Schedule: Daily Departures
Duration: Approximately 4 Hours
Pickup Time: 09:00 AM (Customizable upon request)
Pickup & Drop-off: Alexandria Hotels or Cruise Ship Terminal (Private Round-Trip Transfer)
Tour Type: Guided Marine Heritage & Archaeological Scuba Diving Adventure
Tour Highlights
Dive into the cradle of Mediterranean maritime history on a guided scuba diving expedition off the coast of Alexandria. Beneath the surface of the Eastern Harbor lie centuries of submerged antiquity—monuments, palaces, and classical structures cast into the sea by cataclysmic medieval earthquakes and tsunamis. Led by certified PADI instructors and local divemasters, this excursion brings you face-to-face with authentic relics from antiquity resting in their natural marine environment.
- Sunken Palace of Cleopatra (Antirhodos Island): Descend onto the submerged royal quarters of Ptolemaic Egypt to see fallen limestone columns, sphinxes, classical pedestals, and ancient paving stones associated with Queen Cleopatra VII.
- Ancient Pharos Lighthouse Ruins: Dive near the maritime bastions of Fort Qaitbay to inspect monumental granite blocks, shattered obelisks, and colossal masonry remnants from the legendary Pharos Lighthouse—one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World.
- Certified Professional Instruction: Experience safe, fully supervised diving with certified dive professionals who manage all safety protocols, underwater navigation, and site interpretation.
- Full Dive Equipment Included: Receive tanks, regulators, BCDs, wetsuits, weights, masks, and fins prepared to international diving safety standards.
- Private Chauffeured Logistics: Travel smoothly in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle directly from your hotel or cruise ship dock to the dive marina and back.
Detailed Tour Itinerary
09:00 AM: Hotel or Cruise Port Pickup
- Your private Ramasside Tours representative and chauffeur greet you in your Alexandria hotel lobby or at the passenger terminal of Alexandria Port holding a personalized name sign.
- Travel in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle to the local marine harbor and dive center.
- Meet your certified PADI diving instructor and receive a thorough safety briefing covering dive profiles, underwater communication, archaeological site protocols, and current marine conditions.
- Complete equipment fitting (wetsuit, regulator, buoyancy control device, fins, and mask).
Dive Briefing & Boarding the Dive Boat
- Board the dedicated dive boat at the marina and cruise out into the historic Eastern Harbor.
- During the short navigation, your divemaster briefs you on the geological events that caused ancient Alexandria’s royal quarter to subside into the Mediterranean over 1,400 years ago.
Dive 1: The Sunken Ruins of Cleopatra’s Royal Quarter (Antirhodos)
- Make your descent into the protected bay of the Eastern Harbor (depths typically range from 6 to 12 meters, offering gentle diving conditions).
- Swim alongside your guide among classical ruins scattered along the seabed:
- View fallen red Aswan granite columns and Hellenistic stone capitals.
- Inspect carved limestone pedestals and statues once adorning Ptolemaic waterfront palaces.
- Encounter local marine life, including Mediterranean bream, sea anemones, octopus, and sea bass sheltering among the ancient masonry.
Dive 2 / Site Exploration: Monumental Blocks of the Pharos Lighthouse
- Navigate toward the submerged foundation perimeter fronting the modern Citadel of Qaitbay.
- Examine massive, multi-ton granite blocks and fractured column shafts attributed to the ancient Pharos Lighthouse.
- Observe amphora fragments embedded in the seabed and learn how modern underwater archaeological missions map and protect these submerged treasures.
De-Briefing & Return Transfer
- Return to the surface and board the dive vessel for warm refreshments and equipment stowage.
- Arrive back at the dive center to log your dives and shower.
- Rejoin your private vehicle for a comfortable return transfer back to your Alexandria hotel or cruise ship terminal.
Inclusions & Exclusions
Inclusions
- Private round-trip transfers in a modern, air-conditioned vehicle from your Alexandria hotel or port
- Full scuba diving gear rental (tanks, weights, BCD, regulator, mask, snorkel, fins, wetsuit)
- Certified English-speaking PADI divemaster and underwater guide
- Dive boat navigation, harbor fees, and diving permissions
- Refreshments and bottled mineral water during transit and aboard the dive boat
- All service charges, road tolls, and local taxes
Exclusions
- Entry visa to Egypt
- PADI certification courses (available as separate multi-day add-on programs)
- Personal meals, snacks, or beverages beyond dive boat refreshments
- Professional underwater photographer add-on
- Discretionary tipping / Gratuities
Tour Add-ons & Travel Notes
Executive Luxury Van Upgrade
Upgrade your city road transit to an executive luxury van featuring extra legroom, plush reclining leather captain chairs, dual-zone climate control, onboard Wi-Fi, and cold refreshments.
