The Red Sea has long been a magnet for scuba divers seeking clear water, dramatic reefs, and the kind of marine encounters that stay with you long after you surface. But the experience of exploring it can vary enormously, depending on the vessel, the crew, and the spirit in which the trip is run. The Katana liveaboard, launched in 2025, represents something different. It is not just a new boat; it is a statement of intent from an operator with more than 30 years of Red Sea experience. This is a yacht built for divers who value both performance and comfort, and who understand that the two are not mutually exclusive.
At 52.6 metres in length, Katana offers a scale that few liveaboards can match. The extra space translates directly into a better trip. There are 13 cabins for a maximum of 26 guests, which means more room to relax between dives, whether on the expansive sun deck, in the spacious lounges, or simply in your own air-conditioned retreat. The design, a collaboration between Martins Studio and naval architects INSENAVAL, balances modern yacht aesthetics with the practical demands of a diving safari. This is not a converted fishing boat; it is a purpose-built dive yacht that also happens to look the part.
The pace of a liveaboard trip is often defined by how efficiently the boat can move between sites. Katana is currently the fastest liveaboard operating in the Red Sea, a fact that has a direct impact on your diving. Faster transits mean less time steaming and more time at the best dive sites, often before other boats arrive. Whether you are aiming for the northern wrecks, the southern reefs, or the offshore pinnacles, the Katana liveaboard gets you there quickly, maximising your time in the water and your opportunities for the best conditions.
Beyond the vessel itself, the real difference is made by the people on board. Katana has assembled a team of 19 professional crew members, including English and German speaking dive guides and instructors. This is an operator with deep roots in the region, and that local knowledge is invaluable when it comes to selecting sites, reading the weather, and ensuring safety. Katana is equipped with the ENOS diver tracking system for added peace of mind, and the crew's priority is clear from the moment you step aboard: safety, service, and a memorable guest experience.
The Katana liveaboard also caters to technical and rebreather divers, with support for special gas mixtures and equipment, making it a versatile choice for groups with varied experience levels. The combination of high-speed transit, modern diving infrastructure, and a crew that understands what scuba divers need sets Katana apart. It is a yacht that allows you to focus on what you came for: the diving. And when you are not diving, the refined interiors, quality dining, and welcoming atmosphere make the time between dives just as enjoyable.
Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 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, Daedalus, Elphinstone
Day 1
Your Red Sea dive expedition begins with afternoon boarding of the Katana liveaboard at the harbour in Hurghada or Port Ghalib. Following a warm welcome from the crew, settling into your cabin, and receiving your vessel orientation, you will join your fellow divers for dinner. The detailed evening briefing prepares you for the week ahead before Katana sets off in the early hours.
Core Days
This classic Southern Red Sea route is purpose-built for experienced divers focused on high-adrenaline, current-fed diving. The trip focuses on the 'Golden Triangle' of offshore pinnacles-the Brother Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone-which promise unparalleled pelagic action and dramatic wall formations.
The voyage begins at the Brother Islands. Big Brother and Little Brother rise dramatically from the abyss, their walls providing a dense canvas for thriving soft corals, giant gorgonian fans, and colourful sponges. Current patterns here attract large pelagic species; keep a keen watch in the deep blue for elusive thresher sharks, powerful grey reef sharks, and majestic oceanic whitetips. Additionally, off Big Brother, divers can explore the remains of the Numidia and Aida II, historical wrecks now completely encased in marine growth, adding a fascinating historical layer to the diving experience on Katana.
Katana continues to the monumental Daedalus Reef, defined by its remote lighthouse. These magnificent sheer drop-offs are where divers find impressive schools of fusiliers and unicornfish hugging the reef face. Daedalus is internationally recognised for its hammerhead shark aggregation zones, particularly on the northern tip, and large manta rays are sometimes seen gliding overhead in season.
Finally, Elphinstone offers powerful drift dives along its signature north and south plateaus. The health of the reef is spectacular, providing vivid backdrops for encounters with resident turtles, patrolling whitetip reef sharks, and the large Napoleon wrasse. We conclude the intensive diving schedule with 2 final submerged excursions on the penultimate afternoon before the Thunderbird liveaboard starts its transit back to the coast.
Day 8
After enjoying a final breakfast, disembarkation takes place in Hurghada or Port Ghalib.
