Red Sea

Advanced Open Water Certification

Year Round

Reefs & Wrecks

UD Rating - 4.5 Star

Golden Dolphin IV

The newest member of Golden Dolphin Fleet.

Golden Dolphin IV is the newest addition to the Golden Dolphin fleet. Sailing the Red Sea, the vessel offers liveaboard adventures to thrilling locations such as St. John’s, Daedalus, Elphinstone, and Rocky Islands. With modern amenities and comfort onboard, every route brings spectacular marine life, and unforgettable diving memories.

Golden Dolphin IV is the newest member of the Golden Dolphin Fleet, launching her first safari trips in September 2021. She accommodates up to 28 guests in 14 air-conditioned cabins, each with its own private bathroom (with separate shower) and minibar. The cabins are distributed across the lower, main, and upper decks; the lower deck includes two double-bed cabins, the main deck also has two double-bed cabins, and the upper deck cabins are twin-bed style.

The vessel is impressively appointed. She features two large, modern sun decks ideal for lounging and soaking up sea views, along with two air-conditioned salons (on the main and upper decks) that include media areas with TV/DVD and sound systems. The dining area is located on the lower deck, providing a relaxed setting for meals. There are three bars (on main, upper, and sun decks) plus a Jacuzzi on the sun deck for added comfort.

Golden Dolphin IV operates all standard Red Sea safari routes and also provides special trip itineraries on request. Whether guests are exploring coral reefs, remote wrecks, or enjoying time onboard in luxury, this liveaboard offers a premium diving experience.

Double Cabin (Lower Deck)

A cozy and well appointed double cabin on the lower deck with a comfortable bed, en-suite bathroom with separate shower, full air conditioning, and minibar. Perfect for couples seeking a quiet and relaxing retreat.

  • Air-conditioning
  • En-suite bathroom
  • Minibar
  • Towels

Double Cabin Main Deck

An elegant double cabin on the main deck offering extra headroom, natural light, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and minibar. Great for guests who prefer easy access to the yacht’s central areas.

  • Air-conditioning
  • En-suite bathroom and shower
  • Minibar
  • Towels

Twin Cabin (Lower Deck)

A practical twin bed cabin located on the lower deck with two single beds, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and minibar. Ideal for friends or diving buddies sharing space while keeping their privacy.

  • Air-conditioning
  • En-suite bathroom and shower
  • Minibar
  • Towels

Twin Cabin (Main Deck)

A comfortable twin cabin on the main deck featuring two single beds, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and minibar. A balanced choice for those traveling together.

  • Air-conditioning
  • En-suite bathroom and shower
  • Minibar
  • Towels

Twin Cabin (Upper Deck)

A spacious twin cabin on the upper deck with two single beds, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and minibar. Offers beautiful elevated views and a more exclusive atmosphere.

  • Air-conditioning
  • En-suite bathroom and shower
  • Minibar
  • Towels

Route Options

This Red Sea route is a wreck diver’s dream. Explore the legendary SS Thistlegorm, still holding its wartime cargo of trucks, tanks, and motorcycles. Discover the ‘Ship Graveyard’ of Abu Nuhas with the Giannis D and other coral-covered wrecks, and dive into history with the Dunraven. At Ras Mohamed, drift between Shark and Yolanda reefs, where dramatic drop-offs, colorful corals, and even a sunken cargo of bathtubs and toilets make every dive unforgettable.

SS Thistlegorm
The Red Sea’s most famous wreck, the Thistlegorm is a 125 m WWII British freighter sunk by German bombers in 1941. Split in two, it now reveals an extraordinary cargo of jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, and wartime supplies—an underwater museum for divers.

Ras Mohammed
Egypt’s iconic marine park with dramatic drop-offs, lush coral gardens, and abundant marine life. At Yolanda Reef, divers can explore the scattered cargo of a sunken freighter—bathtubs and toilets now covered in coral—making for a unique photo opportunity.

Gotta Abu Nugar South
A sandy-bottom site dotted with coral heads, ideal for spotting smaller reef fish and enjoying a calm, easy dive.

