LIVEABOARD DIVING IN Egypt

When choosing your itinerary pay attention to what you want to see and on your diver’s level.
The Egyptian part of the Red Sea is commonly separated into 3 different parts.

• North Red Sea Liveaboard Diving Trips

The easiest and most colorful part is definitely the northern part. Starting with Dahab and the famous Blue Hole and Bells, moving south to the Straits of Tiran and Ras Mohammed, which are near Sharm el-Sheikh, you will find Shark and Yolanda Reef, named as one of the best dive sites in the world by Jacques Cousteau, which guarantees excellent diving all year round. Another great dive site here is Jackson Reef in the Straits of Tiran, which is truly the aquarium of the Red Sea. Wreck lovers definitely need to see the SS Thistlegorm WWII wreck, which is considered to be one of the best wrecks dives in the world. Liveaboards often start from Hurghada and visit Abu Nuhas as well. Here, in the same spot, there are 4 diveable wrecks from different time periods to be explored. Divers often see dolphins swimming freely here. This region can be reached by day-trip boats, but experienced liveaboard captains and guides can plan the dives in a way that makes divers feel they are alone there.

• Brothers Islands and other Marine Parks

The highlights of this area are Elphinstone, the Brother Islands, and Daedalus, which are further away from the mainland. These are world-class dive sites, and experienced divers will enjoy these the most. You can see pelagic fish and sharks during the right time of year. Those who like wall diving will enjoy diving here as well. The main attractions of this itinerary are the Little Brother and Big Brother Islands, two Islands far in the sea with great walls, two wrecks, and a variety of big fish. Usually, trips include 3-4 days on the Brothers Islands and some other dive sites on the way there and back. One of the best combinations is Brothers + Daedalus + Elphinstone. Night dives are not allowed on the Brothers Islands. Diving is quite challenging there, and the minimum required experience level is to have logged 30+ or 50+ dives. Sometimes there are strong currents, and the walls go deep. There are waves and the open sea, and lots of sharks on every dive, such as reef sharks, oceanic whitetips, hammerheads, and thresher sharks.

• South Red Sea

Southernmost sites in the Red Sea have steep walls with strong currents, as well as places that are also suitable for night diving and easy diving. Starting from St. John’s, you can go to the famous Habili Ali or Gota Kebira, and moving away from the mainland in the northeast direction, you can go to Zabargad and the Rocky Islands. The Rocky Islands offer wall diving with strong currents and shark encounters. It is better to go to these sites in the spring (from May to June) or in the fall (September or November) when the seas are calmer, and the chances to encounter sharks and pelagic fish in normal recreational diving depths are much higher than in the summer. The main points of interest there are Elphinstone, Fury Shoals, St. John’s, Rocky, Zabargad, and Daedalus. The routes in the South, especially Daedalus and Elphinstone, are also famous for sharks and pelagics. Some reefs are very extraordinary, with lots of narrow passages, labyrinths, and plays of light. Abu Dabbab is home to dugongs and turtles, and you can snorkel with a big family of spinner dolphins in the lagoons of Sataya Reef and Samadai Reef

When traveling to Egypt, there are some requirements.

● Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your period of travel to this country. All visitors to Egypt need an entry visa to enter Egypt. Some nationalities can purchase it in the airport of Cairo or Hurghada. To save some time it can be also bought online. Please check this information at the local embassy to ensure that you have everything you need well in advance of your trip.

● Travel insurance is something that is always recommended. It can save you some money and will be very useful if you experience things like medical issues or trip delays.

● Diving insurance and a valid diving certificate are mandatory, and you must present them at check-in. Hyperbaric chambers are available in Hurghada, Port Ghalib, Safaga, Marsa Alam, and Sharm El Sheikh. Divebooker provides all of our divers with short-term DAN diving insurance, which is definitely needed when onboard.

● Tipping is expected. Although tips are meant to be optional in theory, they are pretty much mandatory for Egypt. Boat crews will be very grateful if you will leave gratuities at the end of your diving trip.

● If you have any food restrictions, you should notify the liveaboard crew well in advance of your trip in order to make it possible for them to prepare food that will meet your requirements

Egypt has dive sites for beginners, advanced divers, and also for tech divers. Diving in the Red Sea varies from calm seas to strong currents. Shallow reefs will be more suitable for novices, and walls and wrecks require more experience. For some routes, the minimum required level is AOWD certification and having logged 15+ or 20+ dives. For liveaboards, it will be enough to have Open Water certification with 10+ dives in a log book. From the end of December until the beginning of March, the water is 20°C (68°F) and you will need a 5-7 mm wetsuit, especially in the north. Short wetsuits are better for the summer months. Are there any activities for snorkelers/non-divers? In Egypt, liveaboards often offer onboard kayaks as well as snorkeling and swimming. But the main activity is diving. So if you are traveling with a non-diver, be prepared because onboard activities will be mainly focused on sunbathing. Some boats also provide a discount for non-divers