Professional Vacation & Underwater Photography
Hire a dedicated vacation photographer to capture your preparations and surface moments, or request underwater photography/video documentation of your dive among the sunken ruins for an additional fee of $50 per day.
Diver Experience & Prerequisites
- Certified Divers: Please present a valid Open Water Diver certification card (PADI, SSI, CMAS, or equivalent) and your logbook at check-in.
- Non-Certified Divers / Discovery Scuba: Introductory Discovery Scuba Diving (DSD) sessions with one-on-one instructor supervision in shallow archaeological zones are available upon prior notice.
- Medical Fitness: Participants must be in good physical health and free from severe respiratory or cardiovascular conditions. A standard medical waiver must be signed before boarding.
Shore Excursion Assurance
For cruise ship passengers docking at Alexandria Port, this tour features guaranteed terminal gate pickup and return timed safely ahead of your vessel's scheduled departure.
Child Policy
- Under 10 years: Not eligible for scuba diving (snorkeling options available upon request in season)
- 10 – 11.99 years: 50% of tour rate (Junior Open Water certification required for diving)
- 12+ years: Full adult rate
Recommended Alexandria & Egypt Day Tours
- Alexandria Day Tour from Cairo: Discover the classical Mediterranean capital on a full-day private journey from Cairo covering the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, Roman Amphitheatre, and Fort Qaitbay.
- Cairo to Alexandria Archaeological Day Tour: A dedicated historical expedition from Cairo covering the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Pompey's Pillar, and sunken Roman ruins.
- Alexandria City Highlights Day Tour: A classic 5–6 hour guided orientation exploring the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, historic downtown quarters, and the royal gardens of Montaza Palace.
- Alexandria Archaeological Day Tour: An in-depth Greco-Roman circuit within Alexandria covering the underground tombs of Kom El Shoqafa, Kom El Dikka, and the coastal citadel.
- Alexandria Historical Tour with the Graeco-Roman Museum: Explore over 40 renovated galleries of classical antiquity masterworks alongside major coastal landmarks.
- Alexandria Ghosts & Mysteries Tour: An evening storytelling walk exploring illuminated coastal citadels, royal garden lore at Montaza, and the infamous alleys of Raya and Sakina.
- Day Tour to Cairo from Alexandria: Travel from the Mediterranean coast to the Giza Plateau to marvel at the Great Pyramids, Sphinx, and the Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.
- Alexandria Shopping Tour: Combine modern retail therapy at the seaside San Stefano Grand Plaza with traditional craft bargaining in historic Mansheya souks.
- Alexandria Food Tour: Taste authentic Egyptian coastal flavors, street snacks, freshly fried Ta'ameya, Kebda Iskandarani, and Mediterranean seafood.
- Alexandria Airport Layover Tour: Maximize transit waiting times at Borg El Arab Airport (HBE) with a chauffeured private city excursion.
- Alexandria by Night Tour: Experience evening coastal charm with a traditional horse carriage (Hantour) ride along the Corniche and Stanley Bridge.
- Cairo Tour from Borg El Arab Airport: A same-day private express tour from Alexandria's airport directly to Cairo's Giza Pyramids and Egyptian Museum.
- Overnight Cairo Tour from Alexandria: A 2-day private excursion covering Saqqara, Memphis, the Giza Plateau, the Citadel of Saladin, and the Egyptian Museum.
- Wadi El Natrun Monasteries Tour: Journey south into the sacred desert depression to explore the four active 4th-century Coptic Christian desert monasteries.
- Overnight Desert Safari to Siwa Oasis: A 2-day desert expedition from Alexandria visiting El Alamein, Marsa Matrouh, the Shali Fortress, and the Great Sand Sea.
- Rosetta (Rashid) Cultural Day Tour: Visit the Nile delta port where the Rosetta Stone was unearthed, complete with an estuary boat ride and Ottoman brick mansions.
- El Alamein World War II Battlefield Tour: Pay tribute at the WWII Military Museum, Commonwealth War Cemetery, and German and Italian coastal memorials.
For bookings, customized diving schedules, and private VIP upgrades, contact us at: [email protected]
