Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone (8 Days / 7 Nights - 17 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, Aida II wreck, Numidia wreck, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone
Day 1
Your Red Sea scuba adventure begins at the designated embarkation point, either Port Ghalib or Hurghada marina. Once welcomed aboard the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard by the crew, you will receive a detailed safety brief and be assigned your accommodation. Dinner is served in the main saloon, allowing you to relax before the vessel departs for the dive sites.
Core Days
This premier southern itinerary focuses on 3 legendary oceanic pinnacles: the Brother Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone. The diving is globally celebrated for its dramatic wall structures and high potential for interactions with large marine animals.
The Brother Islands are 2 offshore seamounts, Big Brother and Little Brother, whose exposed position makes them magnets for pelagic life. The vertical walls are covered in dense, technicolour growth, including massive gorgonian fans and black coral trees. Divers routinely observe patrolling oceanic whitetip sharks and grey reef sharks, alongside schools of jacks and large pelagic tuna moving along the reef edge. The wrecks at Big Brother are major highlights: the Numidia, a century-old cargo ship, and the Aida II, an Egyptian supply boat. Both rest in accessible depths and display spectacular coral overgrowth, creating vibrant ecosystems for soldierfish and snappers.
Daedalus Reef, an iconic structure identifiable by its operational lighthouse, features immense, current-swept walls. This is a critical location for sighting schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks and the elusive, streamlined thresher sharks. The reef’s sheer drop-offs support dense populations of colourful reef fish such as parrotfish and unicorn fish, alongside large schools of sweetlips and bannerfish.
Elphinstone completes the trio, with its famous north and south plateaus plunging into the abyss. The strong currents here attract notable marine life, including cruising manta rays during the summer season, along with large Napoleon wrasse and foraging sea turtles. This cruise aboard the Golden Dolphin IV ensures a high-calibre, adrenaline-inducing diving experience at the Red Sea's most coveted sites.
Following 2 final morning dives, the vessel returns to the arrival port, Port Ghalib or Hurghada marina.
Day 8
Check-out and disembarkation are scheduled after a final breakfast.
Daedalus, Rocky, Zabargad & St. John's
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, great macro life/ marine diversity, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: from Daedalus Reef, Zabargad, Rocky Island, St. John's reef system: Big Habili, Small Habili, Umm Erug, Umm Hararim; Fury Shoals: Shaab Claudio, El Malahi, Abu Galawa Soraya, Abu Galawa Kebir, Shaab Maksour, Shaab Sataya (Dolphin Reef)
Day 1
The starting point for this demanding Red Sea deep-south dive itinerary is the Port Ghalib marina. After being welcomed aboard the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard by the crew, you will receive a safety briefing and be escorted to your cabin. Dinner is served in the main saloon, allowing you to settle in for the night before the early morning departure to the remote dive sites.
Core Days
This safari is perfectly tailored for experienced divers, combining the exhilarating, current-swept offshore pinnacles of Daedalus Reef, Rocky Island, and Zabargad with the unparalleled hard coral structures of the St. John’s reef system. Daedalus Reef, a famous offshore seamount, is a major focus for pelagic sightings. Its famous drop-offs attract scalloped hammerheads and oceanic whitetips, particularly during the summer. The walls themselves are densely coated in soft and hard corals.
Moving to the extremities of the Red Sea, the Golden Dolphin IV takes us to the high-energy, current-prone environment of Rocky Island. The intense water flow here sustains gigantic gorgonian sea fans and extensive black coral trees. This deep-blue environment is a prime location for encountering grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks, and large green sea turtles gliding past the wall. Adjacent Zabargad Island offers a contrasting topography with steep drop-offs and sheltered shallow bays, where large schools of bigeyes and yellow-tail fusiliers congregate over magnificent coral gardens.