Abu Nuhas
Known as the “Ship Graveyard,” Abu Nuhas hosts four wrecks, including the Giannis D (1984) and the Carnatic (1869). With tilted passageways, easy swim-throughs, and coral-encrusted hulls, it’s a paradise for wreck divers.

The tour descriptions (dive sites) are samples. Depending on the weather conditions and the quality of the divers other dive sites can be chosen.

M/Y Golden Dolphin II offers a mixture of reef and wall diving around the southern Red Sea for 7 night charters on The Best of the Res Sea itinerary. She departs from Hurghada or Port Ghalib and visits St John’s Reef, Rocky Island, Elphinstone and the Island of Zabargad. The Red Sea has a high temperature and salt content due to its isolated location between Asia and Africa with a narrow passage to the Indian Ocean.

Top Dive Sites

St John’s Reef system is located in the southern Red Sea and offers exciting drop offs and pelagic action. The wall of ones of the reefs is covered in giant gorgonians and another overgrown with a number of colorful soft corals. You will see a lot of fish cruising in the blue waters with the occasional sightings of hammerheads, grey sharks, white tip reef sharks and silvertips.

Rocky Island is a fringing reef that circles the island and drops steeply into the blue waters, it is covered in beautiful soft corals, gorgonians, fans, sponges and black coral trees. Due to its isolated location sightings of reef sharks, grey sharks and silvertip sharks are a certainty with the occasional sightings of manta rays, sailfish and dolphins.

The reef at Elphinstone is sheer walls covered in soft corals with the north and south plateaus worth a visit when at the site. Due to the remote location of the reef you will encounter big fish like hammerheads, white tip sharks and dolphins.

The Island of Zabargad is an amazing dive spot as you get to dive along the walls, hover over drops offs and dive in the shallows admiring the coral garden and the fish. For wreck divers there is a nameless 70 metre long wreck at the north side of the island that lies upside down 24 metres down with the stern section still intact.

The Daedalus Reef lies south of the Brother Islands and is a huge reef formation that is surrounded by a sheer wall featuring a plateau on the southern side that has a 40 metre drop off. The best way to do this dive is to get as far north as possible and drift along the side of the reef to encounter reef sharks, hammerheads, surgeons, fusiliers and carangids.

Embark on a breathtaking adventure through the southern Red Sea’s most enchanting dive sites. Rocky Island mesmerizes with dramatic walls draped in soft corals and gorgonians, where reef sharks, manta rays, and turtles glide in the blue. Zabargad Island offers serene dives along stunning coral gardens teeming with reef fish. Further south, St. John’s Reefs captivate with vibrant drop-offs, curious coral formations, and the magical light shows of St. John’s Caves, creating an unforgettable underwater paradise for every diver.

St. John’s
Located 10 miles north of the Sudanese border, St. John’s is a vast reef system rising from a massive underwater plateau. It offers dozens of outstanding dives surrounded by deep blue waters.

Zabargad
Known since ancient times for its olivine mines, Zabargad features a scenic southern wall with stunning coral passages and diverse marine life.

Rocky Island
Rocky Island’s submerged rocks and sandy slopes are adorned with staghorn and hard corals. Divers often encounter leopard and whitetip reef sharks, turtles, and giant trevallies. With depths up to 39 meters and strong currents, it suits advanced divers.

Shaab Marsa Alam
A bean-shaped reef with sandy surroundings and rich coral gardens in the northeast. Reef sharks, blacktips, and oceanic whitetips are often seen here, while a small wreck lies in the southern lagoon at 17 meters.

Fury Shoals
A chain of pristine reefs along Egypt’s southwest coast, Fury Shoals offers vibrant hard and soft corals, abundant reef fish, and frequent shark sightings. Pelagics such as barracudas, trevallies, and tunas are also common.

Shaab Maksur
A long reef with plateaus to the north and south and steep drop-offs on both sides. Dolphins, barracudas, and reef sharks often cruise the northern terrace, while the southern plateau hosts thriving coral blocks and varied marine life.

