MY Golden Dolphin I is a 34m wooden hulled liveaboard motor yacht purpose-built for Red Sea diving safaris. Operating chiefly out of Hurghada and Marsa Ghalib, this is a boat that can undertakes liveaboard cruises to the Sinai Peninsula and the southern Red Sea, particularly the Brothers region.
20 guests can be accommodated on the Golden Dolphin I in 10 cabins which are either double bed or twin share and all enjoy air conditioning and en-suite bathroom facilities. The interior of the boat is wood panelled, and liveaboard facilities include a spacious air conditioned saloon with complete electronic entertainment systems including free Wi-Fi internet. If you prefer the open air, there is plenty of relaxation space on deck, both under shaded cover and open to the warm Egyptian sun.
There is a large and well-organised diving deck complete with showers and toilets to allow you to refresh quickly after each dive. Free nitrox plus camera table and plenty of charging areas around the boat, including the deck, will keep underwater photographers happy. The Golden Dolphin I liveaboard is also rebreather and technical diver-friendly.
Egypt Red Sea - Route Open
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: 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.
The Golden Dolphin I liveaboard offers seasoned divers the flexibility to set their course across the Red Sea’s most legendary waters, with the itinerary determined by the first 2 guests to book.
Should the choice fall on Ras Mohamed and Tiran, expect drift dives over pristine coral gardens and the chance to ride the currents past the famed Shark and Yolanda reefs, where the plateau drops away into the deep blue. For those drawn to history, the North & Wrecks route leads to the skeletal silhouette of the Dunraven and the submerged cargo of the Thistlegorm, her trucks and trains still resting in the gloom.
The Brothers islands deliver sheer walls adorned with soft corals, where grey reef sharks patrol the drop-offs, while combining Brothers with Daedalus and Elphinstone opens up encounters with oceanic whitetips and the graceful passage of scalloped hammerheads.
For a more southerly adventure, St. John’s rewards with less-visited reefs and intricate cave systems.
Whichever path the group chooses, the Golden Dolphin I liveaboard provides a stable base for accessing these world-class sites, with itineraries shaped entirely by the divers on board.
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
Once onboard the Golden Dolphin I liveaboard in Port Ghalib, the crew and tour leader will welcome you, show you around the boat, assign your cabin, and provide a detailed briefing on the itinerary and other important information for your holiday. Enjoy dinner, before resting for the night; your diving begins the next day.
Core Days
This Golden Dolphin itinerary ventures into the deep south of the Red Sea, offering the opportunity to dive St. John’s Reefs, widely considered the most vibrant and healthy in the region. The underwater landscapes are spectacular, featuring dramatic drop-offs, pinnacles, canyons, caves, and tunnels decorated with stunning hard corals. Marine life is plentiful, with possible sightings of barracuda, various reef sharks, and occasionally dolphins, dugongs, and mantas. The liveaboard tour also incorporates a visit to Fury Shoals, a reef system renowned for its superb scuba diving and some of Egypt's most pristine reefs.
Big Habili, also known as Habili Ali, is a famous submerged reef in the St. John's system, and a highlight of the deep south. As a 'habili', its top sits several metres below the surface, and it plunges dramatically into the deep with steep walls. It is common to see barracuda, tuna, and jacks hunting in the blue. It is also a prime location for scuba divers to sight various sharks, particularly grey reef sharks, with hammerheads, silvertips, and oceanic whitetips also making appearances. The walls are covered in spectacular hard corals, alongside vast gorgonian sea fans and curtains of black coral.
Umm Erug, often known as Umm Arouk, is located in the heart of the St. John's reef system. Its name translates to 'the mother of coral towers'. The dive site is generally shallow with minimal currents, making it a relaxed and easy dive, as well as a popular choice for night diving. The coral-covered walls and pinnacles attract large shoals of reef fish, particularly sweetlips. It is also an excellent place to look for smaller creatures hidden in the recesses, such as octopuses, shrimps, and Spanish dancers.
