M/Y Emperor Echo

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The latest addition to the Emperor Red Sea Fleet! Comfortably sleeping 25 guests, Emperor Echo sails the popular Red Sea week-long routes including 'Famous Five' and 'Simply The Best'.

Emperor Echo is the latest addition to the Emperor Red Sea Fleet offering exceptional value for money for the 'eat-sleep-dive-repeat diver'. Completely refurbished in 2018 with a spacious and contemporary saloon, restaurant and lounging areas; Echo easily accommodates 25 guests with free NITROX and at least 2 professional guides.

Emperor Echo sails the popular Famous Five, Red Sea Sharks and Simply the Best routes when the weather and sightings are at their peak, giving the diver more variety and chances to explore the Red Sea at a more affordable price.

Accommodation on-board offers 6 x twin-berth and 1 x single bed cabins on the lower deck, 3 x twin-berth cabins on the main deck, and 2 x twin alongside the gorgeous Panorama Double on the upper deck. All cabins are ensuite with individual air conditioning, two cabin towels, 1 deck towel and bathrobe per guest.

Of course, fantastic food is served as standard, along with free red wine with dinner and a bar on the upper deck. She has limited free WiFi (for internet browsing and connecting with communication applications only when in signal).

Main Deck Twin Bed Cabin

3 x twin-berth cabins on the main deck with an ensuite with individual air conditioning, two cabin towels, 1 deck towel and bathrobe per guest.

  • En-suite Bathroom
  • Air Conditioning
  • Towels and Bathrobes

Upper Deck Twin/Double Cabins

2 x twin alongside the gorgeous Panorama Double on the upper deck. All cabins are ensuite with individual air conditioning, two cabin towels, 1 deck towel and bathrobe per guest.

  • En-suite Bathroom
  • Air Conditioning
  • Towels and Bathrobes

Double & Twin Cabins

6 x twin-berth with ensuite bathrooms, individual air conditioning, two cabin towels, 1 deck towel and bathrobe per guest.

  • En-suite Bathroom
  • Air Conditioning
  • Towels and Bathrobes

Route Options

Simply the Best offers divers the chance to explore the 'Best Top 3' sites in this area: Big and Little Brothers, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone. A fabulous mixture of reef and wreck diving

The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silvertips, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can be found here. Sightings of the grey reef shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.

For the wreck diver, the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon wrasse and grey reef sharks.

Daedalus Reef, also part of the Marine Park, is a large, oval reef with a lighthouse and is the furthest offshore reef in the Egyptian Red Sea. Its deep walls and drop-offs offer some of the most spectacular diving to be found. Daedalus has mountainous, pristine, hard coral formations. There is also a strong chance of spotting schooling hammerheads and grey reef sharks.

Elphinstone, with its sheer walls covered in soft corals, offers a likely encounter with oceanic white tip sharks.

South & St.Johns guarantees some of the best diving the Red Sea has to offer, the diving is less arduous so it's a trip for those who want to see the best but have a more relaxed time while doing so.

This trip takes you to some of the best diving the Red Sea has to offer. Here the diving is less arduous so it's a trip for those who want to see the best but have a more relaxed time while doing so. Sailing to the southernmost reefs, you'll depart from Marsa Ghalib Port and dive some sites to the South before sailing overnight to your southernmost point in the St. John's area. Depending on weather, government approval and marine life sightings in recent weeks, we may sail to the southernmost islands of Rocky and Zabargad, or we'll moor instead in the vast reef system of St John's to begin the adventure in the South.

When leaving Marsa Ghalib the route can sometimes take in a dive at Abu Dabab on the first or last day. Often spoilt for choice, your guides will pick sites that they know to be the best for the time of the year and can find excellent alternatives should the weather affect the normal route. Although the distances are long, where possible we travel overnight so, as a 21 plus route, our aim is to get as many dives in as possible at some of the most impressive reefs. Below are some of the highlights.

On the way to Fury shoals, dive Sha'ab Sharm with its wall dives and white tip reef sharks. Oceanic white tips and silky sharks can sometimes be found in the blue and turtles often visit the south side before heading further south. At Fury Shoals, dive Sha'ab Claude with its famous swim-throughs and huge porite corals. White tip reef sharks and an anemone and clownfish settlement can be seen a little off the reef to the South. Abu Galawa Soraya has a fantastic coral garden and a wreck of a private sailing boat populated with glass fish.

