The Golden Dolphin I liveaboard represents a perfect blend of authentic character and purpose-built functionality for the quintessential Red Sea diving safari. The 34-metre Golden Dolphin I was constructed specifically for Egypt’s diving safaris, operating out of Hurghada and Marsa Ghalib to give you access to the full spectrum of underwater wonders. Whether your ambition is to explore the remote Brother Islands, drift along the walls of Daedalus, or venture deep south to the pristine St. John’s reefs, the Golden Dolphin I puts the region’s most iconic sites within reach.
Step aboard the Golden Dolphin I and you’ll find accommodation that balances comfort with practicality. The boat hosts just 20 guests across 10 cabins, ensuring a relaxed, personal atmosphere throughout the week. Every cabin is air-conditioned and fitted with a private ensuite bathroom, offering a cool, quiet retreat after long days in the water. The wood-panelled interior gives the boat a warm, traditional feel, while the spacious, air-conditioned saloon provides a social hub for briefings, meals, or simply unwinding with fellow divers.
When it comes to the diving experience, the Golden Dolphin I is set up with efficiency and convenience at its core. The dive deck is spacious and well-organised, complete with freshwater showers and toilets so you can rinse off quickly between dives. Underwater photographers and videographers will appreciate the dedicated camera table and multiple charging stations located around the boat. For those diving with more advanced equipment, the Golden Dolphin I liveaboard is fully rebreather and technical diver-friendly, and certified guests can make use of free nitrox throughout the cruise.
One of the standout features of the Golden Dolphin I is the flexibility it offers serious divers. With dive safaris that can cover the Sinai Peninsula, the southern Red Sea, and everywhere in between, your group’s first 2 bookings help determine the route. This means you could be exploring the legendary wrecks of Abu Nuhas or the Thistlegorm one week, and the following trip might focus on the big pelagic action at Elphinstone or the dramatic drop-offs of the Brothers. It is a liveaboard that adapts to the ambitions of the divers on board, rather than forcing a rigid schedule.
Life on deck is equally inviting, with plenty of space to choose between soaking up the Egyptian sun or relaxing in the shade. There are dedicated areas for socialising and quieter corners for taking in the sea views. The crew are experienced Red Sea operators who know the currents, the tides, and the seasonal rhythms of marine life. Their local knowledge means you’ll be in the right place at the right time, whether that’s waiting for a shark patrol along a wall or slipping into a wreck just as the light hits the cargo hold.
Ultimately, the Golden Dolphin I liveaboard offers a genuine, no-fuss approach to some of the world’s most celebrated diving. It is a boat built by divers, run by divers, and trusted by those who return to the Red Sea year after year. With a maximum of 20 guests, a relaxed atmosphere, and a reputation for getting to the best sites when conditions are optimal, the Golden Dolphin I delivers the kind of week that stays with you long after you’ve hung up your wetsuit.
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 (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.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & 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, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Kimon M, Chrisoula K), Dunraven, Ras Mohamed: Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef
Day 1
Upon arriving at the liveaboard in Hurghada, you will be welcomed aboard by the tour leader and crew of the Golden Dolphin 1. They will check you in, show you to your cabin, and conduct a boat orientation. This will be followed by a detailed briefing covering the itinerary for your holiday and other important information. Dinner will be served in the air-conditioned saloon, giving you time to relax and settle in before your diving commences the following morning.
Core Days
The Brother Islands are 2 small, exposed islets in the open sea, renowned for their exceptionally high concentration of marine life. Shark sightings are very frequent for liveaboard divers at the sites surrounding the islands, with scalloped hammerheads, grey reef sharks, silvertip, and whitetip reef sharks all common. The walls are adorned with a stunning mix of sponges, anemones, and both hard and soft corals, which paint the underwater world with an astonishing variety of colour. Additionally, the famous Numidia wreck at Big Brother offers another fascinating dive for the Golden Dolphin to explore.
Regarded as perhaps the most famous wreck in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm rests upright on the seabed just off the Sinai Peninsula at a depth of 32 metres. She still contains her fascinating cargo of tanks, lorries, motorcycles, weapons, a railway carriage, and 2 railway engines.
The reef at Abu Nuhas is famous for its 4 wrecks, which act as a magnet for divers from all over the world. The wrecks themselves are now beautifully encrusted with corals, attracting a prolific amount of reef fish. Inside the wrecks, you can expect to find them teeming with thousands of glassfish.
The Giannis D is often the highlight of the Golden Dolphin's trip to Abu Nuhas and is regarded as one of the most photogenic and enjoyable wreck dives in the Red Sea. This Greek freighter, which was carrying a cargo of timber, struck the reef in 1983 and now lies in 3 distinct sections at a maximum depth of around 27 metres. The wreck offers a fantastic multi-level profile, as its main mast reaches up to just 4 metres below the surface, making it an ideal point to end the dive or perform a safety stop.
