Red Sea Diving Safari from Hurghada

A Red Sea diving safari means sleeping, eating and diving from the same boat for several days. Instead of returning to the marina every afternoon, the liveaboard moves between sites, so you can reach dive locations that are hard to visit on a standard day trip and fit several dives into each day.

Liveaboards are mainly for certified divers who meet the requirements of the chosen itinerary. Some routes ask for a minimum number of logged dives or a specific certification, so we ask for both when you enquire.

Routes depend on the season, the boat, the departure date and the diving itinerary. Tell us your preferred dates, number of divers, certification, logged dives and preferred cabin type, and we'll check the available liveaboards and send you a suitable program and price.

Typical Red Sea liveaboard routes from Hurghada

Many Red Sea liveaboards start in Hurghada. These are the route types you'll most often see; which one runs depends on the boat, season and departure, and we confirm the exact route for every trip.

• Northern wrecks & reefs: the classic first liveaboard. Typical itineraries include the four wrecks of Abu Nuhas (Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, Kimon M), the SS Thistlegorm, the Rosalie Moller and Dunraven, plus reefs in the Straits of Gubal and Ras Mohammed. Abu Nuhas alone is about 3–4 hours' sailing from Hurghada, which is why these wrecks suit a liveaboard.
• Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone: remote offshore reefs in the southern Red Sea known for walls, strong currents and sharks, including hammerheads and oceanic whitetips in season. The Brothers can only be reached by liveaboard.
• Mixed routes: some boats combine northern wrecks with the Brothers or other reefs on longer trips.

Sites can always change for weather and safety; the captain and dive leader decide on board.

What experience do you need for a liveaboard?

Requirements are set by each boat and route, so treat these as typical examples, not rules:

• Northern wrecks & reefs: often Open Water certification with a minimum number of logged dives; some operators recommend Advanced Open Water because many wreck dives go below 18 m, and some ask for more logged dives before the Thistlegorm.
• Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone: considered experienced-diver territory because of currents and depth. Operators commonly ask for Advanced Open Water (or equivalent) and a higher minimum of logged dives, and a surface marker buoy (SMB) is standard kit.

That's why we ask for your certification and number of logged dives when you enquire. If you're short on experience, a few days of day-boat diving or the PADI Advanced Open Water course in Hurghada first is a good warm-up.

Have your certification card and logbook (paper or app) ready when you enquire. Boats check them at boarding, and the dive team may run a check dive on the first day to see how everyone handles the conditions.

Life on board: a typical liveaboard day

Days follow the diving schedule. A briefing comes before each dive, covering the site, conditions and safety procedures. Between dives there are meals on board, time to rest in the common areas and time to prepare your kit. Where the itinerary and conditions allow, a night dive may be added; note that some marine-park areas don't permit night dives, so check the route.

Bring your certification card and logbook, any personal equipment you prefer, medication, sunscreen and comfortable clothes. Dive insurance isn't included; most liveaboard operators expect divers to have it, so arrange it before you travel.

Personal equipment is optional: tanks and weights are part of the package, while rental gear and Nitrox depend on the operator. Tips and marine park or environmental fees, where applicable, are usually settled separately, so check your quote for what is and isn't included. If you're travelling with a non-diving partner, ask us before booking whether the selected boat accepts non-divers.