SILO 02 // SUBMERSIBLE DEPTH TELEMETRY, AQUARIUM & CDWS DIVE STANDARDS
Underwater Red Sea excursions span 3.5m glass-hull semi-submarines (€15), 48m acrylic shark tunnels at Hurghada Grand Aquarium (€30), 22.0m pressurized Sindbad submarine dives (€45), and two-dive scuba boats (€26 + €5 HEPCA).
Selected Marine Excursion All-In Total (2 Adults + 1 Child at 50%)
€112.50(6,075 EGP)
Sindbad 22.0m Submarine (€112.50) vs. Royal Seascope 3.5m Semi-Submarine (€37.50) — Seascope saves €75.00 for 2 adults + 1 child.
€112.50
Selected Vessel Total
22.0m Operating Depth
€37.50
Seascope 3.5m Total
Saves €75.00 (3.5m + snorkel)
€0.00
HEPCA Marine Levy
Exempt on nearshore hulls
0 hours
CDWS Pre-Flight Wait
Dry 1.0 atm cabin (Safe to fly)
SUBMERSIBLE & BOAT BENCHMARK: Royal Seascope 3.5m Semi-Submarine saves €75.00 vs. Sindbad 22m Submarine for 2 adults + 1 child (€37.50 vs. €112.50).
Notice: This calculation engine models published statutory formulas and regulatory codes for informational and planning purposes only. It does not provide certified legal, medical, veterinary, tax, or engineering advice. For definitive rulings, consult an actively licensed professional in your jurisdiction.
Complete 6-Attraction Marine Register // Submarines, Dolphins & Scuba
Compare operating depth, child 50% rates, HEPCA levy applicability, and departure windows across all 6 marine and underwater attractions.
| Ref | Marine Attraction / Vessel | Max Depth | Direct Adult | Child (50%) | Hotel Rep | HEPCA Fee | Duration | Pickup Window |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| MAR-01 | Hurghada Grand Aquarium, Underwater Tunnel, Mini Zoo & Rainforest Entry + Transfer | 4.5m | €30.00 | €15.00 | €48.00 | €0.00 | 3h | 09:30 or 13:30 |
| MAR-02 | Dolphin House (Shaab El Erg Reef) Wild Dolphin Snorkeling & Seafood Cruise | 6.0m | €20.00 | €10.00 | €50.00 | €5.00 | 7.5h | 08:00 - 08:45 |
| MAR-03 | Dolphin World Makadi Bay 1-Hour Interactive Dolphin, Seal & Walrus Arena Show | 0.0m | €18.00 | €9.00 | €38.00 | €0.00 | 3h | 09:15 - 10:00 |
| MAR-04 | Royal Seascope Semi-Submarine Panoramic Underwater Hull + 45-Min Reef Snorkeling | 3.5m | €15.00 | €7.50 | €40.00 | €0.00 | 2.5h | 08:30, 10:30 or 13:30 |
| MAR-05 | Sindbad Submarine Real 22-Meter Deep Submersible Dive Experience | 22.0m | €45.00 | €22.50 | €75.00 | €0.00 | 3h | 08:30, 10:30 or 13:30 |
| MAR-06 | Full-Day Red Sea PADI Intro Scuba Diving Boat Trip (2 Guided Dives + Equipment) | 10.0m | €26.00 | €13.00 | €65.00 | €5.00 | 7.5h | 08:00 - 08:45 |
Nearshore submarine hulls (Sindbad, Royal Seascope), Hurghada Grand Aquarium, and Dolphin World Makadi Bay carry a €0.00 HEPCA levy. Offshore Shaab El Erg dolphin boats and Intro Scuba vessels remit €5.00/guest.
1,200+ marine species, 24 galleries, 48-meter acrylic underwater shark tunnel, Wadi El Hitan fossil museum & rope bridge
Open-sea horseshoe coral lagoon north of Hurghada frequented by wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphin pods
Shaded amphitheater arena in Makadi Bay (10:30 AM daily show) with optional 5-min or 10-min controlled pool swim
Air-conditioned underwater viewing deck 3.5 meters below surface with large panoramic glass windows & top sun deck
True pressurized passenger submarine (44 seats, individual round viewports) descending to 22m depth along 500m coral wall
Two 20-minute 1-on-1 instructor-guided coral reef dives (max 8-10m depth for beginners) with full scuba gear & hot lunch
Layer 3 // CDWS Barotrauma Rules & HEPCA Cetacean Protection
Under Egyptian Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) and Divers Alert Network (DAN) aviation medicine standards, breathing compressed air underwater dissolves inert nitrogen into body tissues. Ascending in a commercial aircraft cabin (pressurized to 1,800m–2,400m equivalent altitude) or flying HRG–CAI to Cairo too soon after scuba diving risks decompression sickness (DCS):
The Sindbad Submarine (€45.00 adult / €22.50 child) is a true pressurized 44-seat submersible vessel that detaches from the surface platform and dives to 22.0 meters depth along a 500-meter Red Sea coral wall—keeping passengers completely dry inside an air-conditioned cabin at 1.0 atm surface pressure. The Royal Seascope (€15.00 adult / €7.50 child) is a surface-floating semi-submarine whose air-conditioned viewing hull sits 3.5 meters below the waterline with panoramic glass windows, plus a 45-minute open-water reef snorkeling stop.
No. Because the Sindbad Submarine cabin is maintained at normal 1.0 atmosphere surface pressure throughout its 22-meter descent, passengers do not breathe compressed gas and have zero nitrogen tissue loading. By contrast, booking the Full-Day PADI Intro Scuba Diving Boat Trip (€26 + €5 HEPCA, 2 guided dives to 8–10m) requires a mandatory 18-to-24-hour surface interval before flying under CDWS and DAN barotrauma guidelines.
Dolphin House (€20 direct + €5 HEPCA, 7.5 hours) is a full-day open-sea boat cruise to Shaab El Erg horseshoe coral reef north of Hurghada, where wild Indo-Pacific bottlenose dolphins rest in their natural lagoon; sightings are wild and governed by HEPCA ethical approach distances. Dolphin World Makadi Bay (€18 direct, €0 HEPCA, 3.0 hours) is a shaded land-based amphitheater arena hosting a scheduled 1-hour interactive dolphin, seal, and walrus show with guaranteed seating for young children.
Direct Hurghada Grand Aquarium packages including round-trip Central Hurghada transfer cost €30.00 per adult (€15.00 per child aged 3–11), saving €18.00 per adult compared with typical €48.00 hotel rep quotes. The facility spans 24 marine galleries, a 48-meter underwater acrylic shark tunnel, a rainforest rope bridge, and the Wadi El Hitan fossil exhibit.