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.
Itinerary details dependent upon route selected.
St. John's Reefs (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. 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 & 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 (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 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, 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
Upon landing in Hurghada you will be met at the arrival terminal and given assistance with your visa on arrival. A 3 hour air-conditioned van ride will take you to Port Ghalib marina where the Golden Dolphin 2 is moored. During the journey you will be served a lunch box and drinks. Otherwise you can fly to Marsa Alam Airport which is only 10 minutes away from Port Ghalib. The tour leader and crew will welcome you on board brief you about the boat and the cruise and assign your cabin. Guests will arrive throughout the day. Dinner will be served before bedding down for a good night’s sleep before the fun days ahead.
Core Days
Among the best loved dive sites of the Red Sea are the famous Brother Islands, 2 exposed promontories that act as a magnet for sea life. Here you will find walls bedecked in colour; sponges, soft corals and anemones. There is a good chance you will spot a variety of sharks including scalloped hammerheads, numerous grey reef sharks, silvertips and whitetips. There is a wreck called Numidia lying in the shallows which is decorated with gorgonians and hard and soft corals. The reefs of Elphinstone and Daedalus are home to a vast array of tropical reef fish as well as schools of surgeonfish, fusiliers and trevallies. You can spot manta rays here, especially in the summertime and sharks year round may include hammerheads, thresher sharks and oceanic whitetips.
One of the more current-swept regions of the Red Sea is Rocky Island. Here the nutrient-rich water movement gives rise to healthy gorgonian fans, black coral trees and sponges. Often found sheltering in quieter spots are turtles, grey reef sharks, and silvertips. Manta rays and dolphins are also common visitors. Zabargad islands is a site populated by soldierfish, wrasses and schools of snappers. It features walls, drop-offs and shallow coral gardens. St John's is home to the healthiest and most colourful reefs in the Red Sea.
In the Red Sea you will normally do 3 or 4 dives a day, with a couple of morning dives followed by a 3rd dive in the afternoon and a night dive that ends each amazing day of underwater discovery. On the last day before disembarkation, there will only be 2 dives before the boat sails back to port.
Dining gets underway with a full cooked breakfast each morning (eggs cooked to order, pancakes, cheese, sausages, cereal and toast). Buffet-style lunch and dinner includes plenty of fresh vegetables, rice, noodles, fresh fish, chicken and beef. Dishes are mostly international fare plus a number of local delicacies. There is also a barbecue night each trip which goes down well among the guests. Snacks such as fresh fruit, cookies and juice are always available.
Day 15
After breakfast on the final day you can check out, say your goodbyes to the crew and be transferred to the airport or hotel.
Note: this itinerary can use the marina of Hurghada or Port Ghalib. Please check exact details above.
Red Sea of Egypt (15 Days / 14 Nights - 39 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: 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; Salem Express, Big Brother, Little Brother, Aida II wreck, Numidia wreck, Daedalus Reef, Rocky Island, Zabargad, Elphinstone
Day 1
Upon arrival at the Golden Dolphin I liveaboard in Hurghada, you will be greeted by the crew and tour leader, who will guide you to your cabin and provide a tour of the boat. You will then receive a detailed briefing regarding the vessel's routine and your holiday itinerary. Finally, sit back and enjoy dinner in the air-conditioned saloon before retiring for the night, ready for the diving to commence the following day.
Core Days
This extensive liveaboard diving safari with the the Golden Dolphin I offers a comprehensive tour of the Egyptian Red Sea, spanning from the southern marine parks to the Sinai Peninsula and its famous northern wrecks. Undeniably, one of the highlights is the SS Thistlegorm, a legendary WWII vessel resting upright at a maximum depth of 32 metres. Here, you can dive amongst a fascinating array of preserved cargo, including tanks, trucks, motorcycles, weapons, and even a railway engine complete with carriage.
One of the most celebrated areas in the Red Sea is the Straits of Tiran, where strong currents transport nutrients that fuel the reef ecosystem. These conditions attract pelagic species from the open ocean, resulting in frequent sightings of sharks, as well as large schools of barracuda and jacks. Equally impressive is the Ras Mohammed Marine Park, particularly the standout sites of Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, which are renowned for their shark populations, abundant fish life, and exquisite hard and soft corals.
