Red Sea

Advanced Open Water Certification

Year Round

Reefs & Wrecks

UD Rating - 4.5 Star

Golden Dolphin III

A Modern Liveaboard for Iconic Dive Adventures

Golden Dolphin III is a 40-meter liveaboard blending style and innovation in the Red Sea. It operates luxurious Safari routes to dive iconic sites like Brother Islands, Daedalus, and Elphinstone. With comfort and elegance onboard, it ensures every diver’s voyage is exciting and unforgettable.

Golden Dolphin III blends style and innovation to deliver an unforgettable liveaboard experience for divers exploring the Red Sea. Built in 2008 and continuously maintained, the vessel impresses with its thoughtful design and attention to detail, making every voyage a special one.

Golden Dolphin III accommodates 20 guests in 10 double cabins, two of which feature king-size beds located on the upper deck, while the remaining cabins are twin-bed configurations spread across the upper and main decks. All cabins are air-conditioned, include mini-bars, and offer private bathrooms, ensuring a comfortable and relaxing retreat after long days of diving.

The public areas are arranged to enhance both camaraderie and calm. The spacious, air-conditioned salon with its media system, sound setup, and TV/DVD corner resides on the lower deck, alongside a dining area that provides a convivial setting for meals and gatherings. Guests are also welcome to relax on two excellently arranged sun decks, perfect for soaking up views, resting between dives, or stargazing at night.

All standard Red Sea safari routes are offered aboard Golden Dolphin III, with special trips available upon request. Whether diving remote reefs, exploring marine biodiversity hotspots, or relaxing in well-appointed interiors, this vessel promises a liveaboard adventure that combines comfort, adventure, and lasting memories.

Double Cabin (Upper Deck)

A luxurious double-bed cabin on the upper deck, equipped with a king-size bed, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and minibar. Ideal for guests seeking privacy, comfort, and elevated views.

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

Twin Cabin (Upper Deck)

A versatile twin cabin on the upper deck, offering two single beds, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and minibar, great for friends or diving partners who prefer separate beds but still want a premium location.

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

Twin Cabin (Main Deck)

A comfortable twin cabin on the main deck with two single beds, en-suite bathroom, air conditioning, and minibar, functional and cozy, suited for guests wanting easy access to the boat’s amenities below.

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

Route Options

Explore the ultimate Red Sea adventure with dives at Daedalus Reef and Fury Shoals. Daedalus, a massive offshore reef surrounded by steep walls and vibrant plateaus, promises thrilling drift dives and close encounters with reef and hammerhead sharks amid dense schools of colorful fish. Further south, Fury Shoals is a diver’s paradise where playful dolphins, stunning coral gardens, and lively marine life await. From the dramatic drop-offs of Sha’ab Maksour to the enchanting caves of Sha’ab Claudio and the photogenic wrecks of Abu Galawa, every dive is a spectacle. Don’t miss Sataya—famously known as Dolphin Reef—for a magical underwater experience.

Marsa Shuona
The northern edge of Shouna features a wide sandy plateau dotted with table corals of various shapes and sizes. Blue-spotted rays are common, and during certain seasons, breeding guitar rays and other surprises can be seen gliding along the slope.

Sataya (Dolphin Reef)
Located south of Marsa Alam in the Fury Shoals, Sataya offers a massive reef with colorful drop-offs, coral block formations, and a gorgonian wall between 17 and 22 meters. The area teems with reef fish, napoleons, turtles, and small critters, while dolphins, sharks, and mantas often patrol the blue. The nearby “aquarium” in Wadi Gimal is a shallow coral garden full of vibrant marine life.

Daedalus Reef
Daedalus is a remote reef surrounded by steep walls and a colorful southern plateau that drops to 40 meters. It’s home to turtles, reef fish, and occasional thresher or hammerhead sharks. On the west side lies Anemone City, a vast colony stretching across the reef with thriving schools of fusiliers and jacks.

Abu Galawa Soraya
Situated in the western Fury Shoals, about 12 km from Wadi Lahmi, this small reef offers shallow depths, excellent visibility, and mild currents—ideal for beginners.