The Strait of Tiran is home to four world-renowned reefs—Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse, and Jackson—each offering something unique. From vibrant coral gardens and a shark ‘amphitheater’ at Gordon, to Thomas Reef’s colorful canyon and dense soft coral fields, the sites burst with life. Woodhouse promises exhilarating drifts over thriving coral slopes, while Jackson Reef impresses with dramatic walls, strong currents, and frequent pelagic encounters. Together, these reefs deliver some of the most exciting dives in the Sinai.

SS Thistlegorm
The Red Sea’s most famous wreck, this 125 m WWII British freighter was sunk in 1941 by German bombers. Now split in two, it reveals an extraordinary cargo of jeeps, trucks, motorcycles, and military supplies—an unforgettable dive into underwater history.

Ras Mohammed
Egypt’s first marine park, famous for dramatic drop-offs, rich coral gardens, and abundant marine life. Shark and Yolanda Reef offer thrilling dives, with Yolanda’s cargo of toilets and bathtubs scattered across the seabed, now beautifully overgrown with coral.

Gotta Abu Nugar South
A sandy seabed dotted with coral heads, perfect for spotting reef fish and macro life. Calm and relaxed, this site is ideal for easy dives and photography.

Abu Nuhas
Known as the “Ship Graveyard,” Abu Nuhas is home to four wrecks, including the Giannis D (1984) and the Carnatic (1869). With tilted passageways, coral-encrusted hulls, and easy swim-throughs, it’s a paradise for wreck divers.

Straits of Tiran
One of the Red Sea’s most iconic dive areas, featuring Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse, and Jackson Reefs. Expect colorful corals, pelagic visitors, and sharks patrolling the currents. Highlights include Thomas Reef’s spectacular canyon, Gordon Reef’s shark “amphitheater,” and Jackson Reef’s steep coral-covered walls where barracuda and reef sharks often gather.

Dive the Red Sea’s legends: Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone, where vibrant reefs, iconic wrecks, and thrilling shark encounters await

Brother Islands
One of the Red Sea’s top dive sites, the Brother Islands rise 60 km off the Egyptian coast. Little Brother bursts with marine life, colorful corals, and frequent shark encounters including hammerheads, threshers, and reef sharks. Big Brother is home to two historic wrecks—the Numidia (1901) and the Aida (1957)—now coral-covered and teeming with life. Strong currents make this site best for experienced divers.

Daedalus Reef
A remote reef with dramatic walls, a southern plateau, and a chance to spot turtles, scorpionfish, and stonefish. Schooling fish are abundant, and hammerheads, threshers, and reef sharks are regular visitors. Don’t miss Anemone City, a vibrant carpet of anemones attracting countless reef fish.

Elphinstone
A narrow, finger-shaped reef famed for its steep walls and north–south plateaus. Its rich fish life and frequent shark sightings, including oceanic whitetips, make it one of the Red Sea’s must-dive sites.

12 Days / 11 Nights

Itinerary Sample

•Check-in: Boarding begins on the arrival day at 6:00 p.m.

•Departure: The vessel departs the marina the following day before noon.

•Diving Schedule: 3–4 dives per day, depending on the route. The execution of the diving cruise is subject to weather, sea conditions, local regulations, and the divers' skill levels. Therefore, specific reef visits cannot be guaranteed.

•Last Day: A maximum of 2 dives is scheduled on the day before departure, followed by a return to the marina.

•Meals: Full board is provided during the cruise, except for dinner on the arrival day and breakfast on the departure day.

•Check-out: Guests must disembark by 10:00 a.m. on the departure day.

•Accommodation: For organizational or technical reasons, guests may be accommodated at a hotel (half-board basis) for the final night.

•Transfers: Transfers to the airport are provided.

Note: Changes to the schedule may occur.