The Ras Mohammed marine park offers great diving, especially at Shark and Yolanda reef. Both reefs feature great hard and soft corals, plenty of fish and also sharks, especially during the morning dives. The park's most legendary site is Shark and Yolanda Reef, an exhilarating drift dive past two massive pinnacles rising from the deep. You fly past the vertical wall of Shark Reef, which is completely carpeted in a stunning mosaic of colourful soft corals and swarming with clouds of anthias. While drifting, divers keep an eye on the deep blue for schools of barracuda, trevally, and, in summer, various reef sharks.
There will only 2 dives on the last day before disembarkation as the liveaboard will then sail back to port.
Day 8
Check-out is usually after a light breakfast. This gives you time to say your farewells to the liveaboard crew before you are transferred to either 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
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 South & St. John's Reefs (15 Days / 14 Nights - 37 Dives)
Trip highlights: dolphins, dugongs/manatees, great macro life/ marine diversity
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Daedalus Reef, Zabargad, Rocky Island, Elphinstone, 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
The tour leader and crew welcome you aboard the Golden Dolphin I in Port Ghalib, where you are shown to your cabin and given a briefing on the boat and the week ahead. Guests arrive throughout the afternoon, and dinner is served as everyone settles in. The vessel remains in port overnight, allowing for a relaxed start before the diving begins in earnest the following morning. Note that this dive expedition may also operate from Hurghada, so it is worth confirming your departure point.
Core Days
The southern Red Sea rewards those who venture this far, and the Golden Dolphin I liveaboard is built to cover its most celebrated locations without rushing. The safari opens with dives at Daedalus Reef, a circular formation marked by its lighthouse and known for reliable encounters with pelagic species. Scalloped hammerheads are often found along the steep outer walls in the early morning, while grey reef sharks patrol the current-swept edges. Manta rays appear here, particularly in the warmer months, gliding up from deeper water with a slow, deliberate grace. Beyond the shark action, the reef plateau supports healthy hard coral gardens, and cleaner stations attract turtles and Napoleon wrasse that pause to be attended by smaller fish.
From Daedalus, the Golden Dolphin moves further south to Rocky Island, one of the more current-swept regions of the Red Sea. The nutrient-rich water movement here has created an environment of exceptional richness: massive gorgonian fans stretch from the walls, black coral trees grow in the deeper sections, and sponges in a range of colours cover the steep faces. Grey reef sharks and silvertip sharks are regular visitors, often holding station in the lee of the current. In quieter spots, turtles shelter beneath overhangs, and schools of barracuda hang in the blue. Dolphins are common in this area, and manta rays pass through with enough frequency to keep eyes scanning the deeper water.
Zabargad Island offers a contrast with its shallow coral gardens, drop-offs, and walls populated by soldierfish, wrasses, and schools of snappers that drift above the reef. The island itself has a unique character, its ancient peridot mines adding a sense of remoteness to the diving.
St John's reef system follows, widely regarded as home to some of the healthiest and most colourful reefs in the Red Sea. Within the system, Big Habili and Small Habili are known for their pinnacles rising from deeper water, their sides covered in soft corals and home to resident turtles and schooling fish. Umm Erug and Umm Hararim offer a mix of sloping reefs and sheltered lagoons, where the coral cover is dense and the marine life abundant. The Fury Shoals add further variety: Shaab Claudio is famous for its swim-throughs weaving through ancient porites coral heads, El Malahi offers maze-like gullies where turtles are regular residents, and Abu Galawa Soraya presents a coral garden alongside a small wreck smothered in glassfish.
Elphinstone provides a fitting conclusion before the Golden Dolphin I liveaboard returns north. This classic seamount runs north-south, its walls dropping sharply on either side. Oceanic whitetip sharks are encountered here with regularity, often approaching from the depths with a quiet confidence. Grey reef sharks patrol the northern and southern tips, while schools of trevally and barracuda hunt in the blue beyond the wall. Between the shark encounters, the overhangs shelter lionfish and glassfish, the walls are studded with whips and soft corals, and whitetip reef sharks are often found resting on sandy patches below the plateau.
Day 15
After breakfast on the final morning, guests check out, say goodbye to the crew, and are transferred to the airport or a local hotel. It is the conclusion to a comprehensive exploration of the southern Red Sea's most rewarding dive sites aboard the Golden Dolphin I.
Note: this itinerary can use the marina of Hurghada or Port Ghalib. Please check exact 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].
![Customer rating - Excellent](/image/star-rating-5.jpg" "Customer rating - Excellent"){kind=small}