Shaab Marsa Alam
A semi-circular, bean-shaped reef surrounded by sandy bottom and coral formations. Its northeastern coral garden is rich in marine life, often visited by reef sharks and sometimes blacktip or oceanic whitetips. A small wreck rests in the southern lagoon at 17 meters.

Abu Dabbab
Known for close encounters with gentle Green Sea Turtles and harmless Guitar Sharks, Abu Dabbab also delights macro lovers with ghost pipefish, thorny seahorses, and pygmy pipehorses among the seagrass beds.

Fury Shoals
Stretching along Egypt’s southwest coast, Fury Shoals feature pristine hard and soft corals and diverse marine life, including reef sharks, barracudas, trevallies, and dogtooth tunas. The reefs here are among the most unspoiled in the Red Sea.

Shaab Maksur
A long reef with plateaus to the north and south and steep drop-offs on both sides. Dolphins, barracudas, and reef sharks are often seen cruising the northern terrace, while the southern plateau shelters dense coral blocks and vibrant fish life.

Embark on the ultimate Red Sea adventure! Dive into Daedalus Reef’s towering walls and vibrant plateaus, where hammerheads and reef sharks glide among thriving marine life. Explore the mystical Rocky Island, wrapped in dazzling corals and home to silvertip sharks, manta rays, and turtles. Discover Zabargad Island’s stunning drop-offs and coral gardens teeming with reef fish, then journey to St. John’s Reefs for dramatic gorgonian-covered walls and encounters with barracudas, sharks, and dolphins. End your expedition at the legendary Elphinstone Reef, famed for its colorful coral-covered plateaus and thrilling shark sightings.

Daedalus Reef
Daedalus Reef is surrounded by steep walls and features a plateau on the southern side that drops from 30 meters at the wall to around 40 meters at the edge. The plateau is covered in colorful coral growth that extends into the shallows, attracting turtles and large schools of fish. Closer observation reveals marine life such as snails, scorpionfish, and stonefish. Thresher sharks are occasionally seen near the plateau, while hammerhead and reef sharks are often spotted around the northwest tip. Along the west side lies Anemone City, a vast colony of anemones stretching from 5 to 30 meters deep, forming a soft, flowing carpet in the current. The area is home to an impressive variety of fish, including fusiliers, surgeonfish, and jacks.

Elphinstone
Elphinstone Reef is a long, finger-like formation running north to south in the open Red Sea. Its steep eastern and western walls descend sharply into the depths, while the northern and southern ends feature submerged plateaus. The reef’s abundant fish population frequently attracts sharks, which can often be seen gliding along its edges.

St. John’s
Located about 10 miles from the Sudanese border, St. John’s is a vast reef system on the southern Egyptian coast. The reefs rise dramatically from a massive underwater plateau hidden in deep blue water, offering numerous outstanding dive sites with exceptional biodiversity and striking coral formations.

Zabargad
The island of Zabargad has been renowned since ancient Egyptian times for its olivine mines, where a green gemstone similar to emerald was once extracted. Beneath the surface, divers can explore the island’s southern wall, known for its stunning passages, vibrant corals, and captivating underwater scenery.

Rocky Island
Rocky Island features several submerged rocks surrounded by sandy areas, with an inviting swim-through located at around 20 meters deep. The site showcases beautiful staghorn and hard corals, while leopard sharks and whitetip reef sharks are often found resting on the sand. Turtles and pelagic species such as giant trevallies are also common. With a maximum depth of about 39 meters and strong currents at times, this dive site is best suited for advanced divers.

Shaab Maksur
Shaab Maksur is a small but elongated reef featuring plateaus to the north and south, with steep drop-offs on the east and west sides. The northern terrace frequently attracts dolphins, barracudas, and reef sharks, while the southern plateau, characterized by large coral blocks, provides shelter for a wide variety of marine species.

Embark on a northern Red Sea liveaboard for an unforgettable diving adventure through history and vibrant marine life. Explore Abu Nuhas, the famous “Ship Graveyard,” where iconic wrecks like the Carnatic and Giannis D rest beautifully adorned with corals. Dive into Ras Mohammed National Park, a marine paradise of dramatic drop-offs and dazzling reefs teeming with life. Then, descend into the legendary SS Thistlegorm, a World War II time capsule filled with tanks, trucks, and motorcycles now thriving with marine creatures. This route blends adventure, history, and natural wonder—perfect for divers seeking the best of the Red Sea.