Shaab Claudio is one of the most famous reefs in the Fury Shoals system. It is celebrated for its unique and accessible network of shallow caverns and swim-throughs. The reef itself is not just about the caves; the western side features a beautiful hard coral garden. Marine life is plentiful, and you can often find Napoleon wrasse, moray eels, and whitetip reef sharks. The coral blocks and ledges also provide a good habitat for macro life like nudibranchs.
The main attraction to liveaboard divers of Abu Galawa Soraya is the wreck of a small sailing yacht that sank in the 1980s. It rests upright on a sandy bottom at around 17 metres and is completely intact. The wreck is beautifully colonised by soft and hard corals and is often filled with dense shoals of glassfish. The reef itself is just as impressive. It features a magnificent, fairytale-like canyon or swim-through that cuts through the reef at a shallow depth. This leads out to a stunning hard coral garden on the reef's western side. The site is well-protected, with minimal current, making it perfect for underwater photographers and a popular choice for night dives.
There will only 2 dives on the last day before disembarkation as the Golden Dolphin I sails back to Port Ghalib.
Day 8
Following a small breakfast and saying farewell to the crew, check-out from the liveaboard in Port Ghalib. You will then be transferred to either the airport or your 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
Once onboard the Golden Dolphin I in Hurghada, you will be met by the crew and the liveaboard tour leader, who will show you around the boat, assign you a cabin, and explain the important information and the itinerary for your holiday in the North & Wrecks region and the Straits of Tiran. Enjoy your dinner in the air-conditioned saloon before going to bed. You will start diving the next day.
Core Days
The Golden Dolphin visits the sites at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. The Ras Mohammed Marine Park provides superb diving, most notably at Shark and Yolanda Reef. These reefs boast a fantastic array of hard and soft corals, abundant fish life, and the chance to see sharks, particularly on the morning dives. Arguably the most renowned wreck in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm rests upright on the seabed 32 metres down. Its cargo includes tanks, lorries, motorbikes, weaponry, a railway carriage, and 2 railway locomotives.
Diving at Abu Nuhas, the Red Sea's 'Ship Graveyard', offers a concentrated collection of world-class wrecks. This treacherous reef has claimed many vessels, with four being the main draw for divers. The Giannis D is a highlight of the liveaboard cruise, broken in 3 sections with an intact stern and a famous, easy swim-through in the engine room, often full of glassfish. Its mast, near the surface, is perfect for safety stops. The Carnatic, sunk in 1869, is the oldest and most picturesque. Its wooden decks have rotted, leaving an iron skeleton resembling a whale's ribs, now covered in soft corals and home to groupers and sweepers. The Chrisoula K still has its cargo of Italian tiles visible, while the Kimon M rests deeper at 32m. These wrecks function as vibrant artificial reefs, attracting a huge amount of marine life. The metal structures are carpeted in colourful corals, hosting clouds of glassfish, as well as camouflaged lionfish and scorpionfish. Giant moray eels hide in crevices, while batfish and jacks patrol the blue.
The Straits of Tiran, at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, are a world-famous diving area defined by 4 major reef systems: Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, and Gordon. This narrow channel funnels strong, nutrient-rich currents, making for exhilarating drift dives along dramatic, coral-covered walls. These currents attract an incredible abundance of marine life, including vast schools of barracuda, jacks, and tuna. The area is particularly renowned for its pelagic encounters, offering one of the Red Sea's best chances to see various shark species, including whitetip reef sharks and scalloped hammerheads, especially at Jackson Reef.
The final day is limited to 2 dives, allowing time for the Golden Dolphin I to sail back to harbour for disembarkation.
Day 8
Following a final breakfast and saying your farewells to the crew, you will be collected for your transfer to either Hurghada Airport or a local hotel.