Vessel Details

Year Built 2021
Length 46 meters
Beam 11 meters
Speed 10 knots
Cabins In total 14 air conditioned double cabins with bathroom and separate shower, 4 cabins on lower deck, 2 of them with double bed, 6 cabins on main deck, 2 of them with double bed, 4 cabins on upper deck with twin beds
Engines 2 x 2200 PS Cummins K50
Generators 2x 125 KW und 1x 80 KW
Water Desalination system, 2x 10.000l
Connectivity VHF, DSC (Area I), Satellite EPIRB, WIFI
Safety Life rafts, life jackets, Emergency oxygen, Fire extinguisher, first aid, defibrillator, fire fighting and alarm system, smoke detectors, ENOS on request
Dive deck Dive deck with large platform
Nitrox up to 32% free of charge
Compressors 2 x Bauer K15.1 450l and Nitrox Mattai 15KW
Tanks 12l aluminum- tanks DIN/INT, 15l tanks on request
Zodiac 2 Zodiacs with ladder, outboard engine 6m / 85 PS 2
Equipment Rental There is no rental equipment stock on board available, only spare equipment for the worst-case scenario. If you need complete rental equipment or only some items of the equipment, please inform us at least one week before arrival, including the sizes if necessary. A short-term obtaining is possible, but this takes time and could delay the trip start. Please do not forget the most important spare parts for your equipment, such as: mask and fin straps, repair kit for regulator and batteries, film and spare bulbs for your torch.

Available Experiences

ITINERARIES AVAILABLE IN THIS DESTINATION

What Our Customers Have To Say

Reviews from our Clients, Journalists, Photo Pro's and our own Experts

Our reviews and blogs are an additional guide to evaluate of the holiday is exactley what you are looking for or not. Some love an Eco-Resort, some love air-con and a flat screen TV, we aim to ensure you get what you are looking for, at great value for money.

Thomas Reef

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Between Gordon and Woodhouse reefs, smaller round reef with walls plunging deep and fully covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colourful fish life. It is almost possible to circumnavigate this reef in one dive. The east wall plunges dramatically to great depths with a mass of brightly coloured soft corals. The west wall is darker with overhangs and caves but is a great drift dive with sightings of Trevally and Tuna in the blue and schooling reef fish close to the reef.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 20m

Ras Mohamed

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Ras Mohammed peninsula separates the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. Currents flow out of both gulfs and bathe Ras Mohammed in rich nutrients, which assure plentiful and varied marine life. At Shark Reef and Yolanda wreck, many fish species can be found: groupers, barracuda, batfish, Napoleon wrasses, blue-spot stingrays and a special treat, crocodile fish. It's an amusing and memorable site to see groupers swimming around a huge mountain of toilets at the bottom of the sea.
Really several dive sites, Ras Mohammed has earned itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world, here at the tip of the Sinai where the vast bodies of water, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet has created an ecosystem like no other and wall diving is at its very best.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 18m

Shark and Yolanda Reefs

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

When divers think of Sinai, they think of Shark Reef and Yolanda. The two reefs are actually the twin peaks of a single coral seamount rising just off the Ras Muhammad coast, separated from the mainland by a shallow channel.
Shark Reef, the easternmost of the two, boasts a sheer wall dropping to well past 50m (164ft) along its northeast and eastern sides, giving way to a steep reef slope as the reef proceeds southwest toward Yolanda. A shallow saddle lies between the two reefs at 18 to 20m (60-65ft). A second shallow patch lies south of Yolanda. This second flat patch is the site of what remains of the Yolanda, a wrecked freighter. The ship itself slipped into the deep in 1986 after a severe storm, but much of its cargo remains, incongruously strewn across the reef.
Coral is excellent, with good if sparse growth on the wall sections and dense coral gardens on the shallower flat areas. Big pelagics and schooling fish swarm these reefs in the thousands. The Most impressive concentration is on the wall at Shark Reef. On the reef, hundreds of different reef fishes can be spotted as can moray eels of a meter (3ft) and bluespotted and blackspotted stingrays.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 27m

Shab Abu Nugar

Hurghada , Red Sea

This “T” shaped reef has a shallow plateau to the west with numerous small ergs and two small sub reefs Gota Abu Nigar and Shab Iris. Some parts of this reef system are positively dull while others are stunning. If you can dive the stem of the “T” on the north side you will find three small ergs and the diving there is almost virginal. You will find broom tail wrasse here as well as parrot fish and unicorn fish.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Elphinstone Reef