Red Sea North & Wrecks (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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: Abu Nuhas wrecks of Giannis D., Carnatic, Chrisoula K. and Kimon M., Gubal Island, Ulysses, Gubal Barge, Rosalie Moller, Thistlegorm, Beacon Reef, Dunraven, Bluff Point, Siyul, Umm Gamar, Ras Mohamed
Day 1
Embarkation for this classic Red Sea dive expedition takes place at Hurghada Harbour in the late afternoon. The crew of the Katana liveaboard will welcome you, assist with settling in, and provide an essential safety briefing. After enjoying dinner and getting to know your fellow guests, the Katana will depart in the early hours of the morning, making passage to the initial dive sites.
Core Days
This dive tour provides unmatched access to the historical military wrecks and the spectacular, high-energy reefs of the northern Red Sea. The emphasis is on deep historical exploration combined with the region’s best wall and pinnacle diving.
A major focus of the cruise is the renowned shipwreck circuit. You will spend time at the infamous Abu Nuhas reef, the shallow graveyard responsible for claiming 4 vessels: the Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, and Kimon M. These structures, now beautifully encrusted in hard and soft corals, are a photographer’s delight, sheltering walls of glassfish and various reef species. Further north, we plunge into the history of World War II with the celebrated SS Thistlegorm. This monumental supply vessel offers an extraordinary dive down to 32 metres, where cargo of motor vehicles, artillery, and ammunition lies frozen in time. The sister wreck, Rosalie Moeller, provides another deep, atmospheric dive into wartime history. The Katana allows excellent opportunities to explore these sites based on prevailing conditions.
Beyond the military sites, the tour includes dives on the civilian wrecks of the Dunraven, which lies upside down near Beacon Reef, and the Ulysses and Gubal Barge around Gubal Island, offering varied depths and complexity. Reef dives are equally significant, with visits to the iconic Ras Mohamed National Park. Dive sites like Bluff Point and the main Ras Mohamed walls feature dramatic vertical walls carpeted with vibrant soft corals and sea fans, attracting large schools of snapper, trevally, and tuna.
Exploration continues at other prolific sites such as Umm Gamar, known for its steep walls and marine diversity, and Siyul, offering rich coral gardens and calmer conditions. The Katana provides the perfect platform to maximise your dive time across this geographically rich region. On the day before disembarkation, only 2 dives are scheduled before the Katana liveaboard begins its return sail to port.
Day 8
Following a final breakfast on board, disembarkation will take place at Hurghada Harbour.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & Dahab (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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: Dahab, Abu Nuhas wrecks of Giannis D., Carnatic, Chrisoula K. and Kimon M., Gubal Island, Ulysses, Gubal Barge, Rosalie Moller, Thistlegorm, Beacon Reef, Dunraven, Bluff Point, Siyul, Umm Gamar, Ras Mohamed
Day 1
This Red Sea diving adventure begins with afternoon boarding of the Katana liveaboard at Hurghada Harbour. The crew will welcome you, show you to your cabin, and deliver a comprehensive safety and cruise briefing. Enjoy your first dinner on board, connecting with your dive group before the vessel departs under darkness to reach the first dive location.
Core Days
This comprehensive tour is purpose-built for certified divers who demand world-class wreck diving and dramatic reef topography, culminating in a memorable trip to the unique sites of Dahab.
Significant time is dedicated to the historical Northern wreck corridor. This includes the World War II sites of the SS Thistlegorm and the deeper Rosalie Moller. The Thistlegorm remains an exceptional experience, its cargo of motorbikes, trucks, and wartime equipment perfectly preserved within the holds. Nearby, the infamous Abu Nuhas reef has claimed 4 sunken vessels: the Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, and Kimon M. These magnificent wrecks are now overgrown with hard and soft corals, creating fascinating artificial reefs that teem with fish life, including vast shoals of glassfish and lionfish. We also schedule a dive on the Dunraven wreck near Beacon Reef for a full immersion in the region's sunken history.
The Katana then focuses on the finest natural reefs, including the protected areas of Ras Mohamed National Park. Sites like Bluff Point and Umm Gamar feature immense, current-swept walls, offering an explosion of colour from soft corals and gorgonian fans. Look out for schools of tuna, jackfish, and snapper, as well as encounters with green sea turtles and the occasional blue-spotted stingray resting on sandy patches. Reef systems around Gubal Island and Siyul also provide calmer conditions ideal for night diving and seeking out macro subjects.
