Ghazala Explorer is a stunning and large 37m long steel hull motor yacht that operates diving safaris to the best sites in Egypt's Red Sea, including the Thistlegorm wreck, Brothers, Ras Mohammed, Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone and St. John’s. This modern and bright liveaboard was completed in 2021 and, with its double 1,150 HP MAN Marine engines, can cruise at 12 knots.
The Ghazala Explorer liveaboard can accommodate 24 guests in spacious cabins across 2 decks, including upper deck seaview cabins, attended by an experienced boat crew. Each cabin has its own private bathroom. The lower deck also includes a large double. The yacht operates an all-inclusive pricing policy with no hidden extras.
Tasty meals are well-planned and served using fresh and the finest ingredients in the dining section of the air-conditioned saloon. The lounge section of the saloon has a TV, where guests can relax and watch a movie from the onboard selection, or play board games. The upper deck has a shaded, open air social area and a bar where guests can enjoy a drink or two after each day of diving. The spacious sun deck is open to the Egyptian sunshine, and is equipped with plenty of sun loungers, bean bags and lounge seating.
Most of the diving is conducted on Ghazala Explorer cruises from the 2 motorised RIB dinghies that are used to transport divers to the sites. Nitrox is provided free of charge by the membrane system. The 3 experienced guides are passionate about diving, very well trained, and know the various routes very well. The scuba activities are well planned and executed to ensure of making the best out of each liveaboard cruise itinerary and the sea conditions.
Red Sea North & Wrecks (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 Dives)
Trip highlights: dolphins, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Abu Nuhas wrecks (Chrisoula K, Giannis D, Kimon M, Carnatic), SS Thistlegorm, Ras Mohamed, Ulysses, Gubal Barge, Rosalie Moeller
Day 1
Your trip on the Ghazala Explorer liveaboard commences from Hurghada Marina. Boarding is welcome at any point during the evening. This allows you time to get your equipment organised and check into your cabin. A comprehensive boat briefing will be held once all guests have embarked. Dinner will be served later in the evening. The boat itself will remain docked in the harbour overnight, with departure scheduled for the following morning.
Core Days
The Northern Red Sea provides some of the most historic wreck dives in the world, like the Thistlegorm, Rosalie Moeller, and Abu Nuhas. Diving the SS Thistlegorm is an unparalleled trip into a World War II time capsule. Regarded as one of the world's greatest wreck dives, this 128-metre British merchant ship was sunk by German bombers in 1941, perfectly preserving its cargo. The wreck is also a thriving artificial reef, attracting swarms of batfish, snapper, and barracuda, while crocodilefish and moray eels camouflage themselves on the superstructure.
Often considered the 'sister wreck' of the Thistlegorm, the SS Rosalie Moeller is a deeper, more challenging, and arguably more atmospheric dive. Visibility can often be lower, which adds to the wreck's ghostly and imposing atmosphere. Because she is dived far less frequently, she is exceptionally well-preserved and absolutely cloaked in marine life. Divers will find her masts, bridge, and propeller intact, and her holds still full of coal. She is famous for the dense, swirling schools of glassfish that fill her structures, hunted by numerous lionfish and pelagic fish like jacks and tuna.
Ras Mohamed park is most famous for its iconic dive sites, Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef. These 2 sites are best dived as a drift. Divers are often surrounded by massive schools of thousands of barracuda, snappers, and batfish, which hang suspended in the current. It is also a prime location for spotting larger pelagics, including sharks (like the grey reef shark) and eagle rays. The dive often ends at the scattered remains of the Yolanda, a wreck that spilled its cargo of toilets, bathtubs, and sinks onto the reef, making for one of the most unusual and photographed underwater scenes in the world.
The Giannis D is one of the most famous and popular wrecks at Abu Nuhas reef, an area notorious as a ship's graveyard in the Northern Red Sea. The stern is the highlight for most divers. It rests upright and is almost entirely intact, offering fantastic and atmospheric penetration. Divers can easily explore the engine room, which is filled with light and often swarming with schools of glassfish. The massive funnel, bridge, and propeller are all impressive features. Diving the Carnatic feels like exploring an underwater art gallery. Her hull has disintegrated, leaving a skeletal framework of ribs draped in a spectacular cascade of hard and soft corals. This open structure allows light to stream in, illuminating the dense schools of glassfish that fill her interior.
