Updated May 9, 2023
This is the thirteenth in a series that introduces and describes the various dive services and sites for worldwide liveaboard dive safaris. This one focuses on Red Sea liveaboards.
In addition to this series on liveaboards, the best worldwide dive resort locations and services are reviewed in their own series. To check them out, or others in this series, click on Liveaboards/Resorts on the menu at the top and choose a title from the list.
Have you been diving in the Red Sea before? If so, I’d love to know about your experience. What dive shop or liveaboard did you use? Which dive spots are the best and what are the conditions there regarding the visibility, current, water temperature, sealife attractions, etc.? Please post your response in the comments section at the bottom and we’ll all learn something we can use.
Best Red Sea Liveaboards
When you hear the term “Red Sea,” it is synonymous with healthy coral reefs, remarkable pelagics, and fantastic wrecks. There is tremendous biodiversity with approximately 1,000 species of fish and a relatively low number of divers. Since the 1990s the Egyptian government has dedicated itself to the preservation of the environment resulting in near-pristine conditions in many places.
Some of the world’s most famous wrecks, varied underwater terrain from rich shallow coral reefs to pinnacles and deep walls, good visibility, and fantastic large pelagics are hallmarks of the Red Sea.
Northern Red Sea and Wrecks
The area around the southern Sinai Peninsula and the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba is home to a vast array of unusual indigenous life. Ras Mohammed National Park, about 20 km from Sharm El Sheik, is centrally located in an area of healthy vibrant reefs with lots of reef fish and rich invertebrate life including octopus, cuttlefish, and squid. Yolanda Reef and Anemone City are highlighted in the park.
Wrecks are extremely abundant in the north and include the Giannis D, Chrisoula K, Carnatic, Kingston, Rosalie Moller, Dunraven, and Thistlegorm. Click here for a great book about the SS Thistlegorm:
Diving is year-round in the north, but the peak season for whale sharks and manta rays is from the end of April to the end of June. To see hammerheads and barracuda the best time is from July to September.
For further information about diving in the northern Red Sea, check out this review:
Southern Red Sea
For our purposes, the Southern Red Sea starts in the north at Hurghada, where there is an international airport, on the west-central side. The top dive sites are Elphinstone, Daedalus, The Brothers, and St. John’s on the southern end. This area is known for good vis, sheer walls, wrecks, and great pelagic action. You can expect to see shoaling reef fish and large schools of surgeonfish and snappers. The Brothers are famous for their great soft and hard corals, sheer walls, and pelagics. Daedalus is a pristine site that can have substantial current that encourages schools of trevallies, tuna, and other pelagics including hammerheads. St. John’s has shallow reef flats with steep walls and abundant reef life with tunnels, swim-throughs, and pelagics.
For further information about diving in the southern Red Sea, check out these reviews:
Sudan
The sites in the Sudanese section of the Red Sea are spread over a wide area where there is much less scuba tourism than further north. The diving environment is characterized as having pristine healthy reefs with sizable populations of sharks and pelagics, lots of schooling fish, and opportunities to experience substantial drift. There are also deeper wrecks that are suitable for advanced and tech. divers. Visibility is often greater than 25m (80ft). One famous site, for example, is Angarosh where there is a deep plateau at 40-55m (130-180ft) rising to 10m (33ft) at the shallowest. There are pinnacles, caves, and steep walls.
Seasons and Conditions
Scuba diving is year-round in the Red Sea with liveaboards continuously available. From March to May it is spring with warm and comfortable temperatures. June to August is summer and can be very hot making it a less popular time, but a good vessel with air conditioning can alleviate that some. From September to November, it is autumn with good conditions, but from December to February the water is colder and the surface more choppy. Visibility does improve, though, and the sighting of pelagics increases.
Red Sea Liveaboard Dive Boats
Currently, there are 86 dive boats available to us providing all-inclusive scuba vacations in the Red Sea.
To browse the full list of dive boats to the Red Sea, click here:
Below are details of some of the best of the liveaboard yachts to each region of the Red Sea.