SS Thistlegorm
Located on the west coast of the Sinai Peninsula, about 40 km from Sharm El Sheikh, the SS Thistlegorm is one of the Red Sea’s most famous wrecks. This 125-meter British army freighter sank in October 1941 after being hit by German bombs during World War II. Today, divers can explore her fascinating cargo of wartime supplies—motorcycles, trucks, and ammunition—now beautifully encrusted with marine life.

Ras Mohammed
Ras Mohammed National Park offers some of the Red Sea’s most iconic dives, including Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef. These reefs sit on a plateau between 10 and 20 meters, dropping sharply beyond 200 meters. The site teems with vibrant coral, abundant fish, and occasional sharks. At Yolanda Reef, divers can see the scattered cargo of the Cypriot freighter Yolanda, including bathtubs and toilets, now overgrown with corals and sponges.

Gotta Abu Nugar South
This site features a sandy seabed scattered with coral heads, creating a peaceful and colorful landscape. Ideal for macro lovers, it’s a great spot to observe small reef fish and invertebrates while safely exploring the sandy areas between coral clusters.

Abu Nuhas
Known as the “Ship Graveyard,” Abu Nuhas hosts four famous wrecks, including the Giannis D and the Carnatic. The Giannis D, a Greek cargo ship, lies at a depth of 27 meters, split in two and richly covered with coral. Divers can easily penetrate the wreck, experiencing the unique tilted passageways. The Carnatic, a 19th-century steamship, struck the reef in 1869 and now rests gracefully on the seabed, offering a glimpse into maritime history surrounded by marine life.

Discover the untouched beauty of Egypt’s southern Red Sea, where every dive reveals a hidden gem. Explore Elba Reef, a rarely visited site with stunning plateaus and the wreck of the SS Isola di Levanzo, home to gray reef and hammerhead sharks. Drift along Rocky Island’s dramatic walls covered in vivid soft corals and gorgonians, with reef sharks, mantas, and turtles gliding through. At Zabargad Island, enjoy colorful coral gardens and vibrant marine life in calm, crystal waters. End your journey at St. John’s Reefs, where spectacular drop-offs, caves, and rich marine biodiversity promise an unforgettable Red Sea adventure.

Sataya (Dolphin Reef)
Located within the Fury Shoals south of Marsa Alam, Sataya is a large reef known for its colorful drop-offs and gorgonian walls between 17 and 22 meters. The eastern plateau, ranging from 18 to 32 meters, teems with surgeonfish, napoleons, turtles, and reef species, while dolphins, sharks, and mantas are often seen in the blue. Nearby Shilineat, known as “the aquarium,” offers shallow coral gardens and sandy areas filled with small fish, turtles, and the occasional dolphin.

Daedalus Reef
Encircled by steep walls, Daedalus features a southern plateau dropping from 30 to 40 meters, rich with coral growth and schooling fish. Turtles, scorpionfish, and stonefish are common, while thresher, hammerhead, and reef sharks frequently patrol the area. The western side hosts Anemone City, a dense colony of anemones from 5 to 30 meters, attracting fusiliers, surgeonfish, and jacks.

St. John’s
Situated near the Sudanese border, St. John’s is a remote reef system rising from a vast underwater plateau. Its many dive sites feature tunnels, drop-offs, and pristine corals teeming with marine life and exceptional visibility.

Zabargad
Known since ancient times for its olivine mines, Zabargad offers dramatic underwater landscapes. Along its southern wall, divers can explore scenic passages adorned with colorful corals and abundant marine life.

Rocky Island
Rocky Island’s submerged rocks and sandy slopes feature staghorn and hard corals, with swim-throughs at around 20 meters. Leopard sharks, whitetip reef sharks, turtles, and giant trevallies are often spotted. With strong currents and depths reaching 39 meters, it’s ideal for advanced divers.

Fury Shoals
Stretching along Egypt’s southwest coast, the Fury Shoals boast unspoiled reefs filled with hard and soft corals. Divers encounter reef fish, grey and whitetip sharks, and sometimes oceanic whitetips, along with pelagics like barracudas, trevallies, and tunas.