The liveaboard is scheduled to return to port during the afternoon of the second-to-last day, once 2 dives have been completed.
Day 8
You will wake up after a calm night in the marina in Hurghada and disembark from the Ghazala Explorer after breakfast. The crew will transfer you to the airport in time for your flight.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & Brothers (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Abu Nuhas wrecks (Chrisoula K, Giannis D, Kimon M, Carnatic), SS Thistlegorm, Ras Mohamed, Ulysses, Gubal Barge, Big Brother, Little Brother, Numidia and Aida wrecks
Day 1
The Ghazala Explorer departs from Hurghada Marina to explore the best of the Sinai and the Brothers. Guests may board the liveaboard at any time during the evening to assemble their equipment and settle into their cabins. A full boat briefing will be conducted once all guests are on board, followed by dinner. The vessel will remain moored in the harbour overnight, with departure scheduled for the morning of the second day.
Core Days
The celebrated Brother Islands are considered prime sites within the Red Sea. They consist of 2 exposed islets that attract a high density of marine life. The walls are suitable for scuba diving and are heavily colonised by soft corals, anemones, and brightly coloured sponges. Shark sightings are common, with scalloped hammerheads, silvertips, oceanic whitetips, and grey reef sharks being the most frequently observed species.
Big Brother is the larger of the islands and is famous for its 2 wrecks. The Numidia rests spectacularly on the northern reef, covered in vibrant soft corals and gorgonian fans, stretching from the shallows down the deep wall. On the west side lies the Aida wreck. The island's walls are also rich in life, offering frequent sightings of grey reef sharks and whitetips. The strong currents and potential for deep wreck penetration mean these dive sites are also best suited for advanced divers.
Little Brother is renowned for its sheer vertical walls, which are completely carpeted in a dense, vibrant forest of colourful soft corals and huge gorgonian fans. This rich, current-swept pinnacle attracts an incredible amount of pelagic life. It is world-famous for frequent shark sightings, including schools of scalloped hammerheads, elusive thresher sharks, grey reef sharks, and oceanic whitetips.
The Northern Red Sea provides some of the best historic wrecks in the world, like the SS Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas. SS Thistlegorm is essentially an underwater museum, offering an incredible glimpse into the past. Divers can explore its vast cargo holds, which are still packed with wartime supplies, including fleets of motorcycles, trucks, rifles, wellington boots, and aircraft parts. The blast from the explosion also blew 2 locomotives off the deck, which now lie on the seabed. The ship's stern still features its anti-aircraft guns, and the entire structure is a thriving artificial reef, often surrounded by schools of batfish and home to large moray eels.
The Chrisoula K is one of the most popular and accessible wrecks on the Abu Nuhas reef in the Red Sea. When you dive the Chrisoula K, you'll find a wreck that is broken into distinct sections. The bow is shallow but very broken up from hitting the reef. The main mid-section and stern are largely intact and the most interesting parts.
Ras Mohamed is a world-renowned national park at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, famous for its dramatic reef slopes and intense marine life. The strong currents attract vast schools of pelagic fish, such as barracuda and jacks, as well as numerous sharks. Its most famous site, Shark and Yolanda Reef, features spectacular coral walls and the scattered, coral-encrusted cargo of the sunken Yolanda, including its famous load of toilets and bathtubs.
After 2 dives, the liveaboard docks back in the harbour, during the afternoon of the penultimate day.
Day 8
Enjoy a final breakfast on board the Ghazala Explorer in the harbour in Hurghada. Once you have disembarked, our crew will ensure you get to Hurghada Airport in good time for your flight home.
Red Sea Northern Wrecks (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 Dives)
Trip highlights: dolphins, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Abu Nuhas wrecks (Chrisoula K, Giannis D, Kimon M, Carnatic), SS Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Ulysses, Gubal Barge, Rosalie Moeller, Salem Express, Poseidonia, Hebat Allah, El Mina mine sweeper, the fishing trawler
Day 1
Guests are invited to embark on the Ghazala Explorer at Hurghada Marina any time during the evening of the first day. Upon boarding, you may proceed to your cabin and begin assembling your equipment. A full boat briefing will be conducted once all passengers are present. Dinner will be served in the evening. The liveaboard will remain moored in the harbour overnight, with departure scheduled for the morning of the second day.
