning of the trip is in the evening of September 20th 2025. Should everyone arrive in time for dinner the trip will start with a welcome dinner, if not introductions will be on the next day after a good night of rest.
What is the ending time of the trip?
The trip will end with a breakfast onboard the SY Roaga sailboat at the Hamata Port. Depending on the flights of the group we will decide at what time the boat will arrive at the port (potentially even on the evening of September 27th).
How do I get to Marsa Shagra?
You only have to worry about purchasing an international flight from your country to Marsa Alam International Airport on the coast of Egypt. Once you have arrived there you will be greeted by a member of our team. Depending on arrival times of all the guests we will organise the transfers by minivan to the village of Marsa Shagra. Hurgada international airport is also an arrival option if the international flights are more convenient but a surcharge on the transfer will be applied due to the longer route. We personally don’t recommend it but you are free to choose depending on your situation.
Are there any optional extra activities?
Extra Scuba Diving opportunities will be available for certified divers. For example, you might not want to miss an excursion to Elphinstone for a chance to dive an amazing reef with oceanic white tip sharks.
Does Egypt require a VISA?
Yes it does, you need to purchase it online before departure. It will cost around 25USD and we will assist you with the process if needed.
Is there wifi or signal in the accommodations?
You will be traveling to the furthest point in Egypt and our accommodations are all aimed at keeping you immersed in nature. Wifi will be decent in common areas in the village and signal available on land. We recommend getting a local SIM card if being online is important for you. While on the boat we might lose it completely. Trust us, the only connection you will need will be the one with the dolphins 🙂
Should I bring extra cash?
You might want to, if you want to have alcohol, look for small souvenirs and gifts to take home or even for some snacks or extra activities (card is often fine too but just to be sure). Make sure you either have American Dollars $ or Euro €.
What are the sleeping options?
You can either have a shared double or twin room (you can share it with a friend or partner travelling with you). Otherwise you can share it with someone else joining the retreat.
What if I'm travelling solo?
This is a great opportunity then! The majority of our guests are young (<40 years old) solo travellers looking to make awesome ocean friends. We also get couples who are up to have some fun with other like-minded people. All in all, we’ve always had AMAZING groups and EVERYONE has made incredible friendships during our group trips.
What if I am vegan? Or have allergies?
Please let us know of any dietary requirements and we will do our best to fit your needs.
Will Miki & Carlo be part of this trip?
No, this trip will be guided by Francesca, Alberto and a local team of guides. With the goal of giving more and more people the opportunity to realise their underwater dreams we realised we cannot lead every group trip we organise. For this reason the selection of our guides will always be a meticulous process and you will always be in the best hands when choosing to travel with Bonny&Gava.
This is the third edition of this retreat so we have personally done all that is described in this itinerary and we carefully selected and decided each activity planned for this amazing trip. It will truly be one of the best weeks of your life!
Are drinks included in the full board meal plan?
The full board plan includes 3 meals per day, water and soft drinks. Alcohol will be at an extra cost.
Still not sure?
Write to us so we can clear your doubts!
