Don Questo

Boat

Don Questo was built in Selby (England) in 1964 as a trawling vessel. In 1984, it was transformed into an oceanographic research vessel under the Italian flag. In 1991 it had a complete overhaul but it was in 1998 that the Don Questo was fitted out to become a diving liveaboard ship.

Don Questo measures 34m in length and 7m in width, it undergoes a careful maintenance and some modifications and improvements every year.

Don Questo has a recreational room with television, video recorder, DVD and hi-fi system. The dining area can comfortably seats 20. The upper deck is a sunbathers paradise with beds and deck chairs to stretch out and enjoy the hot Sudanese sun!

The diving area is arranged as a long bench so that you can put your cylinder in its slot, your dive gear is stowed neatly away underneath and the compressor system runs along this bench so there is no need to move the cylinders for a fill.

There are 3 compressors of 39,000 liters per hour ensures a quick fill for your cylinders. There are thirty steel cylinders on board (a variety of 12 and 15 litres) fitted with H-valves, A-clamp/DIN fitting adaptors. Plenty of lead weights are available on board. Rental equipment is also available.

Don Questo is the only ship running in Sudan that has a recompression chamber on board. This is not a ticket to dive carelessly, the chamber has never been used (although it is tested regularly) and we would like to keep it that way!

Cabin

Don Questo has 7 guest cabins, it can welcome up to 17 guests per trip:

All cabins are air-conditioned and have plenty of storage space.
The voltage on the Don Questo is 220V with a two pin socket.

6 Double Cabins :
Located on the lower deck, each cabin comes with one double bed and one single bed in bunk style, wash-hand basin with warm and cold water, portholes. Use shared bathrooms.

1 Triple Cabin :
Located on the main deck, this cabin comes with three single beds (2 of them in bunk style), wash-hand basin with warm and cold water, portholes. Use shared bathrooms.

Shared Bathrooms :
There are 4 showers and 5 toilets provided for the guests. All the w.c.’s are of the normal domestic variety with a single flush action!

Diving

• Usually offer 3 dives per day, 19 - 21 dives per week
• Only 2 dives will be provided on the last diving day.
• No dives on the day of embarkation and disembarkation.
• All diving will provide experienced guide to lead the dive.
• Divers with AOW level with min. 50 logged dives is recommended.
• For "Deep South" route, a min. 100 logged dives with AOW is required.

Other Information

• Nitrox：Available with additional cost
• 15L Tanks：Available with additional cost
• Technical Dive:Not available at the moment
• REBREATHER Dive：Not available at the moment
• Dive Equipment Rental：Available with additional cost
• Dive insurance：Divers must have valid dive insurance
• Wi-Fi Internet ：Complimentary when close to Port Sudan
• Laundry Service：Not available at the moment
• Massage Service：Not available at the moment
• Payment on board：By cash only (EUR/USD)
• Crew Number：5 - 8, include 2 dive guides

The cruises are usually one week or two weeks long. Every 1- or 2-week cruise starts early in the morning of Tuesday and ends on Sunday or in the morning of Saturday and ends on Thursday.

Embarkation : 06:30 – 07:30AM
Disembarkation : 09:00 – 10:00AM

Sudanese Visa

Entry visas can be obtained either by going directly to Sudan embassies or by requesting it from us. We can arrange visa for you by e-mail, but please request this upon booking.

If you want us to arrange for the visa, you have to send a copy of your passport by e-mail to us, at least one month before departure. You will also have to specify your job in the mail you send. We will send you the temporary visas by e-mail. You will get the definitive ones in Port Sudan airport. This visa is only valid for Red Sea State (Port Sudan).

If you enter Sudan in Khartoum, you must get visa in the Sudanese embassy in your country (you can ask us to send you a letter of invitation).

Airport is 24 km from port and we will drive you to your boat in a twenty five minutes trip. You must leave your passport for immigration registration at airport. Don't worry: our agent will take care of it and hand it back to you later on.

North Sudan

Abington, Angarosh, Merlo Reef and Quita el Banna are reefs emerging from huge water depths. These dive spots are not so often visited, leaving them in absolute solitude and guarantee an exceptional amount of fish, beautiful coral reefs and sharks. The island of Mesharifa is surrounded by shallow waters and protected by two reefs. In hot season, it is here where you will see large groups of manta rays. To swim with these friendly creatures is an experience you will remember forever.

Central Sudan

In one week Central Cruises we are going to dive in Umbria wreck, Sanganeb, Sha’ab Rumi and Blue Belt wreck if possible.

Southern Sudan (October, April - June)

The Southern reefs of Port Sudan are named the Suakin Archipelago, taking the name from the old city constructed by coral blocks. Suakin used to be the main harbour of the Sudanese Red Sea, until it was abandoned due to its shallow depths and a hearth-quake later on. It is now only a ruined village but, if you have any left time in Port Sudan, is well worth a look around.

You will be albe to dive in Sha’ab Jibna or Jumna, Logan & Keary, Peshwa, Owen, Sandcay Reef, Sha’ab Ambar, Seil Ada Kebir/Turtle Island, Pender, Munkar, Mao Reef, Nakhalat al Quseir, Preserver and more.

Deep South Sudan (October, April - June)

These exclusive two-week cruises arrive down nearly 50 kilometres to the border of the Eritrean waters, in a primordial and pristine sea, where fishes seldom see divers. Even for the Sudanese fishermen it is a long way from their costs.

For this special adventure, we require a minimum of 100 logged dives and an advanced certification.