Core Days
The Northern Red Sea provides some of the most historic wrecks in the world and this Ghazala Explorer liveaboard trip will be solely focused on wreck diving. Here are just a few of the highlights ... The Chrisoula K is one of the most famous shipwrecks at Sha'ab Abu Nuhas in the Red Sea, making it a classic dive on northern liveaboard routes from Hurghada. It's widely known as 'The Tile Wreck' because of its cargo. A Greek-owned vessel, it sank in 1981 when it struck the reef at full speed while transporting a full load of Italian floor tiles.
The Kimon M is another of the 4 major wrecks at Abu Nuhas, often called the 'Lentil Wreck'. In December 1978, this cargo ship was carrying 4,500 tons of bagged lentils when it struck the reef at full speed. The ship remained stranded on the reef top for several days, allowing for a partial salvage of its cargo before it was abandoned as a total loss.
Arguably the most famous shipwreck in the world, the SS Thistlegorm is a legendary Red Sea dive site. She was a 128-metre (415 ft) British armed Merchant Navy ship. In October 1941, while anchored and waiting to transit the Suez Canal, she was sunk by a German bomber. The ship was packed with a vast cargo of wartime supplies for the Allied forces in North Africa. The main draw for divers is the incredible cargo, which can be explored in its vast holds. You can see BSA motorcycles, Bedford trucks, armoured vehicles, stacks of rifles, ammunition, spare aircraft parts, and even wellington boots. The explosion blew 2 steam locomotives off the deck, which now lie on the sand nearby. The stern section, with its anti-aircraft guns, is also a key feature.
In 2005 the Poseidonia, after being renamed Al Kahfain, moved to the Red Sea, and an explosion and severe fire broke out in the engine room as it was leaving Hurghada. The crew was rescued, but the ship capsized and sank while being towed.
The El Mina, also known as the El Minya, is a well-known shipwreck located very close to the Hurghada marina, making it a popular and easily accessible dive site. She was a 70-metre (230 ft) Egyptian minesweeper, built in the Soviet Union. Its sinking was a direct result of the Arab-Israeli conflict - the most common account is that it was sunk by Israeli aircraft during the War of Attrition.
The Ghazala Explorer is scheduled to return to port during the afternoon of the second-to-last day, once 2 dives have been completed.
Day 8
Great the morning in Hurghada after a night in the harbour, and disembark from the liveaboard after breakfast. The crew will transfer you to Hurghada Airport in time for your flight.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & Tiran Straits (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Abu Nuhas wrecks (Chrisoula K, Giannis D, Kimon M, Carnatic), SS Thistlegorm, Ras Mohamed, Straits of Tiran, Gordon Reef, Jackson Reef, Woodhouse Reef, Thomas Reef, Dahab: Blue Hole, Dahab Canyon, Gabr el Bint
Day 1
Your Red Sea liveaboard diving adventure to the northern Sinai begins at Hurghada Marina, where you can board the Ghazala Explorer at your leisure throughout the evening. Settle into your comfortable cabin and organise your dive gear at your own pace. A comprehensive welcome and safety briefing will be held once all guests have arrived. After enjoying dinner on board, you'll spend the night peacefully moored in the harbour, ready to set sail in the morning.
Core Days
This expedition through the Northern Red Sea is a pilgrimage for divers, blending profound historical exploration with breathtaking reefscapes. You will delve into the legacy of maritime history at iconic wreck sites before immersing yourself in the vibrant, current-swept reefs of the region, as well as a visit to the landmark Blue Hole of Dahab.
The features the legendary SS Thistlegorm, a time capsule from the depths of World War II. Sunk in 1941, its cavernous holds remain filled with military supplies, from motorcycles and trucks to rifles, offering an unparalleled, awe-inspiring dive into the past.