A defining element of this safari on the Katana is the passage to Dahab. Here, scuba divers get the opportunity to explore the area's geological marvels, specifically the famous Blue Hole and the deep fissure of The Canyon. These unique vertical topographies offer a striking contrast to the offshore reefs. The Katana liveaboard delivers a full week of diving, concluding with the final two scheduled immersions on the last diving day before we begin the return transit.
Day 8
Following a final breakfast on board, disembarkation will take place at Hurghada Harbour.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & Safaga (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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: Abu Nuhas wrecks of Giannis D., Carnatic, Chrisoula K. and Kimon M., Gubal Island, Ulysses, Gubal Barge, Rosalie Moller, Thistlegorm, Beacon Reef, Dunraven, Safaga: Shaab Sheer, Panorama Reef, Abu Kafan; Hurghada: Gota Abu Ramada, Carless Reef, Umm Gamar, Small Giftun
Day 1
This Red Sea adventure begins as you step aboard the Katana liveaboard in Hurghada. The crew will greet you, show you to your cabin, and provide a designated space for your dive gear. Dinner is served in the saloon, offering a chance to meet your fellow divers. After the meal, the tour leader will deliver a detailed boat safety and dive briefing for the week ahead. The Katana departs early the following morning for the first day of diving.
Core Days
This route delivers a blend of northern Red Sea wreck diving and the varied reef systems around Safaga. The Katana liveaboard navigates to some of the region's most celebrated underwater sites, from iconic shipwrecks to vibrant coral gardens and walls.
Wreck exploration takes centre stage early in the itinerary. The SS Thistlegorm, resting upright at 30 metres, remains the Red Sea's most famous wreck, her holds containing wartime vehicles, motorcycles and locomotives that have become part of an artificial reef now patrolled by barracuda, trevally and snapper. The Abu Nuhas reef adds four more wrecks – the Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K and Kimon M, each with its own character and history, now encrusted with corals and inhabited by glassfish, groupers, lionfish and moray eels. Other wrecks on the route include the Rosalie Moller, a British merchant vessel sunk in 1941 and resting at 50 metres, the Ulysses, and the Gubal Barge, a small tugboat providing excellent macro opportunities.
The Katana also visits the reefs and islands of the northern Red Sea. Beacon Reef offers healthy coral formations and abundant reef fish. The Dunraven, a Victorian steamer lying inverted at 15-30 metres, presents a cavern-like interior accessible through three entry points. Gubal Island provides a mix of reef and wreck diving, with encounters with Napoleon wrasse and turtles. Ras Mohamed National Park, at the southern tip of Sinai, delivers some of the region's most nutrient-rich waters, attracting pelagic species and offering dramatic wall dives.
Safaga's reefs add further variety. Shaab Sheer features a large reef with caves, swim-throughs and drift dives, where the brain coral gardens are home to triggerfish, parrotfish and snapper. Panorama Reef offers wall dives with the chance to encounter eagle rays, turtles and schools of tuna, while its plateaus host large table corals and thousands of anthias. Abu Kafan presents steep walls and overhangs. Around Hurghada, Gota Abu Ramada provides access to a labyrinthine coral garden in its eastern section and a large coral tower to the west, both teeming with reef fish. Carless Reef features 2 coral towers on a shallow plateau where giant moray eels are regulars. Umm Gamar offers dense populations of reef species, while Small Giftun presents dramatic wall dives with gorgonian fans and black corals.
Day 8
After a final breakfast on the Katana, you will check out and bid farewell to the crew. Transfers can be arranged to Hurghada Airport or your local hotel, bringing to a close a week that has introduced you to the northern Red Sea's rich wreck heritage, vibrant reef life and the varied diving of Safaga.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & Tiran Straits (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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: Abu Nuhas wrecks of Giannis D., Carnatic, Chrisoula K. and Kimon M., Gubal Island, Ulysses, Gubal Barge, Rosalie Moeller, Thistlegorm, Beacon Reef, Dunraven, Bluff Point, Siyul, Umm Gamar, Ras Mohamed, Straits of Tiran: Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, Gordon reefs
Day 1
Your Red Sea North dive safari begins with afternoon boarding of the Katana liveaboard at Hurghada Harbour. Following a warm welcome from the crew, settling into your cabin, and a detailed vessel and safety briefing, you will enjoy dinner with your fellow divers. The Katana will depart in the pre-dawn hours, making passage to the first dive location.
