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 Thunderbird 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 the Thunderbird 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 the Thunderbird.
The Thunderbird 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. The diving offered by the Thunderbird at these sites is unmatched for excitement.
Day 8
After enjoying a final breakfast, disembarkation of the Thunderbird takes place in Hurghada or Port Ghalib.
Fury Shoals & Elphinstone (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, 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: Abu Dabbab, Marsa Shoona, Fury Shoals: Shaab Claudio, Shaab Maksour, Sataya South (Dolphin Reef); Elphinstone, Shaab Sharm
Day 1
Your southern Red Sea diving safari begins with afternoon boarding of the Thunderbird liveaboard at Port Ghalib. After settling into your chosen cabin, you will meet the diving crew and your fellow guests over dinner, followed by a comprehensive safety and itinerary briefing. The Thunderbird will depart in the pre-dawn hours, making way for the first dive site.
Core Days
This cruise is specifically designed for divers who appreciate a mix of topography, from sheer walls and tunnels to pristine, flourishing coral gardens. The core of the experience lies in the expansive Fury Shoals system, celebrated for hosting some of the healthiest and least-touched reefs in the Egyptian Red Sea.
Diving begins in the spectacular Fury Shoals, where sites like Shaab Maksour and the challenging Shaab Sharm offer incredible wall diving. Here, the deep blue water often reveals schools of cruising trevally and the occasional silvertip shark. The currents feed dense colonies of soft coral and gorgonian sea fans, creating a vivid, colourful spectacle for photographers. In contrast, the site of Shaab Claudio provides exploration of atmospheric, light-filled tunnels and caverns carved into the reef structure, which are ideal hiding places for macro life like nudibranchs and stonefish.
A defining feature of this route is the opportunity for unique marine encounters. Sataya South, a large, protective lagoon, is famous for its resident pod of spinner dolphins, providing a memorable chance for surface interaction between dives. Additionally, local coastal zones such as Abu Dabbab and Marsa Shoona offer the chance for shallow water sightings of grazing green sea turtles and dugongs, adding a special encounter to your trip. The Thunderbird ensures access to these geographically diverse environments.
The adventure culminates at Elphinstone Reef, a narrow, oceanic pinnacle globally renowned for pelagic action. This exposed reef features dramatic current-swept corners where divers anticipate sightings of majestic oceanic whitetip sharks and, seasonally, scalloped hammerheads, often spotted deep below the boat. The diving concludes with 2 scheduled immersions on the penultimate afternoon before the Thunderbird liveaboard returns to port.
Day 8
Following a final breakfast on board, disembarkation will take place at Port Ghalib.
Fury Shoals & St. John's (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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: Abu Dabbab, Fury Shoals: Shaab Claudio, Sataya; Shaab Sharm, St. John's: Gota Soraya, Habili Ali, Habili Soraya, Umm Aruk
Day 1
Your Red Sea dive expedition begins with afternoon boarding of the Thunderbird liveaboard at Port Ghalib. Once welcomed by the crew and settled into your accommodation, you will receive a full safety and dive briefing, followed by dinner in the saloon. The Thunderbird will slip its moorings under cover of darkness, making passage to the remote deep south.
Core Days
This deep south trip is the preserve of certified divers, combining the immense coral health of the Fury Shoals with the spectacular, isolated pinnacles of St. John's. This area is renowned for world-class visibility and exceptional, flourishing reef ecosystems.
The St. John's system presents a series of challenging, exposed offshore sites. Locations like Habili Ali and Habili Soraya rise almost vertically from the abyss, their steep walls draped in huge, mature gorgonian sea fans and vibrant soft corals. These nutrient-rich currents attract pelagic life; divers should watch the blue water for patrolling grey reef sharks and white tip reef sharks, often encountered alongside dense schools of trevally. At Gota Soraya, known for its sheer sides, you might glimpse a passing manta ray or turtles resting on the ledges. Umm Aruk provides stunning shallow reef structures perfect for macro photography toward the end of a dive.
The second major area of focus for the Thunderbird is the extensive Fury Shoals system. Shaab Claudio is a stand-out site, famous for its intricate, light-filled swim-throughs and caverns carved into the reef, providing a dramatic visual experience unlike anywhere else. The horseshoe-shaped reef of Sataya is a particular highlight, celebrated for its resident pod of spinner dolphins, which allows for a memorable surface snorkelling encounter. Dive the surrounding reef slopes of Sataya for impressive hard coral formations. Shaab Sharm offers another exposed pinnacle with exciting current activity and abundant biomass.
Nearer the mainland, dives at Abu Dabbab offer a contrasting sandy environment. This location is celebrated for guaranteed close-up encounters with grazing green sea turtles, and there is always the exciting possibility of spotting the rare dugong. Choosing the Thunderbird ensures expert guidance across these distant and varied dive locations.
Day 8
Following a final breakfast on the Thunderbird liveaboard, disembarkation takes place at 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 & 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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.
Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird liveaboard begins its transit back to port.
Day 8
Following a final breakfast on board, disembarkation will take place at Hurghada Harbour.
Rocky, Zabargad & St. John's (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 Dives)
Trip highlights: shark action, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, 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: Rocky Island, Zabargad, St. Johns
Day 1
You board the Thunderbird liveaboard at Port Ghalib in the late afternoon. The crew shows you to your cabin, and you settle in before setting up your dive gear on the dive deck. Dinner is served in the saloon – a good chance to meet your fellow divers. Afterwards, the tour leader runs through the safety briefings and the week ahead. The Thunderbird slips out of port overnight, ready for the first morning dives.
Core Days
This southern itinerary is about remote, oceanic diving. The Thunderbird pushes past the busy northern routes to reach 3 distinct zones, each with its own character.
Rocky Island is small, exposed, and current-swept. That combination brings in big pelagics. Grey reef sharks and silvertip sharks patrol the drop-offs. If the current is running hard, you hold position behind a bommie and watch the blue: mantas and dolphins pass through on occasion. The reefs here are lively, with healthy hard coral cover and schools of barracuda holding in the lee of the island.
Zabargad Island sits further south, famous for its ancient peridot mines and its underwater terrain. Diving from the Thunderbird liveaboard here is varied. You will explore steep walls, sandy slopes, and the wreck of a 70-metre supply vessel lying in moderate depth. Look for napoleon wrasse, turtles, and the occasional dugong grazing on seagrass beds near the island's southern end. The coral is robust – table corals and acropora thickets in the shallows, with gorgonians deeper down.
St. Johns Reefs are the real highlight. This complex of submerged reefs and small islands offers some of the healthiest coral in the Red Sea. You will dive sites like Gota Soraya and Habili Ali, where pinnacles rise from deep water. Caves, tunnels and canyons cut through the reef structure. One famous feature is The Arch, a swim-through at depth that exits onto a wall covered in soft corals. Reef sharks are common. So are schooling snapper, trevally, and on good days, hammerheads cruising the outer edges. The sheer variety of terrain here - drop-offs, plateaus, sheltered lagoons - keeps every dive different.
The last diving day includes 2 dives only, giving the Thunderbird time to sail back to Port Ghalib. That evening you can walk around the marina, grab a drink, or simply relax on board.
Day 8
After one last breakfast on board, disembarkation begins. The crew can arrange transfers to the airport or to a local hotel. You leave with a full memory card and the quiet satisfaction of having dived the Red Sea's deep south properly, aboard the Thunderbird.
[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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird 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 Thunderbird crew upon booking, allowing the chef to prepare appropriate alternatives.