Nearby, the reef of Abu Nuhas presents a veritable ship graveyard. Here, you will encounter multiple wrecks, each with its own story and character. The SS Carnatic, a 19th-century vessel, lies photogenically on its side, its skeletal hull ribs now framing shimmering schools of glassfish. Divers can safely navigate its open structure, discovering giant moray eels and vibrant nudibranchs against a backdrop of maritime history. Another notable resident is the Kimon M. Since its sinking in 1978, it has become an artificial reef, attracting schools of snapper and barracuda, though its deteriorating superstructure requires cautious exploration.
Beyond the wrecks, the Ghazala Explorer liveaboard continues into the pristine waters of Ras Mohamed National Park. Here, stunning coral gardens burst with life, and visibility can extend to an astonishing 40 metres. Jackson Reef is the northernmost of the 4 reefs in the Straits of Tiran and is famous as a world-class shark destination. The sheltered southern side, features a stunning, steep wall dropping to over 40 metres, covered in vibrant soft corals and gorgonian fans. As the dive progresses, often as a drift, divers head towards the western corner where the reef flattens into one of the Red Sea's most beautiful hard coral gardens, teeming with reef fish.
Also on this liveaboard itinerary is a dive at Dahab's Blue Hole, a world-famous submarine sinkhole accessible from the shore. Most recreational divers experience it safely by entering at The Bells, a chimney in the reef, and descending onto a stunning deep wall. They then drift along this coral-rich wall before ascending over a shallow 7-metre saddle to finish the dive inside the calm, bright blue water of the hole itself.
2 dives are scheduled for the penultimate day, after which the Ghazala Explorer will begin its return journey to Hurghada, arriving in port during the afternoon.
Day 8
After a final breakfast on board the liveaboard, you will disembark following your last night in the harbour. The crew will provide a timely transfer to Hurghada Airport, ensuring you have plenty of time to check in for your onward flight.
Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Big Brother, Little Brother, Numidia and Aida wrecks, Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone
Day 1
Your diving trip to the Brothers, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone on the Ghazala Explorer liveaboard begins at Hurghada. Guests may board the liveaboard any time during the evening, allowing you time to assemble your gear and settle into your cabin. Once all guests are on board, a boat briefing will be conducted. Dinner will be served that evening, and the boat will remain moored in port overnight, with departure scheduled for the morning of the second day.
Core Days
Ghazala Explorer embarks on the most popular megafauna dive route in the Red Sea. Among the Red Sea's most celebrated destinations, the famous Brother Islands consist of 2 exposed promontories that act as a powerful draw for an incredible abundance of marine life. Divers can explore sheer walls adorned with a vibrant tapestry of soft corals, anemones, and brightly coloured sponges. The area is also renowned for its shark activity, with common sightings of scalloped hammerheads, silvertips, oceanic whitetips, and grey reef sharks. The Numidia wreck at Big Brother, resting in shallow water, is encrusted with a spectacular growth of hard and soft corals, along with gorgonian fans. The Aida wreck was an Egyptian supply and troop ship that struck the reef in 1957 while attempting to moor in heavy seas to deliver supplies to the lighthouse. It is now completely colonised by a stunning and vibrant forest of soft corals and gorgonian fans as well.
Daedalus Reef, a remote offshore pinnacle accessible only by liveaboard, offers one of the Red Sea's most thrilling dive experiences. Its isolation as a marine park has preserved its pristine condition. The site is world-famous for its dramatic encounters with large pelagic life, especially schooling scalloped hammerheads and curious oceanic whitetip sharks.
Elphinstone Reef is a legendary rock located near Marsa Alam, renowned for its dramatic vertical walls. These sheer drop-offs are spectacularly adorned with a dense carpet of vibrant purple and pink soft corals. Diving here is defined by its 2 plateaus: a deep northern point where hammerheads can be spotted, and the famous southern plateau. This southern point is one of the Red Sea's most reliable locations for diver encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks.
On the second to last day, after completing 2 dives, the Ghazala Explorer will arrive back in port during the afternoon.
Day 8
On your final morning, you will disembark the liveaboard after breakfast in Port Ghalib. The crew will provide a timely transfer to the airport for your departing flight.
Please note that these trips use either the ports of Hurghada or Port Ghalib - check your trip for precise port details.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