For wreck enthusiasts, the reef at Abu Nuhas is a popular highlight. It is home to 4 sunken vessels that have been reclaimed by the ocean, now teeming with marine life and sheltering thousands of glassfish within their structures.
The famous Brother Islands consist of 2 exposed promontories that serve as a magnet for marine life. Their walls are a riot of colour, draped in soft corals, sponges, and anemones, while the shallow waters host the Numidia wreck, which is spectacularly decorated with gorgonians. These islands offer excellent opportunities to spot diverse shark species, including silvertips, whitetips, numerous grey reef sharks, and scalloped hammerheads. At Daedalus reef, the spectacle continues with frequent sightings of pelagic giants such as thresher sharks, oceanic whitetips, hammerheads, and manta rays. The reef itself is bustling with activity, supporting vast schools of fusiliers, trevallies, surgeonfish, and a variety of other fish life.
Characterised by its diverse topography, Zabargad features shallow coral gardens alongside steep walls and drop-offs. It is a site teeming with life, populated by wrasses, soldierfish, and large schools of snappers. Elsewhere, the nutrient-rich currents at Rocky Island fuel the growth of vibrant sponges, black coral trees, and healthy gorgonian fans. These moving waters attract frequent visitors such as dolphins and manta rays, while the island’s sheltered pockets provide refuge for turtles, silvertips, and grey reef sharks.
There will only 2 dives on the last day before disembarkation as the boat will then sail back to port.
Day 15
Check out time is normally after a small breakfast and farewells with the crew, before being transferred either to Port Ghalib Airport or your local hotel.
Note: Sometimes these trips run in reverse. Please check your trip details for more information.
Daedalus, Rocky, Zabargad & St. John's (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, 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: Daedalus Reef, Zabargad, Rocky Island, Elphinstone, St. John's reef system: Big Habili, Small Habili, Umm Erug, Umm Hararim
Day 1
After stepping on board Golden Dolphin I in Port Ghalib, the crew will guide you to your cabin and provide a full orientation of the boat and the planned route. The evening allows for a comfortable dinner in the lounge before you turn in, ensuring you are ready for the first dives of the trip tomorrow.
Core Days
For some of the healthiest coral gardens in Egypt, head to the deep south and explore St. John's Reefs. This area is defined by its spectacular hard corals and complex geography, ranging from pinnacles and drop-offs to cavernous swim-throughs. Life here is abundant, with frequent sightings of barracuda, reef sharks, and the occasional pod of dolphins.
Big Habili is a submerged reef system that rises from the depths but remains below the surface, allowing for pristine coral growth. The steep walls here are draped in stunning soft corals and gorgonians. Given the open ocean location, it is a prime spot for pelagic action, where you can often spot grey reef sharks, silvertips, and schooling barracuda patrolling the blue.
Alternatively, Daedalus is a haven for pelagic action; expect to see thresher sharks, hammerheads, and oceanic whitetips patrolling the deep. The reef itself is alive with schools of tropical fish, while the summer months often bring sightings of manta rays.
Elphinstone offers some of the most exciting drift diving in the region. This offshore reef features dramatic vertical walls and is famous for its shark encounters. Divers can expect to see oceanic whitetips hanging beneath the boats, while hammerheads are often spotted out in the blue. The reef is also teeming with anthias, fusiliers, and trevallies.
At Rocky Island, year-round water movement supports a healthy population of gorgonians and black coral. It is a haven for pelagics and other creatures, with frequent sightings of silvertips, grey reef sharks, manta rays, and turtles. Diving at Zabargad offers a mix of steep drop-offs and bright, shallow reefs, where you will find the water filled with shoals of snappers, soldierfish, and various species of wrasse.
There will only 2 dives on the last day before disembarkation as the boat will then sail back to port.
Day 8
Your trip concludes with a light breakfast and a final chance to say goodbye to the crew. Following disembarkation, you will be transferred directly to the airport or your chosen hotel in Port Ghalib.
[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].
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