The itinerary progresses to the St. John's reef system, renowned for its pristine health and complex geological structure. We dive the majestic pinnacles of Big Habili and Small Habili, which rise dramatically from the deep, attracting schools of barracuda and jackfish. Further exploration includes Umm Erug and Umm Hararim, sites featuring elaborate tunnel systems and overhangs. These structures create sheltered habitats for species like parrotfish, honeycomb moray eels, and Napoleon wrasse, completing your deep-south diving safari aboard the Golden Dolphin IV. Extended cruises may also visit Fury Shoals.
Final Day
The Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard returns to port, and disembarkation occurs after a final breakfast.
Fury Shoals & St. John's (8 Days / 7 Nights - 21 Dives)
Trip highlights: dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: St. John's reef system: Big Habili, Small Habili, Umm Erug, Umm Hararim; Fury Shoals: Shaab Claudio, El Malahi, Abu Galawa Soraya; Shaab Sharm
Day 1
This deep south Red Sea liveaboard safari begins at the designated port of embarkation, Port Ghalib. After being welcomed aboard the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard, the crew will provide a full vessel orientation and safety brief. Dinner will be served in the air-conditioned saloon, allowing you to settle in for the night before the boat departs early in the morning to begin the intensive diving schedule.
Core Days
This route is dedicated to the magnificent deep south, exploring the pristine and vibrant reef systems of Fury Shoals and the world-class pinnacle dives of St. John's. This Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard route is famed for its complex reef structures and abundant marine life.
The St. John's reef system, one of the healthiest in the Red Sea, is defined by its spectacular topography. Dives here include the massive pinnacles, known as habili, such as Big Habili and Small Habili, where divers navigate dramatic drop-offs and steep walls covered in astonishingly colourful hard corals. Sites like Umm Erug and Umm Hararim feature intricate cave and tunnel systems, creating a fascinating playground for underwater exploration. Encounters with larger species such as oceanic barracuda, cruising reef sharks, and the occasional sighting of dolphins or manta rays are major diving highlights in this remote region.
The trip also focuses heavily on the sprawling Fury Shoals, an immense reef system closer to the mainland that features some of the Red Sea's most pristine reefs. Shaab Claudio is a favourite, known for its well-lit, cathedral-like swim-throughs and massive Porites corals. El Malahi offers a labyrinthine dive site with mazes of coral heads, often visited by green sea turtles. Abu Galawa Soraya provides excellent shallow diving on a fantastic hard coral garden, perfect for spotting vibrant reef fish. The area around Shaab Sharm features impressive drop-offs, complementing the variety of diving available on this safari.
The diving schedule concludes with 2 final dives before the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard begins its return sail to Port Ghalib.
Day 8
Disembarkation occurs after a final breakfast onboard.
Red Sea North, Safaga & Brothers (10 Days / 9 Nights - 26 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: Big Brother, Little Brother, Aida II wreck, Numidia wreck, Thistlegorm, Shaab el Erg, Bluff Point, Siyoul Kebira, Siyoul Soraya, Shaab Umm Usk, Umm Gamar, Carless Reef, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K), Dunraven, Ras Mohamed: Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef; Small Giftun, Safaga: Shaab Sheer, Panorama Reef, Ras Abu Soma
Day 1
Board the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard at Hurghada marina. The crew and tour leader welcome you, show you to your cabin, and brief you on the itinerary. Dinner in the air-conditioned saloon. Then rest: diving starts tomorrow.
Core Days
The Golden Dolphin IV heads first to the northern wreck sites. The SS Thistlegorm lies upright at 30 metres, still carrying its wartime cargo of tanks, trucks, motorcycles, and 2 railway engines. Schools of barracuda and tuna circle above the deck. Nearby, the reefs of Abu Nuhas hold several wrecks in one location. The Giannis D sits on its side, its engine room open to exploration. The Carnatic, an 1869 steamer, has wooden decks that have rotted away, allowing safe penetration. The Chrisoula K rests in 5-25 metres, its middle section crushed by the impact. All are draped in soft corals and home to glassfish, crocodile fish, and groupers.
