Notes: Kids safaris: child 12-16 years old: USD 773 (sharing parents' cabin or kids' cabin), 1st. child 6-11 years old: free of charge (sharing parents' cabin), 2nd child 6-11 years USD 544 (sharing parents' cabin or kids' cabin), parents: standard price. Port and park fees USD 143. The capacity of Thunderbird is 18 on these safaris because 2 of the cabins can be adapted to accommodate an extra bunk bed for a child. Minimum age: 6 years old. All participants must be able to swim. Try dives are available to children 8 years and older.
Family safaris: child 12-16 years old: 25% discount (sharing parents' cabin or kids' cabin, parents: standard price. Port and park fees USD 218 per week. Minimum age: 12 years old. Try dives are not available.
Dive experience: To dive at Brothers, Daedalus Reef, Zabargad and Rocky islands, you must be a certified diver and have a minimum of 50 logged dives, elsewhere: a minumum of 30 logged dives.
Cruise price per person includes: Cabin accommodation with air-conditioning, breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, soft drinks, drinking water, hot drinks (e.g. coffee, tea), return transfers from local airport for Hurghada departures, dives (as detailed in the trips above), nitrox fills for enriched air certified divers, ENOS diver location safety system, 2 experienced English-speaking divemasters (3 on Kids' Cruises), tanks, weightbelt, weights, sales tax.
Cruise price per person excludes (mandatory, unless customer provides own): Scuba equipment (per week - Regulators/BCD/dive computer USD 52 per piece, wetsuit USD 52), SMB, diving insurance, port and park fees:
Safaga & Hurghada/Fury Shoals & Elphinstone USD 298,
St. John's USD 241,
Red Sea Northern Wrecks & Brothers USD 241,
Red Sea South USD 275. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival (cash - EUR, USD, EGP - or credit card).
Optional extras: Alcoholic drinks (beer and wine), torch (USD 52 per week), 15 litre tank (USD 52 per week), return transfers from local airport for Port Ghalib departures (see below), hotel day room/pool use. Unless otherwise stated, all the listed items need to be paid on arrival. Note: prices of items purchased onboard are subject to change.
How to get there: Thunderbird liveaboard diving safaris depart from either Hurghada or Port Ghalib. A tour representative will be waiting for you in the Hurghada or Marsa Alam arrivals hall. For more details, including airlines, see our Red Sea travel information section. Check in time starts at 3 pm on the first day (boat departs port the next morning). Please bring 2 copies of your passport.
Hurghada departures - collective return transfers from Hurghada Airport to the marina (approx. 20 mins) are provided free of charge.
Port Ghalib departures - collective transfers from Marsa Alam Airport to the port (approx. 10 mins) are provided at a cost of USD 17 per person per way. Collective transfers from Hurghada Airport to the port (approx. 3 hours) are provided at a cost of USD 46 per person per way.
The last dive of the Thunderbird liveaboard trip will be finished by noon on the second last day of the trip. Check out is at 10 am on the final day (last night is spent in the harbour). Please wait at least 18 hours before flying after diving.
Non-diver rate: 10%.
Single supplement (if you do not want to share accommodation): This is optional - single travellers may choose to pay the regular price and share a cabin, or pay a supplement of 50% of the published price for the own private cabin.
Dive clubs and group discounts: Pay for 6 guests and 1 additional person can join the cruise free of charge.
Whole boat charter rate (per night): Ask us for details.
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 Red Sea diving trip.
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.
A unique and intimate Red Sea diving safari is the primary offering of the 31-metre Thunderbird liveaboard. Built with a wooden hull and accommodating a maximum of just 16 guests, this vessel is frequently booked by groups, clubs, and families seeking a relaxed, almost private atmosphere. The operator brings years of dedicated experience running dive safari boats, ensuring the vessel, which underwent a major renovation in 2016, is expertly appointed for comfort and reliable performance.
The operational focus of the Thunderbird is clearly on diver support and safety. The spacious dive deck is well-equipped with a charging station for cameras and torches, rinse tanks a nitrox membrane system that provides free fills. Critically, the vessel prioritises safety with the inclusion of the ENOS lost diver tracking system. Furthermore, divers who require them can benefit from extra large 15 litre tanks, and 2 Zodiac tenders ensure quick and accurate access to dive sites.
Comfortable accommodation is available across the 8 cabins. Every spacious cabin features individual air-conditioning and a private bathroom. The bedding configuration includes 7 twin side-by-side cabins and one queen size double bed. Demonstrating its flexibility for special family charters, the Thunderbird liveaboard can increase its capacity to 18 guests by adding an extra bed in 2 of the cabins.
The social hub of the Thunderbird yacht is the indoor saloon, which is where meals are served. The onboard chef, who boasts a background in hotel cuisine, provides varied and highly praised culinary delights that blend traditional Egyptian flavours with familiar European dishes. This air-conditioned area also features a seated lounge with TV, DVD, internet access, and a Bluetooth box for entertainment.
Outside, guests can enjoy the Red Sea air and sunshine across 3 separate, partially shaded sun decks. These generous outdoor areas ensure every guest can find a comfortable spot to relax, sunbathe, or socialise after a day’s diving.
With its combination of an experienced crew, high culinary standards, and an intimate, small-group capacity, the Thunderbird liveaboard provides a consistently trustworthy and highly personalised platform for exploring Egypt’s premier diving destinations.
There are 8 lower deck guest cabins on Thunderbird - 7 with twin beds and 1 with a double queen-sized bed. All cabins have private en-suite bathrooms.
All the cabins have:
- Individual control air-conditioning
- En-suite bathroom with hot-water shower and hand basin
- Towels and bathrobes
- Portholes
- Cabinet & shelves
- Reading lights
- Mirror
- Bedding
- 24-hour, 220v electricity supply
- European-style 2-pin plugs
- Life jackets and fire extinguishers
No. of bathrooms / showers - 8 / 8 - 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 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.