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

The sheer walls of this great reef plunge steeply into the blue, richly decorated with soft corals, sponges, gorgonians and fans. Sharks often swim by the spot to feed on the abundant reef fish population. The northern plateau is home to schooling hammerheads with frequent sightings of oceanic white tip sharks.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Daedalus Reef

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

A huge round reef with a lighthouse more than 40 miles away from the coast, features an excellent opportunity for spotting big pelagics including manta rays. All around its steep walls you will see an extreme variety of fish and coral. Good chance to see schooling hammerheads on the northern point. Strong currents possible.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Rocky Island

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Tiny rock emerging a few feet out of the water, it offers one of the most incredible underwater scenarios of the whole Red Sea. Steep walls falling into the deep blue, currents, soft corals and a great abundance of pelagics and all kinds of fish.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

St Johns Reef

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

This incredibly beautiful reef lies Approx. 40km North of the Sudanese border and 20km south of Zabargad . The reef covers a huge area and many dives would be needed to explore the numerous coral heads and islands that make up this extensive area.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Thistlegorm

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

The Thistlegorm was discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau and is probably the most famous wreck in the world. It sank in 1941 when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards, rather like opening a tin of sardines.
The stern section of the wreck lies almost horizontal to the sea bed; the remainder of the wreck is nearly upright. Inside the wreckage, tyres, tanks, motorbikes, Bedford trucks, waders and wellington boots can be seen. Penetration is possible around the bridge and blast area. The large propeller is still in position and the guns on the stern are in excellent condition.
Artillery litters the blast area. A bath tub can be seen towards the bow and a toilet near the stern. The sea life is impressive with possibility of seeing tuna overhead the resident turtle. Expect this to be very busy, especially once the day boats have reached it; it is likely to be chaos both on the surface and under the water.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 31m

Abu Nuhas

Hurghada , Red Sea

Also known as “Ships Graveyard”, Abu Nuhas is located close to the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Suez. Four wrecks are lying in a chain on a sandy bottom of a steep sloping reef covered with table corals. The following wrecks are found there;

Ghiannis D was on the way from Rijeka to AI Hudayda at the southern end of the Red Sea, when the bow ran aground on the reef on April 19, 1984. The rear half of the wreck lies on the port side. At the front the funnel is the large letter “D” signifying the name of the shipping company, Danae. In front of the funnel is the bridge deck with different areas, an enormous winch and the bollard. Narrow portholes lead into the engine room. The mid-ship area resembles a scrap heap where steel girders are bent and torn up, and the side panels lie caved in on the bottom. Crocodile fish, scorpion fish, parrotfish, and groupers call the vessel home. This wreck is at 30 - 88 feet/10 - 27meters depth.

Carnatic was on the way from Liverpool to Bombay with 27 crew members, 203 passengers as well as a cargo of cotton, copper, and 40,000 pounds Sterling in gold. She ran aground in the night September 13,1869. Now the wreck lies at a depth of 65 - 88 feet/20 - 27 meters. The hull is covered with hard and leather corals.

Chrisoula K started her last trip on August 30, 1981 loaded with cheap Italian tiles. Chrisoula K ran aground due to a navigation mistake of the captain and sank in the same night. The wreck lies at 16 - 80 feet/5 - 25 meters depth.

Shaab el Erg: Shaab el Erg, also known as “Dolphin House”, is famous for dolphin sightings; it is not uncommon for a school of dolphins to join the dive. The reef drops down to a coral garden at 40 feet/12 meters deep with marine life like nudibranchs, tunas, trevallies, jacks, scorpionfish and sea turtles.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

SS Thistlegorm

Hurghada , Red Sea

The Thistlegorm was discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau and is probably the most famous wreck in the world. It sank in 1941 when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards, rather like opening a tin of sardines.
The stern section of the wreck lies almost horizontal to the sea bed; the remainder of the wreck is nearly upright. Inside the wreckage, tyres, tanks, motorbikes, Bedford trucks, waders and Wellington boots can be seen. Penetration is possible around the bridge and blast area. The large prop is still in position and the guns on the stern are in excellent condition.
Artillery litters the blast area. A bath tub can be seen towards the bow and a toilet near the stern. The sea life is impressive with possibility of seeing tuna overhead the resident turtle. Expect this to be very busy, especially once the day boats have reached it; it is likely to be chaos both on the surface and under the water.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Salem Express