From Abu Nuhas, the Golden Dolphin IV visits Ras Mohamed National Park. At Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, you drift along a steep wall that drops hundreds of metres, past gorgonians and black corals, until you reach the scattered cargo of the Yolanda wreck: toilets, bathtubs, and ceramic bowls now colonised by reef life. The Dunraven wreck, an inverted steamer near Sha'ab Mahmud, splits into two parts with three openings through which divers can swim. Hawksbill turtles are common on the surrounding reef.
The route then crosses to the Brother Islands, 2 small pinnacles 60 kilometres offshore. Little Brother is a compact wall thick with sponges, anemones, and hard and soft corals. Grey reef sharks and silvertips patrol the drop-offs. Hammerheads and threshers appear here, though not on every dive. At Big Brother, the Numidia wreck lies between 5 and 80 metres, a 150-metre steamer from 1901 now covered in gorgonians and soft corals. Nearby, the Aida wreck stands almost vertically on the sloping reef edge, its propeller at 57 metres.
Returning north, the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard spends time in the Safaga region. Panorama Reef drops steeply on its east and west sides. The northern plateau features large table corals and thousands of anthias. Eagle rays, napoleon wrasse, and turtles move across the reef. Shaab Sheer's west side faces the South Safaga Channel, with a brain coral garden in 3-15 metres. Picasso triggerfish, parrotfish, and schools of barracuda and tuna are common here. At Ras Abu Soma, a drop-off wall at the northern end of Safaga Bay, look for grey reef sharks, eagle rays, and occasionally hammerheads or manta rays in spring.
The safari also includes other northern dive sites. Sha'ab El Erg is a horseshoe-shaped reef with a shallow lagoon, popular for its dolphin pod. Bluff Point starts at the northeastern tip of Little Gubal Island, with a strong current pushing you south past large napoleon wrasse and turtles. Siyoul Kebira and Siyoul Soraya offer colourful reef dives with overhangs, crevices, and abundant fish. Sha'ab Umm Usk's lagoon is home to resident bottlenose dolphins. Umm Gamar features three coral towers on its south plateau, 2 hollow and filled with glassfish. Carless Reef has 2 prominent pinnacles known for giant moray eels. Small Giftun Island provides a relaxed drift along Gorgonian Reef, ending in a lagoon where tame Napoleon wrasse approach divers.
Day 10
After an early breakfast, you check out of the Golden Dolphin IV, say your farewells to the crew, and transfer to Hurghada Airport or your local hotel.
Red Sea North, Safaga & Brothers (Special) (8 Days / 7 Nights - 19 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics, non diving activities
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Big Brother, Little Brother, Aida II wreck, Numidia wreck, Thistlegorm, Shaab El Erg, Small Giftun Island, Elphinstone, Abu Dabbab
Day 1
Boarding the Golden Dolphin IV begins in Hurghada or Port Ghalib after 4 pm. Settle into your cabin, meet the crew and your tour leader, and enjoy a welcome dinner in the air-conditioned saloon. The itinerary and safety briefings follow, with the first dives scheduled for the morning.
Core Days
This is not a standard liveaboard trip. The Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard is running a dedicated Clean Up Safari, and for a limited time, guests secure a 50% discount on the usual fare. The trade-off? You spend a week diving the Red Sea's finest sites while actively helping to remove marine debris from the reefs and open water. Every item collected, from lost fishing gear to plastic waste, is recorded and properly disposed of onshore, making a genuine difference to this fragile ecosystem. It is a rare opportunity to combine world-class diving with a tangible conservation outcome, at a price that reflects the shared mission.