Elba Reef
Located near the Egyptian–Sudanese border, Elba Reef features northern and southern plateaus between 20 and 45 meters. The southern side hosts the SS Isola di Levanzo wreck, resting at 18 meters and surrounded by coral and marine life. The reef’s shallows are rich in hard corals and attract a variety of reef fish and sharks.

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.

Vessel Details

Year Built 2008
Length 40 metres
Beam 8 metres
Speed 11 knots
Cabins In total 10 double cabins with air condition, mini bar and en-suite bathroom; 8 twin cabins (6 on the main deck and 2 on the upper deck) and 2 cabins with double bed on the upper deck
Engines 2 x 750 PS Cummins K19
Generators 2 x 100 KW (230 V)
Water 2 desalinating unit; 4500l
Connectivity VHF, DSC (Area I and II), Satellite EPIRB and AIS, WIFI
Safety Life jackets and 2 life rafts, oxygen and first aid, fire extinguishers in every cabin and in salons, fire fighting and alarm system, smoke detectors, defibrillator, ENOS on request
Dive deck Dive deck with large platform
Nitrox up to 32% free of charge
Compressors 2 x L & W 280 EC; 1x Mattei LP ERC 507l
Tanks 12l aluminum- tanks DIN/INT; 15l tanks on request
Zodiac 2 zodiacs with outboard engine, 25 PS / 40 PS
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

Marcelina

Wednesday, 10 April 2019

Sunrise Marina Resort & Emperor Divers in Marsa Alam

The overall holiday was excellent value for money. Emperor Divers provided an outstanding dive experience on day boat trips to provide some of the most relax dives I have ever encountered at reasonable depths.

Sunrise Marina Resort & Emperor Divers in Marsa Alam

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.

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

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:

Abu Galawa Soraya

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

The northern edge of the 'Fury Shoal' group, this reef has a fantastic hard coral garden, and a wreck of a private sailing boat on the western side which is packed with glassfish.

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

Zabargad House Reef

Hamata , Red Sea

Enormous mountain coming out of the water surrounded by a lagoon and circling reef. A couple of wrecks and some decent diving with a great variety of both corals and reef fish.

  • 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:

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

Fury Shoals Reef System

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Fury Shoals is a group of dive sites offering a variety of coral pinnacles, lagoons, drop offs and fast drifts.

Here you will have the opportunity to see hammerhead sharks, silvertip sharks, white tip reef sharks, grey reef sharks, bumphead parrotfish, turtles, spinner dolphins, bottlenose dolphins, surgeonfish, jacks, tuna, reef fish, colourful coral and sponges.

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

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

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

Shaab Maksur

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

The south plateau offers a superb diving site. You will find here three coral pinnacles, which are overgrown with red soft corals, they contain several caves and crevices where glassfish, groupers, morays and other creature hide among the soft corals and gorgonias. Fish are also plentiful and large schools of carangids, surgeons and other small fish can be seen here. With luck you can see sharks at the edge of the plateau.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 40m

Marsa Shuna

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Weak to Medium Current. A reef in the north and south divided by a bay.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 35m

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
30 Oct 2025
6 Nov 2025
7 Nights Brother Islands-Daedalus-Elphinstone Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1227
13 Nov 2025
20 Nov 2025
7 Nights Elba Reef-Rocky Island-Zabargad-St. Johns Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1386
27 Nov 2025
4 Dec 2025
7 Nights Brother Islands-Daedalus-Elphinstone Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1227
27 Dec 2025
3 Jan 2026
7 Nights Brother Islands-Daedalus-Elphinstone Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1127
24 Jan 2026
31 Jan 2026
7 Nights Daedalus-Fury Shoals Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £826
14 Feb 2026
21 Feb 2026
7 Nights Best of the Red Sea: Daedalus–Rocky Island–Zabargad-St. Johns-Elphinstone Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £826
14 Mar 2026
21 Mar 2026
7 Nights Best of the Red Sea: Daedalus–Rocky Island–Zabargad-St. Johns-Elphinstone Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £826
21 Mar 2026
28 Mar 2026
7 Nights Daedalus-Fury Shoals Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £826
7 May 2026
14 May 2026
7 Nights North Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1027
24 Sep 2026
1 Oct 2026
7 Nights Brother Islands-Daedalus-Elphinstone Twin Cabin (Main Deck) £1227