Hurghada , Red Sea

A Ferry carrying pilgrims returning from Mecca, sank in 1991 after hitting the reef at night. 600 victims perished in one of the greatest marine tragedies of all time. Divers are asked to dive the wreck considerately with respect for the great loss of life and penetration of the wreck is forbidden.
The propellers make an impressive sight and the covering of hard corals now colonising the wreck show the power of the ocean to make new life out of this tragedy. Fish life is now abundant and the funnels of the wreck with large "S" and the name on the bow are clearly visible. The site is reasonably sheltered and is not exposed to strong current and can be dived at all levels from 12m to 30m.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 30m

Brother Islands

Hurghada , Red Sea

The offshore islands in this area have recently been reopened for diving after a long closure by the Egyptian Government and have been designated as a Marine Park. Now suitable moorings are installed for dive boats visiting this area. The Brothers are really the tops of two undersea mountains these islands rise from the depths, the coral clad walls do offer outstanding diving with plenty of big fish action due to there remote location some 80km offshore.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 65m

Giannis D

Hurghada , Red Sea

This Greek freighter hit the reef in April 1983 and over the course of two weeks slowly broke into two parts and sank. She is the most dived wreck in the area, laying in 24 metres and leaning to port with a fully intact stern section and an impressive engine room packed with glass fish.

The bow is very interesting too but is a long swim out. She is a great wreck for penetration but beware of disorientation due to the angle at which she lays. Be wary of the many lion fish and scorpion fish that call this wreck home and watch out for the strong surges in and around the wreck in rough weather.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 24m

Carnatic

Hurghada , Red Sea

The Carnatic is a British P & O steamer which struck the reef in 1869 and sank the next day as the weather worsened. She was a passenger and mail ship and is sometimes known as the ‘wine’ wreck for the numerous bottles once found in the holds; sadly not many now remain to be seen. Rumour has it that she sank with forty thousand pounds sterling of gold bullion, much of which was never recovered. The wreck lays in 29m and now the whole hull is draped in multicoloured soft corals and the inner areas are full of glass fish complete with red mouthed grouper sentinel. One davit supports a beautiful table coral. The wreck is now home to large grouper, octopus and morays and jacks and tuna cruise overhead.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 29m

Woodhouse Reef

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

The Woodhouse Reef is located between Thomas and Jackson reef, Woodhouse reef is the narrowest and longest reef in Tiran. With no moorings this dive is always done as a drift. The Reef offers a sheer wall dropping down to a sandy ledge at 30 meters and dropping away into the abyss. The most interesting point of this dive site is the famous canyon that opens out at a depth of 30 meters and runs parallel to the main axis of the reef. Here divers will have the opportunity to spot black coral at a depth of around 22 meters and lots of pelagic fish cruising past in the blue.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 22m

Big Brother

Hurghada , Red Sea

A 400 meter long island offering fabulous wreck diving and wall diving. The wreck of the Numidia lies on the northern tip between 10 and 80 meter. The north-west side of the island houses the wreck of the Aida. On every section of this reef the wall is covered with corals and life.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 18

Little Brother

Hurghada , Red Sea

Boasts a very high concentration of life within a very small area. Fan coral forests, overhangs, hard and soft corals in a variety of astonishing colors… and of course there are plenty of fish! With regular sightings of hammerheads, thresher sharks, grey sharks and white tip reef sharks, at the right time of year.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 18

Zabargad Island

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Zabargad is the largest of Egypt's 4 Southern Red Sea marine parks and lies just 5 km northwest of Rocky Island in the deep south, 70 km off the mainland. The island has exquisite turquoise bays, sandy beaches and a 235m high hill at its centre. Zabargad means topaz in Egyptian, and you can still find evidence of an island community that mined the semi-precious stones here.

