Port Sudan, diving & hotels

[Buzzfish]

Hello
I'm booking a trip for Spring break and since I live in the UAE, I thought Sudan would be an interesting destination. I'm looking at MS Royal Evolution or MY Lucy (both 30 March) or MY Seawolf Dominator (26 March). I know someone gave good marks to the Evolution. Any other other comments?

Also I'd like to spend a day or two at the front or back end of the trip in Sudan (maybe even go to Khartoum!). Port Sudan doesn't seem to be overrun with hotels, at least ones listed on "regular" online booking sites. Any suggestions on hotels? Any places to visit nearby besides Suakin?

Thanks
Karen

 

[Christian]

There used to be a small Hilton in Port Sudan. Hotel should still be operational but perhaps another owner? It opened in 2001 or 2002, can’t remember, but I stayed there a couple of times back then when flying in to Port Sudan was the only option. Very nice hotel then.
Royal Evolution is my reccomendation. But it embarks/disemarks Ghalib in Egypt, so no need for a hotel. Connections Port Sudan-Khartoum notiriously unreliable. Suakin is worth it if you’re in Port Sudan and have half a day to burn. Read ’Manta’ by Hans Hass and his first trip to Suakin when he stayed at the British counsul.

 

[Joebar]

Be aware that when you are not an american citizen, you may get problems to visit the USA after Sudan (and of course Iran, Iraq...).
You cannot longer participate with the ESTA, you will need a real Visa.

 

[Buzzfish]

Thanks all for the replies.
Joebar,

I am a US citizen but my friend said to me last night "enjoy the little room off of immigration where they grill you." So perhaps I will get to see that lovely place.

 

[Sunn]

Thanks all for the replies.
Joebar,

I am a US citizen but my friend said to me last night "enjoy the little room off of immigration where they grill you." So perhaps I will get to see that lovely place.

true...

it could be a good experiment, try it wearing djellabah and a beard ;-)

in fact, no, bad idea, I think the sense of humour does not exist at US immigration controls.

 

[gwklein]

I was on the Royal Evolution's Deep South Sudan itinerary in June 2017. It departed from Port Ghalib in Egypt. There was no diving for a day and a half after leaving Egyptian waters and before reaching immigration in Port Sudan. The crew said that a shorter itinerary was being considered that left out of Port Sudan to avoid the long travel between Egyptian waters and Port Sudan. So check to make sure you know where the boat embarks from.

As an American traveling during the period when Trump had banned people from Sudan from traveling to the U.S., I expected some difficulty getting a visa in Sudan, but there was none. Royal Evolution arranged for the Sudan officials to come on the ship to process all the passenger and employee visas. Although the process took several hours due to social customs, there were no glitches. As an American I did have to pay about twice as much for a visa as the British, German, Dutch, Austrian and Finnish passengers did. Payment had to be in cash (in a combination of dollars and euros). Although there were no problems with getting the visa, since I have been back to the U.S., I have been selected for special security screening on all flights I have taken. It may just be a coincidence that this began after traveling to Sudan.

Although I was very happy with the staff and the boat, there were a few things I wish I had realized (my mistake for not checking) before booking the trip. First, smoking is allowed in all outside areas and e-cigs are allowed in the salon and dining area. Almost all the guests and crew were smokers. Second, the itinerary was designed to see hammerheads which involved much deeper dives (regularly to 130 feet on the first dive) hanging in the blue than I wished to do on a daily basis, especially since the reefs were some of the most pristine I have seen anywhere else in the world. Unfortunately for me, I was the only diver onboard who wanted to do more shallow reef dives. Third, the 15L tanks were stubbies which required a completely different arrangement of weights than I was used to.

 

[nijoom]

A late response...
I am from Sudan, and to speak frankly, the quality of service in Port Sudan is less, due to many reasons but things now getting better, but you can still enjoy a lot,
Online service and information, are seriously damaged by decades of USA sanctions,
there a lot of medium ranges of hotels,m and furnitured apartments for rent,, there are now few places already start arranging diving trips, most of them available through facebook,
you don't have to pay anything in advance, you can even pay after you receive the service...