Northern Red Sea and Wrecks Liveaboard Dive Boats
Featuring
- Visits Red Sea North & South
- Itineraries include: Sha’ab El Erg, Abu Nuhas, Gubal Island, Thistlegorm, Brother Islands, Salem Express, St. John’s: Sataya Gota Kebira, Sataya Gota Soghayr, Habili Gaffar, Dangerous Reef, Habili Ali; Elphinstone, Shaab Samadai (Dolphin Reef), Dahra Wadi Gimal, Umm Aruk, Foul Bay: Paradise Reef, Sernaka; Fury Shoals: Shaab Claudio, Shaab Maksour, Abu Galawa Soghayr, Abu Galawa Kebira; Gota Sharm, Shaab Marsa Alam, Abu Dabbab
- All cabins with private bathrooms
- International and local cuisine
- Technical diving facilities
- ENOS satellite location and rescue system
- Experienced English-speaking divemasters (4-5 divers per DM)
- Nitrox for EANx-certified divers
- Large boat
- 2 x 15-person capacity life rafts
- 2 x Yamaha 25 & 40 HP dinghies
Top Rated – MY Emperor Superior
Featuring
- Visits Red Sea North
- Itineraries include: Sha’ab El Erg, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Kimon M, Chrisoula K), SS Thistlegorm, Gubal Island, Ulysses, Kingston, Carina, Dunraven, Ras Mohammed: Shark Reef, Yolanda, Straits of Tiran: Jackson Reef, Thomas Reef, Gordon Reef, Big Brother, Little Brother, Straits of Gubal, Rosalie Moller, Panorama Reef, Salem Express
- All cabins with private bathrooms
- Cabin for a single traveler
- Dedicated restaurant, International, Italian, and local Egyptian cuisine
- Large boat with many relaxation spaces
- 2 experienced English-speaking divemasters
- 50-person capacity life rafts
- 2 x 25 HP Yamaha dive dinghies
- Free Nitrox for trained divers
Featuring
- Visits Red Sea North
- Itinerary: Ras Mohamed, Abu Nuhas wrecks, Thistlegorm, Rosalie Moeller, Hurghada reefs
- All cabins with private bathrooms
- International and local Egyptian cuisine
- Affordable option for 7-night trips
- Experienced English-speaking divemasters (10 divers per DM)
- Nitrox for EANx-certified divers
- 12 & 15-liter tanks available
- 2 x life rafts (total of 45-person capacity)
- 2 x 25 HP Yamaha dinghies
Southern Red Sea Liveaboard Dive Boats
Featuring
- Cruises Red Sea North and South
- Itineraries include: Daedalus Reef, Zabargad, Rocky Island, Elphinstone, Habili St. John’s, Habili Ali, Gota Kebir, Gota Soraya, Wadi Fury Shoal: Gimal, Abu Galawa, Sha’ab Sharm, Ras Mohamed, Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Strait of Tiran, Abu Nuhas wrecks – Giannis D, Carnatic, Kimon M & Chrisoula K
- All cabins with private bathrooms, minibar
- Dedicated restaurant with a bar
- International and local cuisine
- Experienced English-speaking divemasters (10 divers per DM)
- Nitrox for EANx-certified divers
- Helium/oxygen blending station
- 2 Life rafts
- 2 Yamaha 25 HP dinghies
Featuring
- Visits Red Sea North and South
- Itineraries include: St. John’s Reefs (Gota Kebir, Gota Soraya), Fury Shoals Reef System (Sha’ab Claude, Abu Galawa Soraya), Abu Dabab, Sha’ab Sharm, Elphinstone, Panorama Reef, Middle Reef, Abu Kafan, Salem Express, Brother Islands, Abu Dabab, Brothers, Daedalus Reef, Abu Nuhas (Carnatic, Chrisoula K, Kimon M, and Giannis D), Gubal Island, SS Thistlegorm, Ulysses, Rosalie Moller, Shaab El Erg, Kingston, Dunraven, Carina, Straits of Tiran
- All cabins ensuite with media players, minibar
- Dedicated restaurant, free dinner wine
- International, Italian, and local Egyptian cuisine
- 2 experienced English-speaking divemasters
- Free nitrox available for enriched air-certified divers
- Large boat
- 40-person capacity life rafts
- 2 x Yamaha 25 HP dinghies
Sudan Liveaboards
Staff Choice – Sea Serpent Excellence
Featuring
- Visits Red Sea North and South, Sudan
- Itineraries include: Red Sea North – Ras Mohamed, Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Kimon M, Chrisoula K), Rosalie Moeller, Shag Rock, Hurghada reefs, Big Brother (Aida II, Numidia), Little Brother, Thistlegorm, Red Sea South – Brothers, Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone
- All cabins with private bathrooms
- Dedicated restaurant with a bar
- International and local Egyptian cuisine
- Nitrox for EANx-certified divers
- Rebreather facility
- Tech and sidemount diving
- Emergency life rafts
- 2 x Yamaha motorized dinghies – 25 & 40 HP
Most Popular – MS Royal Evolution
Featuring
- Visits Red Sea North and South, Sudan South
- Itineraries include: Sudan – Shalalat, Umbria Wreck, Dahret Abid, Habili Abid, Dahret Darraka, Dahret Ghab, Habili Ghab, Protector Reef, Hindi Gidir, Seil Ada, Shaab Anbar, Habili Qaseer (Pinacolo), Jumna, Sanganeb North & South Plateau, Shaab Rumi, Shaab Suadi, Blue Belt (Toyota Wreck), Merlo Reef, Shaab El Hara, Abu Fanadir, Angarosh Reef, Sanganeb Reef, Cousteau Conshelf (Precontinent II), The Toyota Wreck, Angarosh Reef, Mesherifa, Abington Reef, Merlo Reef, Red Sea North – Abu Nuhas wrecks, Gubal, Rosalie Moller, Ulysses wreck, Brothers, Numibia wreck, Aida wreck and Salem Express (possibly Thistlegorm), Red Sea South – Ras Disha, Middle Reef, Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone, Giftun, Abu Ramada, Fury Shoals, St. John’s