Red Sea North & Wrecks (8 Days / 7 Nights - 21 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: Thistlegorm, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Kimon M, Chrisoula K), Dunraven, Ras Mohamed: Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef
Day 1
Once onboard the Golden Dolphin I in Hurghada, you will be met by the crew and tour leader, who will show you around the boat, allocate your cabin, and explain the important details and itinerary for your liveaboard safari. Enjoy dinner in the air-conditioned saloon before retiring for the night; diving will commence the following day.
Core Days
The Golden Dolphin I liveaboard visits sites at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Ras Mohammed Marine Park provides superb diving, most notably at Shark and Yolanda Reef. These reefs boast a fantastic array of hard and soft corals, abundant fish life, and the chance to see sharks, particularly on morning dives. Arguably the most renowned wreck in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm rests upright on the seabed at 32 metres. Its cargo includes tanks, lorries, motorbikes, weaponry, a railway carriage, and 2 railway locomotives. The Dunraven was a British cargo steamer that sank in 30 metres in 1876 after hitting a reef. The ship's hull is now inverted (upside-down), creating a massive, cavern-like structure that you can swim through and under. The signature highlight of the dive is the swim-through runs the entire length of the main cargo hold. You enter at the stern (the propeller is still visible here) and swim through a vast, dark chamber. Sunbeams pierce through portholes and holes in the hull, creating a cathedral-like, 'god-ray' effect that is incredibly dramatic and photogenic.
Diving at Abu Nuhas, the Red Sea's 'Ship Graveyard', offers a concentrated collection of world-class wrecks. This treacherous reef has claimed many vessels, with 4 forming the main attraction for divers. The Giannis D is a highlight of the liveaboard cruise; broken into 3 sections. It features an intact stern and a famous, easy swim-through in the engine room which is often full of glassfish. Its mast, located near the surface, is perfect for safety stops. The Carnatic, sunk in 1869, is the oldest and most picturesque. Its wooden decks have rotted away, leaving an iron skeleton resembling a whale's ribs, now covered in soft corals and home to groupers and sweepers. The Chrisoula K still has its cargo of Italian tiles visible, while the Kimon M rests deeper at 32 metres. These wrecks function as vibrant artificial reefs, attracting a huge amount of marine life. The metal structures are carpeted in colourful corals, hosting clouds of glassfish, as well as camouflaged lionfish and scorpionfish. Giant moray eels hide in crevices, while batfish and jacks patrol the blue.
There will be only 2 dives on the final day before disembarkation, as the Golden Dolphin sails back to Hurghada.
Day 8
Check-out is typically following a light breakfast and farewells with the crew, before your transfer to either 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].
You can enjoy your buffet style meals in the air-conditioned saloon/dining area or the open air shaded area on the upper deck, cooled by sea breezes. On board the Golden Dolphin I liveaboard you can expect a range of cuisine including international, BBQs, Italian food and of course, Egyptian and Gulf specialities, with 4 or 5 different dishes on offer at each sitting. Catering begins with dinner on the first day of the dive safari. There are also plenty of nibbles free of charge throughout the day.
- Breakfast: A full breakfast is provided, often including eggs cooked to your preference (like omelettes, fried, or scrambled), pancakes, toast, bread, fresh fruit, vegetables, cereals, yogurt, cheese, and sausages.
- Lunch and dinner: These meals feature a mix of international and local Egyptian cuisine. You can expect a variety of dishes such as grilled chicken, beef, fish, pasta, rice, noodles, potatoes, and a wide selection of fresh vegetables and salads. There is also typically a barbecue night at least once during the trip.
- Snacks and drinks: Between dives, snacks like biscuits, fruit, and candy bars are available. Drinking water, tea, coffee, and soft drinks are included.
- Vegetarian and other special dietary needs can be catered for with advanced notice.
A typical day on the Golden Dolphin I involves 3 to 4 dives. The schedule is generally organised around a morning dive, a second morning/mid-day dive, an afternoon dive and, when the itinerary permits, a night dive.
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