Diving Socotra

DAY 1 – ADVENTURE BEGINS

Meet and assist at Socotra airport. Your tour guide will be holding the “Hellosocotra” sign at the arrival terminal right behind the passport control counter. At the terminal, it can get very warm and chaotic around the baggage carousel with all incoming passengers, so your patience is appreciated.

Once you have cleared immigration and collected your luggage, we will head east to Dihamri this area is a haven for divers, featuring over 70 types of coral and 160 fish species. With five dive sites, some reaching depths of 60 meters, there’s something for everyone, including swimming, snorkelling and hiking.

Overnight: Camping at Dihamri campsite

DAY 2 – DIHAMRI MARINE

We must get up early, around 6:00 a.m., and head to the diving centre to meet with Nassem, the instructor. You will need to double-check all the equipment before use, gear up, and head for your first-morning diving experience at the Dihamri location.

After the first session, you will get back to the campsite for breakfast, and the second diving session will start in the afternoon; we will take you on a boat, and the instructor will show you where the diving will take place.

Dives: 2
Overnight: Camping at Dihamri campsite

DAY 3 – ROSH MARINE

After a light breakfast, pack your bags and put on your swimming wear because we will head to Rose Marine Protected Area to do our morning diving session. The area is known for a reef that extends about 1.5 kilometre off the coast. Rosh offers a unique underwater topography with dives typically between 10 and 20 meters.

The second diving session will start in the afternoon; we will take you on a boat, and the instructor will show you where the diving will take place.

Dives: 2
Overnight: Camping at Rosh camping ground

DAY 4 – RAS ERSIL

Once breakfast is served, we will take you to the eastern tip of the island for your morning session, Ras Ersil, which is famous for its numerous shipwrecks, some dating back 50 years. Divers can explore these underwater relics, which have become artificial reefs teeming with life.

The second diving session will start in the afternoon, and the instructor will show you where the diving will take place.

Dives: 2
Overnight: Camping at Arher camping ground

DAY 5 – THE WADI

After an early breakfast, we will head beneath the mountains of Momi, where the famous Wadi of Kelisan is a perfect spot to enjoy swimming in the natural pools. It will take around 20 minutes of walking, with a breathtaking overview of the entire wadi.

After a quick picnic, we will head to the protected area of Homhill, which is home to an endless number of Socotri endemic plants such as Dragon’s Blood tree, Frankincense, Desert rose trees, etc. It’s about a one-hour drive from Kelisan and a 30-minute walk along a selection of trails. One of these trails takes us to a viewpoint where there is a natural swimming pool and a view of villages below on the plain and of the Arabian Sea.

Overnight: At Summerland hotel or similar in Hadibo

DAY 6 – THE BEST BEACH IN THE WORLD

On this day, after an early breakfast at the hotel, we will head to the western coast. We will take a boat from the port of Qalanciya and make our way to Shuaab, a diving location home to Socotra’s largest shipwreck, dolphins, turtles, and many other species.

On the way to Shuaab, you will see a group of Spinner dolphins, and if you are lucky, you might spot a sperm whale during the months of March and April. That’s why waking up early is important. You will also see a one of its kind Socotra cormorant birds in their natural habitat and many underwater caves. May is still unexplored, making it a great place for thrill-seekers and divers.

If the time allows, you will meet Mr Aliyah, aka the caveman, the smartest man in Socotra who created his own tourist attraction. Hundreds of tourists come to his cave to meet him and to enjoy listening to his stories on life in the cave, the land, and its people, and then drive back to Hadibo once we are done.

Dives: 1
Overnight: Camping at Detwah lagoon campsite

DAY 7 – THE DRAGON BLOOD FOREST

After breakfast, we will quickly visit an overview point where you can see the entire beach and the Detwah Lagoon. This marine protected area is renowned for its magical landscape, and we continue our way to the Dicksam plateau (approx. 700 m above sea level) and Shebahon’s viewpoint. This area is home to many Socotra endemic plants, such as Dragon’s Blood Tree and other trees. The Shebahon viewpoint gives a marvellous vista overlooking Daerhu Canyon, where we will see breathtaking scenery and unusual yet beautiful rock formations.

We will then make our way down to the Dirhur wadi in the canyon for lunch and an easy-going walk to swim in the freshwater pools, then we will continue our way up to Firmhen Point so you can explore the largest forest of the dragon blood trees.

Overnight: At Summerland hotel or similar in Hadibo

DAY 8 – WE WILL MISS YOU

After breakfast, around 8 am, a quick tour of the market and the gift store for souvenir shopping in Hadibo. Then, we will drop you at Socotra airport to catch your flight back to Abu Dhabi.