St Johns is a vast collection of small reefs offering some of the most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea. This incredibly beautiful reef lies a short distance north of the Sudanese border. The reef covers a huge area and many dives would be needed to explore the numerous coral heads and islands. Habili Ali offers giant gorgonians and black corals whilst grey reef, silvertip and schools of hammerhead sharks might be found on the west side. Habili Gafaar is a mass of soft corals teaming with shoals of snappers, butterfly fish and barracudas. Mantas, grey reef and silvertip sharks can often be seen in the blue.

Gota Kebir is a massive reef, famous for its tunnels and south plateau, where jacks and barracudas can be seen and the occasional manta. The tunnels are ideal for novice cave divers.

Gota Soraya is rated as possibly one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with overhangs and cracks in the reef wall full of glass fish and sweepers and an abundance of corals, Grey Reef, Silvertips and Hammerhead sharks.

On the last day as we head back to port, we will try to take in a dive or two on the world famous Elphinstone Reef if weather and diver experience permits us, or we will finish in the Abu Dabab area perhaps with another dive or two closer to Port Ghalib to relax and unwind before your final night in port.

Famous Five route covers Abu Nuhas that has 4 well known wrecks offering spectacular dives with sightings of a variety of fish life, Ras Mohamed and Brother Islands

Starting from Hurghada, we sail north towards Gubal Island and on to Abu Nuhas and its four well-known wrecks: Giannis D, Carnatic, the 'Lentil Wreck' and the 'Tile Wreck', all offering spectacular dives and plenty of fish life. Explore the Rosalie Moller (the sister ship of the slightly more famous Thistlegorm), which lies from 30 to 50 metres deep and is in excellent condition. Although the visibility is not always good the wreck is covered in glassfish from bow to stern and hunting them are masses of lionfish. Around the wreck are the usual pelagics such as tuna, trevallies, Emperor fish and many more.

A short ride across the Straits of Gubal and you visit the most famous wreck of the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm! An awe-inspiring World War II British vessel with a cargo full of armaments, Bedford trucks and BSA motorbikes, which were all destined for the British troops in North Africa. She was sunk by the German Luftwaffe and now lies in 30 metres of water. Depending on divers' experience, along with weather and current conditions, we try to offer a night dive here. Nearby is the Ras Mohamed National Park, offering a morning dive at the renowned 'Shark and Yolanda' reefs. Ras Mohamed National Park is the furthest Sinai destination before heading south towards the Brothers.

The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore from El Quseir. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Big tuna, barracudas, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can sometimes be found there. Sightings of the grey reef shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.

For the wreck diver, the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon wrasse and grey reef sharks.

The boat will then sail back to Hurghada via Safaga where you can dive at Panorama Reef or the famous wreck of Salem Express for a memorable finale!

Red Sea Sharks offers divers the chance to explore the majestic Red Sea during the warm summer months of May to August speically for some shark action.

Looking for some shark action? We know the best time to have the best chance to see those sharks in action! Explore the majestic Red Sea during the warm summer months of May to August with our much anticipated Red Sea Sharks itinerary offering flexibility and focus for 'action' dives. These months are best-known for the variety of sharks visiting some of the remote offshore reefs. But be prepared to change diving plans at the last minute because we go where the action is.

Our guides select the best possible action sites to visit based on their immense local knowledge and on insider-data on recent activity including a variety of Red Sea sharks, dolphins and anything else that chooses to join the party.

Some of the sites we might visit are St John's, Rocky, Daedalus and Elphinstone. However, please remember that the focus of this trip is not about where we go but about what we want to see...sharks! To that end, if we've had better shark sightings at, say, The Brother's Islands, then we'll head off there to catch the action! As always reefs we can visit may be restricted by weather conditions.

Safaga, Brothers & Elphinstone route encompasses some great diving, some of the best being the offshore reefs of Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan.

