MV Sunshine is a 30m long Egyptian motor vessel that operates budget-friendly liveaboard diving cruises for 20 guests in the Northern Red Sea to its superb wrecks and reefs. This means it specialises in trips to dive at the Straits of Tiran, Ras Mohamed National Park, the world famous SS Thistlegorm World War 2 wreck, the Abu Nuhas wreck system, and the Rosalie Moller.
The air-conditioned saloon has both a lounge with comfortable seating, TV and audio entertainment system, and a dining area for buffet meals. Sunshine understand well how important it is to have great food when you're diving 4 times a day. The menu was created by the executive chef. He not only treats you with tasty food, but makes sure it is perfectly balanced. The galley uses fresh meat and poultry from selected butchers and fresh fruit and vegetables from farms in Qena, Luxor and Nile Delta.
There is a large selection of movies that guests can watch, and an international book library. Wifi is available onboard too. The upper deck has a partially covered sun area with seating and loungers, ideal for enjoying the sea breezes and the Red Sea sunshine. There is an open-air bar and music system where guests can share dive stories, socialise a little with the 11 boat crew, and enjoy a cocktail or beer as the sun sets on another memorable day in Egypt
All the simple cabins have private en-suite bathrooms, They each have twin beds with air-conditioning and daily housekeeping. There is a choice of lower deck or upper deck accommodation. Complimentary toiletries are provided, as well as cabin, dive and beach towels.
2 motorised dinghies are used to take scuba divers to the sites, or occcassionally you can jump in straight from the dive platform, if conditions allow. The dive deck features enriched air nirox for certified divers, wetsuit and towel dry rails, individual gear storage crates, camera rinse tanks, table and battery charging station.
Sunlight Red Sea liveaboard safaris do not use freelancers. Most of the staff have been with the company for a long time and are very professional. They are a competent crew that understand the needs of guests and can deliver a high quality servce. They are also vey flexible to scuba diver special requests - if you want an early morning dive to dive with sharks, no problem! If you want to reserve an unusual route to dive a rare wreck, no problem once again!
There are 10 cabins on the MV Sunshine - 8 on the lower deck and 2 on the upper deck. All the cabins have twin side-by-side beds and private bathrooms.
All the cabins have:
- Air-conditioning
- En-suite bathroom with hot-water shower and hand basin
- Portholes on the lower deck, windows on the upper deck
- Towels and toiletries
- Bedside cabinet
- Mirror
- Bedding and luggage space
- 24-hour, 220v electricity supply
- European-style 2-pin plugs
- Life jackets and fire extinguishers
No. of bathrooms / showers - 12 / 12 - hot water
Note: hot water and air-con are not available on the final night in the tourist harbour on cruises that end in Hurghada.
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: Shaab El Erg, Abu Nuhas wrecks: Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K. and Kimon M;, Shaab Mahmoud, Ras Mohamed, Straits of Tiran: Jackson, Thomas, Gordon and Woodhouse reefs; Ras Um Sid, Thistlegorm, Gubal Island, Umm Gamar
Day 1
You will be met at Hurghada Airport by a representative of Sunshine liveaboard and transferred in a minibus to the tourist harbour for boarding in the evening. The crew will welcome you on board, show you to your cabin and provide a detailed boat briefing that will help familiarize you with your new home for next few days. Dinner will be served in the saloon and this will be a great opportunity to get to know the other guests on this cruise in the Red Sea. The boat will leave port early morning to begin diving.
Days 2-7
You will dive at some very special and world famous reefs and wrecks. Ras Mohamed is one of the best kept national parks in Egypt. Its waters are rich in nutrients, attracting pelagics. Tiran is world famous for its exceptional variety of corals and its strong southwestern currents. It’s home to a lot of big fish and in the summer months even schools of scalloped hammerheads might visit. The Thistlegorm is one of the most fascinating wrecks in the Red Sea. It is a British ship that was hit by a German bomb during World War II. It lies at 32m, on a sandy sea bottom with its cargo ready for you to explore: trucks, motorcycles, jeeps, car tyres, military uniforms... The north side of Abu Nuhas features 4 wrecks on a sandy seafloor at the bottom of a steep sloping reef layered with table corals. Wrecks here include the Giannis D, the Carnatic, the Chrisoula K and the Kimon M. Each of them will be a great dive!
4 dives a day are the norm in the Red Sea, with a couple of morning dives followed by a 3rd dive in the afternoon, and either a sunset dive or night dive to end each amazing day of underwater discovery. There will only 2 dives on the penultimate day as the boat will then sail back to port.
Day 8
Disembarkation starts after a final breakfast on the boat. You can arrange with the crew to be transported back to the airport or to a local hotel.
