Dive Safari Master • JP Marine • Pre-Dive Guide
What to expect on your
first shark dive
Dive organisation at Daedalus Reef. Safety standards. Shark behaviour rules. Everything you need to know before your first shark dive — no surprises.
Red Sea • Daedalus Reef • Shark Diving Guide
Short Answer
A shark dive at Daedalus is a structured, guide-led operation.
Boats moor on the south plateau. Divers transfer by zodiac 700–750m to the north end where the guide selects the entry point.
You descend immediately to around 5m, move to depth, hold position in the blue, and wait for sharks to approach.
Every JP Marine guide holds a CDWS Shark Awareness Certification and an official
CDWS dive guide licence. All dives follow
HEPCA, CDWS, and PADI standards.
A dedicated shark behaviour briefing is conducted before every dive — so you understand exactly what to expect and how to behave underwater.
01 • Safety & Certifications
Who certifies this operation.
Daedalus Reef is a remote offshore marine park in the Red Sea. JP Marine’s shark diving operations follow a safety framework verified through recognised external standards, annual oversight, and guide-level certification requirements.
HEPCA
Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association. A key environmental authority in the Red Sea supporting marine park standards, reef protection, and responsible operations.
CDWS
Chamber of Diving and Watersports. The Egyptian regulatory body for commercial diving in the Red Sea. JP Marine guides operate under official CDWS certification and licensing.
PADI
JP Marine is a PADI-certified dive centre. Training, procedures, and diver preparation align with internationally recognised recreational diving standards.
Every JP Marine guide • mandatory credentials
What your guide holds before entering the water
02 • Dive Organisation
How a Daedalus shark dive actually runs.
Daedalus Reef logistics are very different from a standard reef dive. Understanding the sequence before you arrive removes uncertainty, lowers stress, and lets you focus on the shark encounter itself.
Dive sequence • Daedalus Reef • from JP Marine pre-booking briefing
Step by step: boat to water to back on board
03 • Depth Options
The two depth trails — what your certification unlocks.
At Daedalus, JP Marine runs two simultaneous shark diving trails. Both groups are in the water at the same time, at the same site, for the same duration. The key difference is depth — and that depends on your certification level.
Blue Trail — Open Water Divers
15–20m
South plateau • Lighthouse • Reef edge
Red Trail — Advanced OW Divers
25–40m
North plateau drop-off • Open blue water
Open Water divers who want access to the Red Trail can complete the PADI Advanced Open Water course on board during the Marsa Alam warm-up days (Days 1–2 of the trip). Cost: €280 additional. Complete the PADI eLearning at home before departure so your on-board time is focused entirely on in-water skills.
04 • Group Logistics
How groups are managed on a full boat.
At full capacity • Daedalus group organisation
Two groups. Two guides. Coordinated zodiac rotations.
When fully booked (24–28 divers), JP Marine divides guests into two groups of 12–14 with one dedicated guide per group. Each group boards two zodiacs — usually 6–7 divers per zodiac. Group 1 prepares and departs first. While Group 1 is underwater, Group 2 prepares on the dive deck. After dropping Group 1, the zodiacs return and collect Group 2. This rotation continues throughout the day.
Groups alternate dive order each day — the group that went second one day goes first the next. This ensures each group gets an equal share of the early morning dives, which are often the most productive for hammerhead encounters.
This system typically delivers 4 day-dives at Daedalus in summer and 3 in autumn and winter. Night dives are not permitted at Daedalus under marine park regulations.
The single most important skill at Daedalus is buoyancy — not depth. Divers need to hold a stable position in open water for 20–30 minutes, sometimes in current, without finning. Divers who cannot maintain neutral buoyancy disturb the group’s position. The best way to maximise your shark encounter probability is to arrive with this skill already automatic.
Important • Unguided diving at Daedalus
Diving into the blue without a guide is prohibited by Egyptian law
Unguided open-water diving at Daedalus is not permitted — both legally and for operational safety. There are only two zodiacs, and they transport the entire group as a unit. Individual buddy pairs cannot be retrieved separately, and choosing the right entry point into the blue requires site-specific professional experience.
Two permitted options for experienced divers who prefer independent diving:
1 — Diving the southern plateau independently from the boat and back.
2 — Drifting along the reef wall at the northern end alongside the guided group, within the agreed time frame, so the zodiac collects everyone together. Individual hammerheads and occasionally whole schools are visible from the wall — encounter probability is lower than in the blue, but the option is real.
04 • Shark Behaviour Briefing
The rules delivered before every shark dive.
The shark behaviour briefing JP Marine delivers before every oceanic whitetip dive is based on guidelines prepared by Dr. Elke Bojanowski, founder of the Red Sea Sharks Trust. These are delivered verbally by your guide before every relevant dive on the Pelagic Trail. Reading them here means you arrive already knowing them.
Official briefing • Dr. Elke Bojanowski • Red Sea Sharks Trust • redseasharks.org
Diving with oceanic whitetips — rules for guests
Delivered before every oceanic whitetip dive on JP Marine itineraries.
The animal
— Oceanic whitetips are self-confident, inquisitive wild predators. They need to be respected as such.
— No swimming or snorkelling with oceanic whitetips. Scuba diving only.
Before entering the water
— Check for sharks before jumping from the boat or rolling from the zodiac.
— Descend to a minimum of 5 metres as quickly as possible after entering the water. Time on the surface increases exposure.
Core behaviour rules underwater
— Stay calm. Avoid erratic movements. Stay alert. Control your buoyancy. Keep your eyes on the shark at all times.
