The Red Sea is one of the world's most accessible and rewarding destinations for scuba divers, offering a combination of historical wreck diving and vibrant marine park exploration. For divers who prioritise reaching these iconic, often remote, sites without compromising on comfort or budget, the JP Marine liveaboard presents an excellent choice. This large 37-metre Egyptian liveaboard is built for speed and coverage, cruising at 15 knots thanks to its twin 610 HP engines, enabling it to efficiently link the scattered highlights of the Red Sea's major marine parks on its week-long dive safaris.
JP Marine is operated by Dive Safari Master, a highly experienced and trusted operator with over 20 years in the Red Sea liveaboard industry, providing an essential layer of credibility and confidence for prospective guests. The operator manages a dedicated fleet and holds certifications from reputable bodies including PADI, HEPCA, and CDWS, underscoring a commitment to safety and environmental standards. Adding to this operational assurance, the captain brings over 30 years of experience navigating local Red Sea waters.
The JP Marine offers comprehensive cruises, catering to different diving interests and experience levels. Trips regularly visit the current-swept walls of Brothers and Daedalus Reef, known for their potential pelagic encounters, as well as northern sites like the Tiran Strait and Ras Mohamed National Park. For coral reef enthusiasts, safaris also cover the extensive St. John’s reef system and the remote, untouched areas of Zabargad. Specialised tours, such as the 'Pelagic Trail', are available to maximise opportunities for big pelagic sightings.
Guest capacity aboard the JP Marine is set for up to 28 divers across 14 air-conditioned cabins, each featuring a private en-suite bathroom. The yacht provides ample social and relaxation areas. Inside, an air-conditioned lounge is equipped with entertainment systems and a self-service bar. Above deck, guests can enjoy a shaded, open-air area with comfortable padded seating and a bar for evening drinks. There is also a solarium on the bridge, offering a sunny spot to rest and tan during surface intervals.
Operational logistics on the JP Marine liveaboard are well-geared towards high-volume diving. The dive deck features equipment storage crates and freshwater showers for convenience. Divers benefit from on-board air facilities, including 3 compressors and a nitrox blender. Getting to and from the dive sites is handled smoothly by 2 fast, motorised zodiacs. The standard package includes roundtrip transfers from Hurghada and Marsa Alam and features 3 daily buffet meals with vegetarian options, ensuring divers are well-fuelled throughout the trip.
The JP Marine liveaboard is often noted for providing exceptional value, making Red Sea dive safaris more affordable for divers who are budget-conscious but still demand high standards of operation and comfort. By combining affordability with a large, capable vessel and a focus on hitting the most desirable Red Sea destinations, the JP Marine offers a confident and knowledgeable choice for scuba divers planning their next Egyptian adventure.
There are 14 twin bed cabins on board the JP Marine: 8 cabins on the lower deck, and 6 cabins on the upper deck. All cabins have private bathrooms. Thankfully, none of the guest cabins are next to engine room as there is a dive-guide cabin and a storage room located there.
All the cabins have:
- Air-conditioning
- Private bathroom with hot water shower, hand basin, soap and mirror
- Portholes on lower deck, windows on upper deck
- Reading lights
- Towels
- Bedside cabinet
- Wardrobe
- Bedding
- 24-hour, 220v electricity supply
- European-style 2-pin plugs
- Fire warning system and extinguishers
- Life jackets
No. of bathrooms / showers - 14 / 14 - hot water
[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 daily schedule on the JP Marine liveaboard is specifically designed for divers to maximize bottom time in the Red Sea. On a standard cruise, guests can expect 3 dives each day within protected marine parks, increasing to 4 dives daily in other locations across Egypt.