Core Days
This itinerary is expertly designed for divers seeking the Northern Red Sea's signature experiences: world-class wreck exploration and the dynamic, current-swept reefs of the Tiran Straits. Sailing on the Katana ensures access to these remote and rewarding dive sites.
We dedicate considerable time to the celebrated wreck circuit. The iconic SS Thistlegorm, a British World War II supply ship, remains an extraordinary dive, resting at 32 metres with its historical cargo of motorbikes, trucks, and ammunition perfectly preserved within the holds. Near this site, you will also explore the Rosalie Moeller, another World War II victim, providing an atmospheric deep-water contrast. Further south, the notorious Abu Nuhas reef offers exploration of 4 distinct, coral-encrusted wrecks which have become thriving havens for colourful reef fish and prolific macro life. Other historical sites include the wreck of the Dunraven and the Gubal Barge, adding variety to your wreck tally.
The natural reefs are equally impressive, particularly the Straits of Tiran. The 4 famous reefs here - Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, and Gordon - are powerful offshore pinnacles where strong currents deliver a nutrient-rich environment. This attracts immense schools of pelagic fish, including large tuna, jackfish, and barracuda, and provides opportunities to spot various shark species. The Katana also ensures visits to the Ras Mohamed National Park. Sites like Bluff Point and Umm Gamar feature dramatic walls covered in a rich tapestry of soft corals and massive gorgonian sea fans, where you can expect to encounter turtles, crocodilefish, and colourful schools of snapper and trevally.
The combination of historical diving and high-energy reefs makes the Katana liveaboard a premier choice for this route. 2 final dives are scheduled on the penultimate afternoon before the vessel returns to port.
Day 8
After a final breakfast on board, disembarkation will take place at Hurghada Harbour.
Red Sea Northern Wrecks & Brothers (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 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, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D., Carnatic, Chrisoula K. and Kimon M.), Thistlegorm, Umm Gamar, Small Giftun
Day 1
Boarding for your Red Sea experience takes place in the afternoon at Hurghada Harbour. The crew of the Katana liveaboard will welcome you aboard, assist with settling into your cabin, and conduct a full vessel and dive briefing. After enjoying dinner in the saloon, the Katana will depart in the very early morning, making passage to the initial dive site.
Core Days
This signature dive cruise is the perfect combination of world-famous World War II wrecks and the spectacular, current-fed pelagic action of the isolated Brother Islands. You will experience the very best of the northern and mid-Red Sea diving from the comfortable Katana liveaboard.
A major highlight of this voyage is the dedicated time spent exploring the Northern wreck corridor. You will descend upon the renowned SS Thistlegorm, a deeply atmospheric World War II supply ship resting at 32 metres, with its cargo of motorbikes, trucks, and ammunition perfectly preserved within the open holds. Near this site, the notorious Abu Nuhas reef, a graveyard to 4 distinct vessels - the Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, and Kimon M - provides fantastic shallow wreck diving. These coral-encrusted structures are teeming with marine life, including schools of glassfish, lionfish, and moray eels, providing stunning subjects for underwater photography.
Katana then shifts focus to the offshore pinnacles of the Brother Islands. Big Brother and Little Brother are celebrated for their dramatic, sheer walls, which rise from the deep and are absolutely blanketed in vibrant soft corals, black corals, and immense gorgonian sea fans. The strong currents here attract serious pelagic action. Keep your eyes in the blue for oceanic whitetip sharks, scalloped hammerheads, and the powerful grey reef sharks, often cruising alongside schools of snapper and tuna. Big Brother also offers the opportunity to dive 2 wrecks, the Numidia and the Aida II, which are now fully colonised, fusing history with spectacular reef growth.
The final days may include shallower reef dives closer to the mainland at locations like Small Giftun and Umm Gamar, offering more relaxed diving among the hard coral gardens and providing excellent opportunities to spot turtles and large Napoleon wrasse. The final full day of diving concludes with 2 scheduled immersions before the Katana liveaboard begins its transit back to port.
Day 8
Following a final breakfast on board, disembarkation will take place at Hurghada Harbour.