Brothers & Safaga (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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: Abu Ramada, Small Giftun Island, Abu Hasheesh, Tobia Arbaa, Panorama, Middle Reef, Shaab Shear, Abu Kafan, Salem Express, Big Brother, Little Brother
Day 1
You will be met at Hurghada Airport by a representative of Sunshine liveaboard and transferred in a minibus to the tourist harbour for boarding at 7 pm. The crew will welcome you on board, show you to your cabin and provide a detailed boat briefing that will help familiarize you with your new home for next few days. Dinner will be served in the saloon and this will be a great opportunity to get to know the other guests on this cruise in the Red Sea. The boat will leave port early morning to begin diving.
Days 2-7
The Brother Islands are 2 small exposed promontories in the middle of the sea, with a very high concentration of marine life. The walls feature sponges, anemones and hard and soft corals, giving an astonishing variety of colour to the underwater world. It's very common to see sharks at the dive sites around the islands. Bucket list encounters include hammerheads, grey reef sharks, silvertips, whitetip reef sharks, thresher sharks and manta rays.
Safaga has some great diving too, offering a combination of shallow reef dives like Panorama Reef, and drop-offs, as well as unforgettable wreck diving on the Salem Express, a 100-metre ferry boat that hosts frogfish, blue-spotted stingrays, schools of angel and butterfly fish. The ship is now covered in hard and soft corals.
4 dives a day are the norm in the Red Sea (but only 3 dives when in the marine parks), with a couple of morning dives followed by a 3rd dive in the afternoon, and either a sunset dive or night dive to end each amazing day of underwater discovery. There will only 2 dives on the penultimate day as the boat will then sail back to port.
Day 8
Disembarkation starts at around 10 am, after a final breakfast on the boat. You can arrange with the crew to be transported back to the airport or to a local hotel.
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: Brothers islands, Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone
Day 1
You will be met at Hurghada Airport by a representative of Sunshine liveaboard and transferred in a minibus to the tourist harbour for boarding. The crew will welcome you on board, show you to your cabin and provide a detailed boat briefing that will help familiarize you with your new home for next few days. Dinner will be served in the saloon and this will be a great opportunity to get to know the other guests on this cruise in the Red Sea. The boat will leave port early morning to begin diving.
Days 2-7
The Brother Islands are 2 small exposed promontories in the middle of the sea, with a very high concentration of marine life. The walls feature sponges, anemones and hard and soft corals, giving an astonishing variety of colour to the underwater world. It's very common to see sharks at the dive sites around the islands - scalloped hammerheads and grey reef sharks, silvertip and whitetip reef sharks. At Big Brother there is a wreck that can be dived when the conditions are right, especially if it's not too windy. It's the Numidia that lies between 5-8m, completely covered with hard and soft corals. and gorgonians. The reef at Daedalus and Elphinstone are home to schools of surgeonfish, fusiliers, trevallies and colourful reef fish. Hammerheads, oceanic whitetips and thresher sharks can be seen here, as well as manta rays, usually during the summer months.
3 dives a day are the norm in the marine parks of the Red Sea, with a couple of morning dives followed by a 3rd dive in the afternoon to end each amazing day of underwater discovery. There will only 2 dives on the penultimate day as the boat will then sail back to port.
Day 8
Disembarkation starts after a final breakfast on the boat. You can arrange with the crew to be transported back to the airport or to a local hotel.
Note: these cruises sometimes use Port Ghalib instead of Hurghada so please check the ports of departure and return.
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: Shaab El Erg, Abu Nuhas wrecks: Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K. and Kimon M; Gubal, Safaga: Salem Express, Shaab Sheer, Abu Kefan, Panorama Reef, Middle Reef, Tobia Arba, Ras Abu Soma, Abu Hasheesh; Small Giftun
Day 1
You will be met at Hurghada Airport by a representative of Sunshine liveaboard and transferred in a minibus to the tourist harbour for boarding in the evening. The crew will welcome you on board, show you to your cabin and provide a detailed boat briefing that will help familiarize you with your new home for next few days. Dinner will be served in the saloon and this will be a great opportunity to get to know the other guests on this cruise in the Red Sea. The boat will leave port early morning to begin diving.
Days 2-7
You will dive at some world famous wrecks. he north side of Abu Nuhas features 4 wrecks on a steep sloping reef layered with table corals. The wrecks here - the Giannis D, the Carnatic, the Chrisoula K and the Kimon M - are an attraction point for divers from all around the world, as they are now encrusted with beautiful corals that attract lots of reef fish. Inside the wrecks expect to find thousands of glassfish.