— Do not behave like potential prey — sudden arm gestures and sharp exhales can signal distress to a shark.
— When closely approached, take a vertical position in the water column.
— Stay close to the reef and close to your group. A grouped diver mass is less stimulating than a single isolated diver.
If a shark approaches closely
— If necessary, place a calm buffer between you and the shark — a camera, fin, or shark stick — to prevent physical contact without aggression.
— From close range, you can push a water wave toward the shark — ideally toward the gill area — to redirect it.
— If needed, guide the shark away from you calmly. Do not be overly aggressive.
If shark behaviour changes
— If a shark becomes excited or agitated, or if there is food in the water: increase distance or leave the area calmly and in order.
— For zodiac pickup: surface in buddy pairs. The rest of the group hovers at safety stop depth. Do not ask to be pulled by zodiac — board the zodiac first, then retrieve your scuba unit if necessary.
Prepared by Dr. Elke Bojanowski • Red Sea Sharks Trust • redseasharks.org • Download PDF briefing
05 • Preparation
Six things to do before you board.
Log at least 20 dives before the trip
The critical skill at Daedalus is buoyancy — holding a stable position in open water for 20–30 minutes without finning is possible only with practice. That means the automaticity you usually build after 20 logged dives is a practical minimum. 30–40 is better. Divers who are still managing buoyancy actively use less mental bandwidth for awareness and positioning.
Complete PADI Advanced Open Water eLearning before departure
The on-board AOWD course runs during the Marsa Alam warm-up days (Days 1–2). The in-water portion uses the full two days. Complete the PADI eLearning theory at home before you fly so the on-board time is used entirely for skills, not screen time.
Get your Nitrox certification before or on board
Nitrox is free for certified divers on the Pelagic Trail and Golden Mix. Air at 20–35m, Nitrox at 32%: this meaningfully extends no-decompression limits across repetitive dives over five full days at Daedalus. More bottom time equals more encounter time. The PADI Enriched Air course can be completed on board.
Practise hovering neutral for 60 seconds without finning
This is the exact skill Daedalus rewards. Not deep diving, not navigation — the ability to stop completely in mid-water and hold position without any movement for a full minute. Do this on your next local dive or shore dive. If you can do it in a pool, do it in open water too.
Read the shark behaviour briefing before you arrive
The full Dr. Bojanowski briefing is available as a PDF above. Read it before you leave home. That way, your first Daedalus briefing becomes a site-specific refresher rather than your first exposure to the rules while already on the stern.
Sort your buddy situation before departure
Open Water divers must dive with a buddy at the same 20m depth limit. If you are travelling alone with an OWD cert, arrange your buddy plan before boarding. If you want maximum flexibility, JP Marine can provide a private dive guide service (€350 for the week), which covers the full trip.
06 • Book Your Trip
Two itineraries. Both include Daedalus.
Both the Pelagic Trail and the Golden Mix include two full days at Daedalus Reef. The difference is what comes before and after those shark-focused days.
Pelagic Trail • 8 days / 7 nights • all-rounder
Pelagic Trail
Hammerheads at Daedalus. 100+ reef dolphins at Sataya. Up to five shark species in one week. Oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone. A classic Red Sea pelagic route.
Golden Mix • 8 days / 7 nights • last season 2026
Golden Mix
A complete southern Red Sea rotation: Sataya, St Johns, Fury Shoal, Zabargad, Rocky, and two full days at Daedalus. Big route, big variety, final season.
07 • Questions
Frequently asked before the first dive.
Is it safe to dive with hammerhead sharks?
Yes — when dives are run by trained guides under proper briefing protocols. Hammerhead encounters at Daedalus are structured, guide-led, and follow HEPCA, CDWS, and PADI standards. The key is calm behaviour, buoyancy control, and following the briefing exactly.
Will I definitely see sharks?
No wildlife encounter is ever guaranteed. That said, Daedalus Reef is one of the most reliable hammerhead shark sites in the Red Sea, and both the Pelagic Trail and Golden Mix include two full days there to maximise your chances.
I only have Open Water certification. What can I and cannot I do?
Open Water divers can join the Blue Trail at 15–20m. If you want access to the deeper Red Trail, you can complete the PADI Advanced Open Water course on board during the warm-up days, provided you complete the eLearning before departure.
What is a private dive guide and when is it required?
A private dive guide is an optional paid service that gives you one-to-one guiding flexibility across the trip. It can be especially helpful for Open Water divers travelling solo, guests who want more support, or divers who prefer a more personalised pace underwater.
What is the difference between the Pelagic Trail and Golden Mix?
Pelagic Trail is the classic sharks-and-dolphins route, combining Daedalus, Sataya, Fury Shoal, and Elphinstone. Golden Mix is the broader southern Red Sea circuit with more route variety and is the last season itinerary for 2026.
How nervous is normal before a first shark dive?
Very normal. Most first-time shark divers feel a mix of excitement and nerves. The good news is that structured briefing, guide-led entries, and clear underwater behaviour rules reduce uncertainty fast. Preparation is what turns nerves into confidence.
JP Marine • Pelagic Trail & Golden Mix • Port Ghalib
You know what to expect.
Now book it.
Two full days at Daedalus. CDWS-certified guides. Shark awareness briefing before every dive. Saturday departures year-round. From €813 all-inclusive. Direct booking — no agency fees.
Red Sea shark diving • Daedalus Reef • direct with operator