The core of this safari takes in the Red Sea's most celebrated wrecks and reefs. Expect to start with the legendary SS Thistlegorm, lying upright at 30 metres with its famous cargo of trucks, motorcycles, weaponry, and railway wagons still intact, a dive that rewards repeat visits. From there, the Golden Dolphin IV pushes south to the Brother Islands, where Big Brother and Little Brother rise from deep water, their walls smothered in sponges, anemones, and gorgonian forests. At Big Brother, the Numidia wreck rests between 5 and 80 metres, its 150-metre hull now a vibrant reef covered in soft corals. Nearby, the scattered remains of the Aida II offer a more challenging dive for experienced divers, with the back section of the hull lying between 34 and 60 metres.
Further south, Elphinstone Reef delivers the classic Red Sea wall dive: a long, finger-like formation where steep drop-offs on both sides attract grey reef sharks and the occasional hammerhead. The current can pick up here, adding a welcome edge for those comfortable in open-water conditions. The tour also includes shallower, more relaxed sites such as Abu Dabbab, with its notches, small caves, and coral gardens alive with emperor fish, bannerfish, and sleeping reef sharks.
Night dives here are particularly rewarding, revealing feather stars, basket stars, and the shy hunting behaviour of lionfish. Shaab el Erg, a horseshoe-shaped reef with a shallow lagoon, offers easy drifting along the northern tip or eastern wall, while Small Giftun Island provides a classic drift dive along a vertical wall draped in sea fans, ending in a sheltered lagoon where Napoleon wrasse and huge moray eels are regulars. Between dives, the crew actively supports the clean-up mission, and every piece of waste collected makes a tangible difference to the reef environment.
Day 8
After a light breakfast, farewells to the crew and your fellow divers, then transfer to Hurghada Airport or your local hotel. Time to reflect on a week of exceptional diving and a genuine contribution to the Red Sea's future.
Red Sea North, Tiran & Brothers (8 Days / 7 Nights - 19 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: Big Brother, Little Brother, Aida II wreck, Numidia wreck, Thistlegorm, Shaab El Erg, Bluff Point, Shaab Umm Usk, Carless Reef, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K), Dunraven, Ras Mohamed: Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, Straits of Tiran, Laguna Reef, Shaab Sheer, Safaga: Panorama Reef, Ras Abu Soma; Small Giftun. Cruises that use Port Ghalib may also dive at Elphinstone.
Day 1
Board the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard in Port Ghalib. The crew welcomes you aboard, shows you to your cabin, and runs through the safety briefing and itinerary. Settle in, enjoy dinner in the air-conditioned saloon, and rest before diving starts tomorrow.
Core Days
The Golden Dolphin IV takes you first into the Strait of Tiran, where 4 reefs rise from the seabed. At Jackson Reef, the current-swept walls are dense with hard and soft corals, black corals, and gorgonians. Large schools of barracuda and jacks hunt along the drop-offs. The wreck of the Lara rests near the northern tip. Gordon Reef offers the 'shark pool', a sandy depression at 24 metres where whitetip reef sharks sometimes rest during the day. Thomas Reef rewards experienced divers with a dramatic canyon, three rock bridges, and fields of colourful dendronephthya soft corals. Woodhouse Reef is a long, narrow drift dive, with good coral cover and pelagic fish passing by.
From Tiran, the Golden Dolphin IV heads south to Ras Mohammed National Park. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are connected by a steep wall that drops hundreds of metres. The current carries you along this wall, past gorgonians and black corals, until you reach the scattered cargo of the Yolanda wreck: toilets, bathtubs, and ceramic bowls now colonised by corals. A separate dive at the Dunraven wreck on Sha'ab Mahmoud reveals an inverted steamer, its hull split open, with glassfish and batfish sheltering inside.
The northern Red Sea wreck circuit includes the SS Thistlegorm, arguably the most famous wreck in Egypt. Lying upright at 30 metres, this British cargo ship still carries tanks, trucks, motorcycles, and two railway engines. Schools of barracuda and trevally circle above. At Abu Nuhas, several wrecks lie on the same reef: the Giannis D, Chrisoula K, and the older Carnatic with its wooden decks rotted away, allowing safe penetration. Each wreck is draped in soft corals and home to crocodile fish, scorpionfish, and groupers.