Safaga has some great diving too, offering a combination of shallow reef dives like Panorama Reef, and drop-offs, as well as an unforgettable shipwreck. The Salem Express was a 100-metre ferry boat and remains one of the largest accessible wrecks in the Egyptian Red Sea and diving it is a must for every experienced scuba diver, as long as you can handle the nature of the recent tragedy. It is now covered in hard and soft corals and hosts frogfish, blue-spotted stingrays, schools of angel and butterfly fish.
4 dives a day are the norm in the Red Sea, with a couple of morning dives followed by a 3rd dive in the afternoon, and either a sunset dive or night dive to end each amazing day of underwater discovery. There will only 2 dives on the penultimate day as the boat will then sail back to port.
Day 8
Disembarkation starts after a final breakfast on the boat. You can arrange with the crew to be transported back to the airport or to a local hotel.
Red Sea North, Wrecks, Tiran & Dahab (8 Days / 7 Nights - 19 Dives)
Trip highlights: turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Shaab El Erg, Shaab Mahmoud, Dunraven, Ras Mohamed, Straits of Tiran, Dahab: Gabr el Bint, Blue Hole, Canyon; Thistlegorm, Abu Nuhas wrecks, Umm Gammar, Carless Reef
Day 1
You will be met at Hurghada Airport by a representative of Sunshine liveaboard and transferred in a minibus to the tourist harbour for boarding. The crew will welcome you on board, show you to your cabin and provide a detailed boat briefing that will help familiarize you with your new home for next few days. Dinner will be served in the saloon and this will be a great opportunity to get to know the other guests on this cruise in the Red Sea. The boat will leave port early morning to begin diving.
Days 2-7
You will dive at some very special and world famous reefs and wrecks. Ras Mohamed is one of the best kept national parks in Egypt. Its waters are rich in nutrients, attracting pelagics, and in the summer months even schools of scalloped hammerheads might visit. The Thistlegorm is one of the most fascinating wrecks in the Red Sea. It is a British ship that was hit by a German bomb during World War II. It lies at 32m, on a sandy sea bottom with its cargo ready for you to explore: trucks, motorcycles, jeeps, car tyres, military uniforms... The north side of Abu Nuhas features 4 wrecks at the bottom of a steep sloping reef layered with table corals. Wrecks here include the Giannis D, the Carnatic, the Chrisoula K and the Kimon M. Each of them would be a great dive!
You will also dive the world renowned Blue Hole of Dahab, and the Straits of Tiran - one of the most famous diving areas in the Red Sea. The strong current brings plenty of nutrients and schooling fish to the reef, tempting pelagic fish in from the open water. Large schools of barracuda and jacks are common here, as are larger predators including several species of shark.
4 dives a day are the norm in the Red Sea, with a couple of morning dives followed by a 3rd dive in the afternoon, and either a sunset dive or night dive to end each amazing day of underwater discovery. There will only 2 dives on the penultimate day as the boat will then sail back to port.
Day 8
Disembarkation starts after a final breakfast on the boat. You can arrange with the crew to be transported back to the airport or to a 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].
Indulge in freshly prepared buffet-style meals crafted by Sunshine's professional chef and sous-chef throughout your cruise. Breakfast offers a hearty spread featuring eggs cooked to order, toast with preserves, farm-fresh local vegetables, an assortment of cheeses and cold cuts, fluffy pancakes, savoury sausages, and classic porridge - all complemented by rich, fresh-ground coffee. Between dives, the dining area remains stocked with tea, coffee, hot chocolate, soft drinks, and snacks for whenever cravings strike.
Lunch presents an array of satisfying options including grilled meats, poultry, and fish alongside pasta, rice dishes, and vibrant vegetable creations served with crisp salads and comforting soups. Dinner elevates the experience with selections like roast duck with cashew rice and orange glaze, tender roast beef in mushroom gravy, lasagna al forno, or freshly baked jackfish accompanied by basmati rice and sautéed seasonal vegetables.
Most meals are served in the liveaboard's air-conditioned indoor restaurant, though favourable weather may invite special al fresco dining on the upper deck. The open-air social area features a cocktail bar perfect for sunset sundowners after an exhilarating day of diving.
A typical day follows this rhythm: dawn breaks with the first dive at 6 am, followed by breakfast at 8:30 am. The second dive commences at 10:30 am before lunch at 1 pm, with the third dive at 3 pm. Snack time at 5 pm fuels guests for potential night dives at 7 pm, culminating in dinner at 8:30 pm. Weather-permitting special events like beach or deck BBQs occasionally enhance the itinerary, though these cannot be guaranteed.
Throughout the day, guests enjoy unlimited access to complimentary snacks including fresh-baked pastries, cookies, chips, and chocolates. The beverage station offers free-flow soft drinks (juices, sodas, tonic and mineral waters), with local beer available for purchase (advance orders recommended).
Note that dive schedules and meal times may be adjusted to optimise each unique itinerary's flow and conditions.