Safaga & Hurghada (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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: Abu Nuhas wrecks of Giannis D., Carnatic, Chrisoula K. and Kimon M., Carless Reef, Umm Gamar, Small Giftun, Gotta Abu Ramada, Safaga: Panorama Reef, Abu Kafan, Shaab Sheer
Day 1
This Red Sea adventure begins as you step aboard the Katana in Hurghada. The crew will welcome you, show you to your cabin, and provide a designated space for your dive gear. Dinner is served in the saloon, offering a chance to meet your fellow divers. After the meal, the tour leader will deliver a detailed boat safety and dive briefing for the week ahead. The yacht departs early the following morning for the first day of diving.
Core Days
This northern Red Sea route is well suited for those new to liveaboard diving, offering a manageable yet rewarding mix of wreck exploration and reef diving. The Katana navigates to Sha’ab Abu Nuhas, a submerged reef that has claimed more vessels than any other in the Red Sea. Here, 4 wrecks lie within recreational limits: the Giannis D, a Croatian cargo ship that sank in 1983; the Chrisoula K, a freighter carrying Italian floor tiles; the Kimon M, a cargo vessel lost in 1978; and the Carnatic, a steam-and-sail-powered clipper that went down in 1869. Each wreck has become an artificial reef, encrusted with corals and home to glassfish, groupers, lionfish, batfish and free-swimming moray eels.
Beyond the wrecks, the Katana liveaboard explores the reefs around Hurghada and Safaga. Carless Reef, known as the 'moray eel house', features 2 coral towers on a shallow plateau where a large population of friendly giant moray eels makes every dive memorable. Umm Gamar offers dense populations of reef species and pelagics, while Small Giftun presents dramatic wall dives with gorgonian fans and black corals, and occasional sightings of whale sharks and barracuda. Gotta Abu Ramada, an oval reef, provides access to a labyrinthine coral garden in its eastern section and a large coral tower to the west, with both areas teeming with reef fish.
Safaga's reefs add further variety. Panorama Reef offers wall dives with the chance to encounter eagle rays, turtles and schools of tuna. Shaab Sheer features a large reef with caves, swim-throughs and drift dives. Abu Kafan presents steep walls and overhangs, while Middle Reef offers coral gardens and macro life. The area's healthy coral formations support blue-spotted stingrays, schools of angelfish and butterflyfish, and larger pelagics. A typical day aboard the Katana here includes up to 4 dives, with night dives offered when conditions permit.
Day 8
After a final breakfast on the Katana, you will check out and bid farewell to the crew. Transfers can be arranged to Hurghada Airport or your local hotel, bringing to a close a week that has introduced you to the northern Red Sea's rich wreck heritage and vibrant reef life.
[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 Red Sea dive safari aboard the Katana liveaboard is structured as an immersive experience, where the thrill of underwater exploration is expertly matched by a high-quality, energising dining program. Every day follows a precise and rewarding routine, ensuring certified divers receive the necessary sustenance between their 3 to 4 daily dives.
The daily routine is focused heavily on the sea. The day starts with 2 morning dives, beginning after a light pre-dive offering of hot drinks and biscuits. A substantial, hot breakfast is served after the first dive, giving you the calories needed for the second immersion. Lunch provides a welcome break before the third dive of the afternoon. The underwater activity is then capped by either a sunset or night dive, with only 3 dives scheduled when the Katana liveaboard is operating in marine parks.
The food experience is a highlight, prepared by a hotel-experienced chef who delivers a robust selection of meals. Dining takes place in the communal, air-conditioned indoor saloon.
Breakfast is an international spread, featuring energy-rich Arabic specialities such as savoury falafel, foul beans, and firm white cheese. For main meals, the buffet offers a delicious mix of European and Egyptian dishes. A key feature of the evening service is the addition of a warming soup course and a satisfying dessert, rounding off the final meal of the diving day. Another social highlight is the open-air bar and grill area located on the sundeck, a perfect spot to socialise and enjoy an evening sundowner.
To maintain hydration and energy, a continuous supply of complimentary tea, coffee, soft drinks, and water is available at all times, with fresh fruit and snacks offered between sittings. Complimentary red wine is frequently served with dinner, and other alcoholic beverages are available for purchase on board. Guests with specific dietary requirements are advised to notify the Katana crew upon booking, allowing the chef to prepare appropriate alternatives.