Then the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard crosses open water to the Brother Islands, 2 small pinnacles 60 kilometres offshore. Big Brother features the Numidia wreck, an 150-metre steamer from 1901 lying between 5 and 80 metres, now covered in whip corals and gorgonians. Nearby, the Aida wreck stands almost vertically on the sloping reef edge, its propeller at 57 metres. Little Brother is smaller but packed with life: sponges, anemones, and hard corals cover every surface. Grey reef sharks, silvertips, and whitetips patrol the walls. Hammerheads and threshers appear here, though not on every dive. Currents at the Brothers can be strong: this is diving for experienced guests only.
Depending on the cruise, the Golden Dolphin IV may also visit Sha'ab El Erg (a horseshoe reef with a resident bottlenose dolphin pod), Bluff Point (Napoleon wrasse and turtles), or the lagoon at Sha'ab Umm Usk. Safaga's Panorama Reef offers plateaus of table corals and large gorgonians. Ras Abu Soma drops into a wall with eagle rays and occasional grey reef sharks. Small Giftun Island provides a relaxed drift along Gorgonian Reef, ending in a lagoon where tame Napoleon wrasse approach divers.
Day 8
After an early breakfast, you check out of the Golden Dolphin IV, say goodbye to the crew, and transfer to Hurghada Airport or your local hotel.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & Tiran Straits (8 Days / 7 Nights - 21 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: Thistlegorm, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Kimon M, Chrisoula K), Dunraven, Ras Mohamed: Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef; Straits of Tiran: Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon reefs
Day 1
Your definitive northern Red Sea adventure begins at the Port Ghalib marina. After being welcomed aboard the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard, you will be shown to your accommodation and given a comprehensive vessel and safety orientation by the tour leader. You will enjoy your first dinner in the saloon as the crew prepares for an early morning departure to the first dive sites.
Core Days
This is a diving expedition, flawlessly blending the region's best historical wrecks with the exhilarating, current-fed walls of the Tiran Straits and the protected Ras Mohamed Marine Park. Your time on the Golden Dolphin IV is dedicated to accessing these legendary sites.
Wreck diving is a core focus, beginning in the Gubal Strait. You will explore the monumental SS Thistlegorm, the most celebrated wreck in the Red Sea. This British military freighter, sunk in 1941, rests upright at 32 metres, allowing observation of its preserved World War II cargo, which includes motorcycles, trucks, and ordnance. Nearby, you will descend upon the Dunraven, a Victorian steamer whose hull is now richly adorned with hard corals and is home to large moray eels and schools of goatfish.
The exploration continues to Abu Nuhas, where 4 famously accessible wrecks await. The Giannis D, Carnatic, Kimon M, and Chrisoula K are now intricate artificial reefs. The wrecks are engulfed in marine life, providing spectacular environments for underwater photography and housing thousands of luminous glassfish in their sheltered interiors.
The sheer walls of Ras Mohamed National Park, particularly at Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, provide some of the finest reef diving globally. These exposed pinnacles are known for rich soft coral coverage and attract large schools of pelagic fish, including barracuda and jacks. The route also covers the demanding but rewarding dive sites in the Straits of Tiran, where reefs like Jackson and Gordon attract larger pelagic species, offering powerful drift dives along nutrient-rich currents.
Following 2 final dives to conclude the schedule, the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard returns to the pre-determined port, Port Ghalib or Hurghada marina.
Day 8
Disembarkation occurs after a final breakfast onboard.
Red Sea Route Open (8 Days / 7 Nights - 21 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, dolphins, 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: Route not yet decided. First booking of 2 customers will determine the route: Ras Mohamed & Tiran; North & Wrecks; Brothers; Brothers, Daedalus Reef & Elphinstone; or St. John's.
Your flexible Red Sea adventure commences at the agreed embarkation point, Port Ghalib or Hurghada marina. After being welcomed aboard the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard, the crew will provide a full safety and orientation brief. You will enjoy a relaxed dinner in the saloon as you prepare for the vessel's early morning departure and the start of your diving.