Red Sea diving is at its best on Zabargad Island's south east coast in the sheltered Turtle Bay. Here you'll find a wall to 15m then a coral reef slope down to 30m or so and then a drop off into the blue. The reef slope is a maze of coral patches and dome turrets, forming refuges to reef fish such as pufferfish and sweetlips, and invertebrates such as cuttlefish and octopus. The floor is home to bluespotted stingrays, scorpionfish and crocodilefish, and of course turtles are found here too. Green and hawksbill turtles hatch on the beach here in the month of August.

It's best to dive along the reef wall here as the coral growth is dense and there are many caverns and gullies to explore. There are also a couple of passageways that lead directly into the inner lagoon behind the reef wall.

Outside of the sheltered bays, Zabargad has steep walls that offer some great Red Sea drift diving. The usual sharks can be sighted here, such as oceanic whitetips and grey reef. It's also a good place for manta encounters, where these rays come into the reef to attend cleaning stations dotted along the ledges at 15-30m.

On the northeast coast of Zabargad lies the Khanka Wreck, a 70m long USSR transport/surveillance ship that sank upright in 24m of water in the 1970s. The bow has impact damage and lies on its port side but the rest of the wreck is in good condition. The main superstructure lies just 10m below the water's surface. Although there is little coral growth here yet, there are several interesting sections of the ship to explore on a dive, such as the holds, bridge and engine room, which are filled with glassfish and are easy to explore from the 2 large openings to be found in the bow and stern.

Large winches and heavy chains are in evidence towards the bow. You can access the engine room through the hatches in midships. The bridge is found down a narrow stairwell where you can still find the helm, chart room and control panels. The main mast is intact and is a great place for a safety stop since it rises to just 2m below the surface.

Down the west coast of the island, lies the remains of the Neptuna. This was a German Red Sea diving safari boat that sank here in 1981. It has now broken apart but much of what remains is visible on the sea floor. The area is fairly shallow with coral bommies rising from 15m. Sometimes night dives are taken here

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 30m

Umm Hararim - Caves of St. Johns

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

This is a very shallow reef, full of spectacular corridors and caves with an open topside, it is even more impressive than the caves of Claudio. Few animals, except for several large napoleons are to be seen here. We will also enjoy the impressive garden of porites of the north wall.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 26m

Abu Nuhas (4 wrecks)

Hurghada , Red Sea

In 1869, the Suez Canal established the Red Sea as the most important stretch of water near Egypt. Known as the Red Sea ‘graveyard’, Abu Nuhas is located north of Shadwan Island (the Egyptian Red Sea’s largest island). The submerged reef has claimed more vessels than any other in the Red Sea with at least four complete wrecks and other wreckage scattered throughout the area. The wrecks are laying in a chain on a sandy bottom of a steep sloping reef covered with table corals. Some of the items the wrecks carried were copper, port wine, and gold. The four wrecks the Red Sea Aggressor II dives are the Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K and Kimon M:

Ghiannis D is a 100 meter long cargo ship originally built in Japan then bought by a Greek shipping company and renamed the Giannis D in 1980. She was enroute from now known as Croatia bound for Jeddah, Saudi Arabia carrying a cargo of wood. After passing through the Suez Canal and into the Strait of Gubal, the ship ran aground into the reef of Sha'ab Abu Nuhas in 1983. The stern is partly intact at around 25 meters and the bow at about 18 meters.

The rear half of the wreck lies on the port side. At the front the funnel is the large letter “D” signifying the name of the shipping company, Danae. Crocodile fish, scorpion fish, parrotfish, and grouper call the vessel home. This wreck is located at a depth of 10 - 27 meters.

Carnatic is thought to be the oldest wreck found at Sha'ab Abu Nuhas. A steam and sail powered clipper, the Carnatic was sailing from Bombay (Mumbai), India to Suez when she struck the reef in 1869. The ship broke in half when the crew and passengers were abandoning it resulting in the loss of 31 lives. The ships cargo included cotton, copper, and a huge load of gold. Salvage operations claim to have recovered the gold, however rumors still exist that there still might be gold hidden on the wreck. The wreck lies at a depth of 10 - 27 meters with the hull covered in hard and leather corals.