The area around Safaga has some great diving, the best being the offshore reefs of Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan. Some divers say this area equals the great sites of Ras Mohamed. The diving offers a combination of shallow reef dives and drop-offs, as well as the famous wreck of the Salem Express.

The Salem Express is a dramatic dive. Around 500 people perished in one of the worst marine tragedies of all times. The 100-metre ferryboat was on its way back from Mecca to Safaga after the annual Muslim pilgrimage in December 1991 when it hit the reef during a stormy night and sunk rapidly without giving the crew and passengers the chance to board the lifeboats. It is now home to a thriving underwater life, including a famous resident frogfish, blue-spotted stingrays, angel and butterfly fish. The ship itself is covered in a large quantity of hard and soft corals. It is one of the largest wrecks in the Egyptian Red Sea, roughly the same size as the Thistlegorm.

There is superb wall diving at Panorama, on the south-east of the plateau is a gorgonian and glassfish corner with the whole plateau covered in soft corals and on the south side is an anemone city.

Hal Hal (Middle Reef) is a rarely chosen dive site due to its distance from the coast, which makes it a virgin spot. The north side is a drop off going down to 80 metres and is a perfect location to spot tunas, barracudas, turtles and sharks. The southern side has colourful coral gardens along with some caves and canyons.

Abu Kafan is a 300-metre long, narrow reef offering a plateau at both north and south tips. We normally jump in the water on the north plateau and glide with the frequent strong current southwards along the impressive walls covered with soft and black coral, giant fans and gorgonians.

The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silvertips, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can be found here. Sightings of the grey reef shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.

Abu Dabab is six reefs commonly known as "Fathers Steps" or "Fathers Stepping Stones" and as the name suggests a set of fairly shallow reefs ranging from depths of 25 metres to the seafloor. In between Abu Dabab II and III at approximately 15 metres is the wreckage of a small ship sunk after a fire in 2004. The reefs themselves offer colourful coral gardens and an underwater cave system to explore. Pods of dolphins have been known to frequent the area as well as blue spotted rays, Napoleons, giant puffers, box fish, sweetlips, batfish, nudibranchs and more.

Elphinstone is approximately 30km from Port Ghalib; Elphinstone reef is 300 metres long with sheer walls richly covered in colourful pink and red soft corals and elegant red gorgonians descending to around 40 metres. Other areas of the reef have near vertical cliffs, overhangs, small caves and drop offs of up to 100 metres. Elphinstone is known to experience some strong currents attracting many diverse species such as barracuda, angel fish, groupers, Napoleons, morays, reef sharks and great shoals of dogtooth tuna and jacks. Occasional sightings include dolphins, turtles, oceanic white tip and hammerheads sharks.

Daedalus, Fury Shoals and Elphinstone offers some of the best diving in the Red Sea. With less distance to travel than some routes, you have more time to dive these iconic sites and there is less chance of seasickness with shorter sailings and secure moorings.

This trip offers you some of the best diving in the Red Sea and includes Daedalus, Fury Shoals and Elphinstone. With less distance to travel than some routes, you have more time to dive these iconic sites and there is less chance of seasickness with shorter sailings and secure moorings. Depending on prevailing weather conditions your guides will pick sites suitable for night dives outside the Marine Park.

Heading first to Fury Shoals, we may dive around the Marsa Alam area or perhaps dive Sha'ab Sharm with its wall dives and white tip reef sharks. Oceanic white tips and silky sharks can sometimes be found in the blue and turtles often visit the south side before heading further south. At Fury Shoals, we have more time to explore the vast reef system than other itineraries afford. Of course we will dive the classics such as Sha'ab Claude (a.k.a. Claudio) with its famous swim-throughs and huge porites corals, Malahi with its mazes and friendly turtles and Abu Galawa Soraya with its fantastic coral garden and a wreck of a private sailing boat smothered with glass fish. Sataya with its resident spinner dolphin population is a must for snorkelling between dives, as well as having some good underwater offerings, and on top of that we can spend time exploring less dived sites such as Sha'ab Hamam (Stairway to Heaven), Abu Galawa Kebir with the Tien Hsing wreck, Gota Sataya and if the weather is kind there are some submerged reefs that can be moored on such as Habili Sameh that will blow you away!