The routine follows a steady, restorative rhythm built around diving. The morning begins with the first plunge at 7 am. After ascending, a hearty breakfast is served at 8 am to prepare for the second immersion at 10 am. Lunch is available at 12 noon, preceding the afternoon dive at 2 pm. Mid-afternoon snacks are provided at 4 pm, followed by the final dive of the day - a night dive - when local regulations permit, at 7 pm. Dinner is then served around 8 pm. Please note that the final day of the trip includes only 2 dives before the vessel begins its return sail to port.
Fuelling a week of diving is a significant part of the onboard experience, and the JP Marine liveaboard ensures 3 delicious, satisfying meals are provided daily. All main meals are served buffet style.
* Breakfast offers a selection of fresh options, including eggs prepared to your preference: omelette, fried, or scrambled. The spread also features pancakes, toast, bread, fresh fruit, vegetables, cereals, yoghurt or milk, cheese, and sausages, complemented by hot coffee and tea.
* Lunch and dinner menus primarily feature international recipes but are frequently supplemented by local Egyptian delicacies. Dishes consistently include substantial portions of fresh vegetables, rice, noodles, chicken, beef, and fish.
Between meals, certified divers can enjoy self-service tea, coffee, drinking water, and snacks 24/7, with an additional mid-afternoon snack of cookies, fresh fruit, and juice served at 4 pm.
"
Nice crew. Good dive sites. >230 bars of pressure every dive allowing long and deep dives. Boat is a bit aging and AC didnt work in my room (but appeared to in all the other rooms). Walkways needed to be cleaned a bit more frequently." -
Joseph Pergler, Qatar, 17 October 2021 ...
MORE TRIP DETAILS
Dive experience: All routes require advanced open water diver certification, but guests can take their advanced course onboard the JP Marine liveaboard if necessary (need to book before the trip). When not having sufficient logged dives, guests can also join the trip by hiring a private dive guide for the week (USD 409 per dive guide).
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, drinking water, hot drinks, scheduled return transfers from Hurghada or Marsa Alam Airport to the boat, dives (as detailed in the trips above), 2 experienced English-speaking divemasters, tanks, weights and weightbelts, sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment rental (incl. dive computer and torch: USD 257 per week), dive insurance (and standard medical insurance), port fees USD 29 per week, environmental tax (USD 82 per week, cash EUR only), service charge (i.e. tips: USD 82 per week). A fuel surcharge will apply to all cruises (7 nights USD 58, cash EUR only). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only - USD or EUR).
Optional extras: Soft drinks, alcoholic drinks, nitrox fills for certified enriched air divers (USD 82 per week), 15 litre tank (USD 41 per week). Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash only). Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: JP Marine liveaboard diving safaris depart from Hurghada or Port Ghalib, and return transfers are included from Hurghada hotels (main city only), and from Hurghada and Marsa Alam airports. Scheduled transfers from Hurghada to Port Ghalib run from 2-6 pm, and it takes approximately 4 hours. There is also a pick up at Marsa Alam Airport at 5 pm. Boarding takes place at 5 pm. The first and last night of each tour are spent in port/marina. Disembarkation is at 10 am, when there is a transfer service to the local airport. Transfers from Port Ghalib to Hurghada depart between 8-10 am.
The last dive of the trip will be at around 12 noon on the penultimate day. Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving. For more details, including airlines, visit our Red Sea travel information section.
Non-diver rate: None.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to share a cabin or pay a 100% supplement of the normal published price for their own cabin.
Dive clubs and group discounts: 5% off for groups of 5 and more during the summer weeks from June to August.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): On request only.
Add-on package: If you have time, we strongly recommend that you consider some of the wonderful antiquities tours in Egypt which can add a whole new dimension to your holiday. Cairo museum's royal mummies, the pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, a glorious cruise down the Nile staying in a luxury cabin, The Valley of the Kings, all of these and more can be seen in packages starting at 6 nights' duration. Other activities such as 4x4 safaris and camel tours are also available as are custom-made packages to suit your needs.
Find Your Liveaboard
Click to view product. Special discounted trips highlighted in yellow