The ‘Red Sea Route Open’ concept is an exclusive opportunity to influence the course of your deep-sea safari. The ultimate itinerary is set by the preference of the first 2 divers to book this specific sailing, granting you the power to choose from 5 classic, high-demand routes that perfectly align with your diving interests.
These choices span the very best of Egypt's marine environments. You may opt to concentrate on the dramatic walls of the Brother Islands, renowned for frequent pelagic encounters, or select the classic Southern Triangle route, featuring the thrilling Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone. For those interested in history, the ‘North & Wrecks’ option provides access to the celebrated wartime sites and Ras Mohamed.
Alternatively, you might choose to visit the remote, lush coral gardens and pinnacles of the St. John's reef system, or combine the vibrant reefs of Ras Mohamed with the dramatic Straits of Tiran. By securing your place on the Golden Dolphin IV, you ensure your trip with the Golden Dolphin IV is truly tailored to your preferred Red Sea experience. This flexibility makes booking the Golden Dolphin IV a confident choice for discerning divers.
2 final dives are scheduled to allow for an appropriate surface interval before the vessel returns to the port. Disembarkation occurs after a final breakfast and farewells with the crew.
Red Sea South (15 Days / 14 Nights - 37 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, 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, Aida II wreck, Numidia wreck, Daedalus Reef, Zabargad, Rocky Island, St. John's, Abu Fendera, Elphinstone, Safaga.
Day 1
Board the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard at Hurghada marina. The crew and tour leader show you around, assign your cabin, and explain the itinerary. Dinner in the air-conditioned saloon. Then rest: diving starts tomorrow.
Core Days
The Golden Dolphin IV heads first to the Brother Islands, 2 small pinnacles 60 kilometres offshore. Little Brother is a compact wall packed with sponges, anemones, and hard and soft corals. Grey reef sharks and silvertips patrol the drop-offs. Hammerheads and threshers appear here, though not on every dive. At Big Brother, the Numidia wreck lies between 5 and 80 metres, a 150-metre steamer from 1901 now covered in gorgonians and soft corals. Nearby, the Aida wreck stands almost vertically on the sloping reef edge, its propeller at 57 metres. Currents at the Brothers can be strong.
From the Brothers, the Golden Dolphin IV crosses to Daedalus Reef. A sloping wall surrounds this offshore reef, with a plateau on the southern side dropping from 30 to 40 metres. Turtles and schools of surgeonfish, fusiliers, and trevallies are common here. Thresher sharks are spotted fairly often on the plateau. Oceanic whitetips also visit Daedalus, especially in summer.
The route then takes you farther south to Rocky Island. A fringing reef surrounds this small bird-nesting island. The south side has overhangs and half-caves where whitetip reef sharks rest during the day. The east and west sides are known as shark spots: currents from the north bring in sardines and the tuna that feed on them. Dolphins sometimes appear on the north side, where the wall is deeply indented with ledges and overhangs.
Zabargad, the former sapphire mining island, offers variety. The east side holds a 70-metre wreck in 1-24 metres of water, probably a Russian freighter from the 1950s or 60s. On the west side, the remains of the safari boat Neptuna lie scattered on a sandy bottom at 24 metres: a generator, suitcases, a radar unit. The south side has a lagoon at 10-12 metres, with passages through the surrounding rock. From there the reef drops steeply past 50 metres.
St. John's Reefs are a group of virtually untouched sites. At Gota Kebir, huge gorgonians with 3-4 metre diameters grow on the northern wall. The southern side drops vertically to a second plateau at 55 metres where manta rays and grey reef sharks sometimes pass. Habili Ali is a steep wall reef with grooves, overhangs, and abundant soft corals. Gota Soraya has a chimney at 9 metres covered in black coral, and manta rays visit the east side where currents meet the reef.