Chrisoula K was originally built in Germany and christened the Dora Olendorff. The 100 meter long cargo ship was bound for Jeddah, Saudia Arabia carrying a cargo of Italian floor tiles. After leaving the Gulf of Suez, a navigational error saw the ship run full speed into the Abu Nuhas reef. The crew were safely rescued but the ship sank and now lies between 5 - 25 meters.

The Kimon M cargo ship sunk in 1978 after hitting the Sha’ab Abu Nuhas Reef. It was carrying lentils and is also known as the ‘Lentil Wreck’ and lies in 32 meters of water at the stern. It initially was stuck on the reef until the storm and waves pushed the ship breaking the bow then the main body which sank in 10 – 29 meters depth.The stern with the huge propeller is still intact and easy to dive. Due to its size, it is impressive to swim around from the outside and is home to schools of batfish and a huge napoleon.

  • Dive Type: Wreck Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

Sataya Reef

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Seven imposing stacks of coral named Dha’ab Hassan guard the lagoons entrance with depths ranging from 18m to 22m along the rim, lessoning to 12m as you approach the Sataya lagoon. The outer wall of the Sataya offers some excellent drift diving. You are dropped off by zodiac and the dive begins at the North-west edge, keeping the reef to the left. Large outcrops of soft coral cover the wall and white tips are sometimes spotted half asleep underneath table coral, slowly moving away as divers approach.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25
Dates Duration Route Room Type Price
16 Oct 2025
23 Oct 2025
7 Nights Rocky Island-Zabargad-St. Johns Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1335
20 Nov 2025
27 Nov 2025
7 Nights Rocky Island-Zabargad-St. Johns Twin Bed Cabin Lower Deck £1293
20 Nov 2025
27 Nov 2025
7 Nights Rocky Island-Zabargad-St. Johns Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1335
20 Nov 2025
27 Nov 2025
7 Nights Rocky Island-Zabargad-St. Johns Twin Cabin (Upper Deck) £1335
6 Dec 2025
13 Dec 2025
7 Nights North–Strait of Tiran Twin Bed Cabin Lower Deck £1126
6 Dec 2025
13 Dec 2025
7 Nights North–Strait of Tiran Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1168
6 Dec 2025
13 Dec 2025
7 Nights North–Strait of Tiran Twin Cabin (Upper Deck) £1168
22 Dec 2025
2 Jan 2026
11 Nights 11 days: Daedalus - Rocky - Zabargad - Elba Reef - St. Johns - Satayah - Brothers - Safaga Twin Bed Cabin Lower Deck £1836
22 Dec 2025
2 Jan 2026
11 Nights 11 days: Daedalus - Rocky - Zabargad - Elba Reef - St. Johns - Satayah - Brothers - Safaga Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1836
22 Dec 2025
2 Jan 2026
11 Nights 11 days: Daedalus - Rocky - Zabargad - Elba Reef - St. Johns - Satayah - Brothers - Safaga Twin Cabin (Upper Deck) £1836
5 Mar 2026
12 Mar 2026
7 Nights Brother Islands-Daedalus-Elphinstone Twin Bed Cabin Lower Deck £1043
5 Mar 2026
12 Mar 2026
7 Nights Brother Islands-Daedalus-Elphinstone Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1084
5 Mar 2026
12 Mar 2026
7 Nights Brother Islands-Daedalus-Elphinstone Twin Cabin (Upper Deck) £1084
7 May 2026
14 May 2026
7 Nights North Wrecks Twin Bed Cabin Lower Deck £1293
7 May 2026
14 May 2026
7 Nights North Wrecks Twin Cabin (Upper Deck) £1335
4 Jun 2026
11 Jun 2026
7 Nights Best of the Red Sea Safari Twin Bed Cabin Lower Deck £1293
4 Jun 2026
11 Jun 2026
7 Nights Best of the Red Sea Safari Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1335
4 Jun 2026
11 Jun 2026
7 Nights Best of the Red Sea Safari Twin Cabin (Upper Deck) £1335