Daedalus Reef, a part of the Red Sea offshore Marine Park, is a large, oval reef with a lighthouse and is the furthest offshore reef in the Egyptian Red Sea. Its deep walls and drop-offs offer some of the most spectacular diving to be found. Daedalus has mountainous, pristine, hard coral formations. There is also a strong chance of spotting schooling hammerheads, especially from May to November, and grey reef sharks.

Of course no trip to the South would be complete without stopping at world famous Elphinstone, with its sheer walls covered in soft corals, and likely encounters with oceanic white tip sharks. Depending on the experience of the group and the weather, you may even get the chance to dive it at the beginning and end of your amazing trip!

Vessel Details

Year Built 2002
Total Refit 2015
Length & Beam 31.0m - 7.75m
Engines 2 x Turbo 750 HP MAN
Generators 2 x 50 kW silent
Navigation and Communication GPS/Echo Sounder/VHF Marina Radio/Satellite Phone
Water Capacity 2 Aquaset x 5,500 L / Day & storage
Air compressors 2 x 260 L / hour, 1 x 200 L / hour
Nitrox diving 2 x membrane (750 L / Min)
Dive deck Equipped with 12 litre Aluminium tanks as standard and 15 litre Steel or Aluminium tanks on request
First Aid Oxygen/Medic First Aid Kit
Dive Computer € 18
Wetsuits € 57
Full Equipment With SMB and dive computer 160 Euros per week

Available Experiences

ITINERARIES AVAILABLE IN THIS DESTINATION

Marcelina

Friday, 06 December 2013

Fabulous Fiji by Marcelina Jesus on Sport Diver Magazine

Lured by the promise of world-class reefs and adrenaline-fueled shark encounters Marcelina Jesus ventures to the wild islands of Fiji.

Fabulous Fiji by Marcelina Jesus on Sport Diver Magazine

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 Mohammed

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.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 18m

Abu Dabab

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

A collection of 7 reefs. Offers sheltered diving in rough weather conditions. Popular overnight location due to close proximity to the famous Elphinstone reef with a very good chance to see Spanish dancers on the night dive. Many swim caves. Often sightings of reef sharks on the southern outer reefs.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • 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.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • 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.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • 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.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Shaab Claude

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Famous for its large labyrinths of swim throughs. Huge porite corals and a resident napoleon. Often white tip reef sharks and a very nice anemone and clownfish settlement on a small pinnacle a little off the reef to the south.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • 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.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • 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.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • 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.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 31m

Abu Nuhas

Hurghada , Red Sea

Abu Nuhas is a large triangular shapped reef. Shaab Abu Nuhas means father of brass and it got the name because of all the brass that went down with the shipwrecks.

The reef is located just to the north of Shadwan Island and this area is covered with wrecks. The wrecks are located on the north side of the reef with the main ones being the Giannis D, the Carnatic, the Chrisoula K and the Kimon M.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

Rosalie Moeller

Hurghada , Red Sea

Rosalie Moller sank in the 1940's. She was hit by a bomb. Penetration is accessible as the cracks are huge, but it is not necessary as the significant parts of the wreck are visible from the outside.
The prop and rudder are still in good condition. The deck is in good condition and very clean. The sea life is amazing, with glassfish that can be seen by the deck and reef sharks that can be spotted.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

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.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • 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.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

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.

  • Min Dives: 4
  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Shaab Sharm

Marsa Alam, Red Sea

Shaab Sharm is a large and kidney shaped reef with a vertical sloping wall at its south and east sides and plateaus at both ends. The plateau is said to be the top of a huge undersea volcano. There is also a cave system at more than 50 meters of depth, but this is for technical divers only. Currents can be strong so pay attention to the place where you will be picked up. The best places to dive are the southern and south-eastern sections of the reef, where the plateau is overgrown with hard and soft corals. Here divers will see shoals of barracuda, snappers and groupers. It has beautiful soft corals, forests of black coral and huge gorgonian fans. Snappers, unicorns, morays and turtles are not uncommon as well. Enjoy this fantastic dive site where a lot can still be explored.

  • Min Dives: 9
  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 40m
Dates Duration Route Room Type Price