Abu Fendera is a 6-kilometre chain of reefs running west to east. Between the 6 elongated sections are channels ideal for diving. Dozens of coral blocks (ergs) lie at 15-20 metres, covered in soft corals. Batfish, boxfish, crocodile fish, and blue-spotted rays hide in the sandy patches. The Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard also visits Elphinstone Reef on the way north. This long finger-like reef runs north-south, with steep walls on both sides and plateaus at each end. Grey reef sharks and hammerheads are regular visitors, and manta rays are seen here during summer.
Finally, the expedition includes Safaga's southern dive sites: Panorama Reef and Shaab Sheer. Panorama's northern plateau features large table corals and thousands of anthias. Eagle rays, napoleon wrasse, and turtles move across the reef. Shaab Sheer's west side faces the South Safaga Channel, with a brain coral garden in 3-15 metres. Picasso triggerfish, parrotfish, and schools of barracuda and tuna are common here.
Day 15
After a small breakfast, you check out of the Golden Dolphin IV, say your farewells to the crew, and transfer to Hurghada Airport or your local hotel.
[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].
The day begins early on the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard. Around 6:30 am, the crew sets out a light pre-breakfast: tea, coffee, biscuits, toast, and fruit. It is enough to take the edge off before the first dive, when the water is often at its calmest and the light best for spotting pelagic life.
After the first dive, breakfast is served in the air-conditioned restaurant on the lower deck. The spread is buffet style, with a mix of international and Egyptian dishes. You might find scrambled eggs alongside ful medames (the slow-cooked fava bean staple of Egyptian mornings), fresh bread, cheeses, cold cuts, yoghurt, and seasonal fruit. Tea and coffee are always available, and the waitstaff move through the room keeping things topped up. A Nespresso machine is available for those who prefer their coffee a certain way, though guests supply their own capsules. The boat carries a small stock of soft drinks and mixers, but for specific requests such as tonic water or diet sodas, advance notice helps the crew stock accordingly.
The second dive of the morning typically takes place before lunch, giving everyone an appetite. Lunch is the main meal of the day, with 4 or 5 different dishes laid out. A typical spread might include grilled chicken or fish, a pasta or rice dish, roasted vegetables, a fresh salad, and a Egyptian specialty such as molokhia (a rich green soup served over rice) or kofta. There is always a vegetarian option, and the kitchen can accommodate other dietary requirements with advance notice.
Afternoon dives are followed by time to relax on the sun decks, where the Jacuzzi and comfortable loungers invite a slow pace. Snacks remain available throughout the day: biscuits, fruit, bread for toast, and the occasional candy bar for those needing a quick sugar hit between dives. Soft drinks, water, tea, and coffee are all complimentary. For those who wish, beer and wine are available for purchase.
Dinner is served around 7 pm, again buffet style in the lower deck restaurant. The evening meal might feature grilled meats, fish, pasta, rice, and a selection of vegetable dishes. Egyptian favourites appear regularly: perhaps a tagine, or freshly baked baladi bread alongside dips like baba ganoush and tahini. Dessert is simple but satisfying: fresh fruit, sometimes a traditional Egyptian pastry like basbousa.
After dinner, the Golden Dolphin IV crew often arranges a night dive for those who wish to see the reef in its nocturnal character. For those who prefer to stay dry, the salons on the main and upper decks offer comfortable seating, a TV, and a place to review the day’s photos or chat with fellow divers.
Throughout the trip, the crew maintains a relaxed but attentive presence. Buffet service is assisted, so tables are cleared promptly and drinks refilled without fuss. The dining area itself is kept dry and clean: shoes are removed upon boarding, and wet dive gear stays on the dive deck, leaving the restaurant a comfortable space to eat and unwind between dives.
For those with dietary needs, the kitchen can adapt with prior notice. Vegetarian and vegan options are standard, and allergies or other restrictions are best communicated before departure so the Golden Dolphin IV liveaboard crew can plan accordingly.