- All cabins with ensuite bathrooms
- In-cabin morning coffee/tea service
- International, Indian, and Sri Lankan cuisine
- 4 decks, sun deck with hot tub and music
- Experienced English-speaking divemaster
- 10, 12, and 15-liter tanks, nitrox, tech gas blends
- Large boat
- 2 life rafts (50 pax)
- 3 dinghies – 2 x 55 HP & 1 x 25 HP
Red Sea Liveaboard Dive Boat Comparison Table
| MV Seawolf Soul | MY Emperor Superior | MY Dreams | MY Sea Serpent | MY Emperor Elite | Sea Serpent Excellence | MS Royal Evolution | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length | 36m | 37m | 28m | 33m | 38m | 34m | 39m | Length |
| Guests | 22 | 25 | 16 | 20 | 26 | 24 | 24 | Guests |
| Crew | 12 | 13 | 11 | 12 | 12 | 12 | 16 | Crew |
| Equipment | $149/trip | $172/week | $276/trip | $276/trip | $172/week | 280 EUR/week | pricing to be arranged | Equipment |
| Nitrox | $57/trip | free | $6/tank, $57/week | $6/tank, $57/week | free | free | available - pricing to be arranged | Nitrox |
| Single | +50 to 60% | +50% | +100% | +100% | +50% | +100% | +65% | Single |
| Price/Day | $125 | $149 | $162 | $155 | $161 | $175 | $163 | Price/Day |
| North & Wrecks | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | North & Wrecks |
| Southern Red Sea | yes | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | Southern Red Sea |
| Sudan | no | no | no | no | no | no | yes | Sudan |
| MV Seawolf Soul | MY Emperor Superior | MY Dreams | MY Sea Serpent | MY Emperor Elite | Sea Serpent Excellence | MS Royal Evolution |
Feedback and Comments
I hope you found this post on Red Sea liveaboards interesting and useful. If you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to share them in the comments section. I’d love to know of any experience you have. If there is no comments section directly below, click here: >>comments<<
Thank you Joe, you really have a passion for diving. Thanks for sharing so many options. You really are an authority on this hobby you love. I’ve bookmarked the Australian Liveaboad dive sites as I’m living here.The Red Sea! Wow, I had no idea it was so beautiful and so many dive sights.I love it how you break it down at the end into easy comparison between the various Liveaboad options. Have you tried any of these ones? Where is your favourite place in the world for diving?
Hi John,
Thanks a lot for your kind words. I am glad you enjoyed my site.
Years ago I dove in the northern Red Sea in the Sharm El Sheikh area. I’ve heard it is even better now as the government has made a big push to prevent fishing and abuse of the ecology there.
The diving in Australia is great, too. I hope you get a chance to try it. Everyone knows about the Great Barrier Reef, but the Rowley Shoals area out west is much less traveled and has great sites, as well. The Neptune Island great white shark diving is also a bucket list kind of event.
Most of my diving has been in southeast Asia. I am partial to the Philippines, where I have the most experience, but all the areas around Asia are very strong and have their special attractions.
If you have any questions or would like any advice about where to go, please get in touch.
Best regards,
Joe
I would love to go on a scuba vacation instead of the normal beach vacations… The underwater world is so amazing an beautiful, but you need to prepare well to do this stuff, right?
I would love to see some whale sharks so thanks for telling me the best period to go. Now the only thing I have to do is convince the wife to go on this adventurous holiday and of course pick a boat!
Hi Jurgen,
Thanks a lot for your comments. The underwater world is amazing particularly your first few times diving.
You would most likely need to take a diving course before going on a liveaboard. It takes about 4 days of study and diving practice, that includes 4 open water dives, that will give you a certification that everyone recognizes. Some liveaboards offer diving courses, but usually it is not the beginning course. I can suggest you plan a vacation at a beach resort and arrange to do the course there before embarking on a liveaboard adventure. Where would you like to go for such a vacation? Where are you located now? If you would like advise I can help you arrange to book a hotel where you can do the dive course in a beautiful seaside location. Just let me know.
Best regards,
Joe
Wow fantastic, I had no idea that part of the world was a scuba diving heaven. These areas are now on the bucket list. I look forward to seeing all of that diversity (1,000 species:)) and also all the ship wrecks on the dives. What a bonus! I have bookmarked this list for when the time comes. Thank you.
Hi Lev,
I’m glad my webpage has peaked your interest. I dove there years ago and would love the chance to get back again.
When the time comes for you to go diving the Red Sea, I’m sure it will be quite memorable.
Best regards,
Joe