Red Sea Liveaboard
Guide 2026
Routes, prices, certification requirements and what to expect — everything you need to plan your Red Sea liveaboard trip from Marsa Alam.
From
Dives/day
Shark species
Visibility
The southern Red Sea
requires a liveaboard
Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone are 60–140km offshore from the Egyptian coast. No day boat reaches them. The only way to dive these sites is aboard a liveaboard departing from Marsa Alam Marina.
Access to remote marine parks
Daedalus Reef sits 80km offshore — a Marine Park since 1998 with no road access. Liveaboard is the only platform that gives you two full days on the reef instead of a rushed single-dive day trip.
2 to 4 dives per day
A land-based diver in Marsa Alam typically manages two dives per day. Aboard MY JP Marine or MY Queen Sherry you dive 2 to 4 times daily — including night dives — for up to 21 dives across a 7-night trip.
First in the water every morning
Liveaboards anchor overnight at the site. You enter the water at first light — before any day boat arrives. Early morning is when hammerheads and oceanic whitetips are most active.
Book and pay by card direct
All departures are bookable directly with DiveSafariMaster — the boat owner and operator. Card payment accepted. No agency, no markup. You pay the boat owner’s price and communicate directly with the team.
Compare the four main routes
All departures are Saturday to Saturday from Marsa Alam Marina. All trips run on MY JP Marine and MY Queen Sherry. Full details and the complete 2026 schedule are in the 2026 Itinerary Guide →
| Route | Certification | Dives | Key Species | From | Level |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Pelagic Trail
Daedalus · Sataya · Elphinstone
|
Open Water+ | 18–21 | Hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, dolphins, mantas | €813 | All levels |
|
BDE
Brothers · Daedalus · Elphinstone
|
AOWD · 50+ dives | 17–21 | 5 shark species, wrecks Numidia & Aida | €750 | Advanced |
|
Golden Mix
Daedalus · Sataya · St Johns · Zabargad
Final Season 2026
|
AOWD Required | 19–21 | Hammerheads, dolphins, caves, Zabargad wreck | €975 | Advanced |
|
Deep South
Zabargad · Rocky · St Johns · Fury Shoal
|
AOWD Required | 18–21 | Pristine reef, 80m visibility at Rocky, caves | €938 | Advanced |
All prices per person. 7 nights full board, roundtrip transfers and dive guides included. Taxes, fees, nitrox and equipment rental not included. Full 2026 schedule →
Three signature itineraries
All departures Saturday to Saturday from Marsa Alam Marina. Available for individual bookings, groups, and full charter.
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Pelagic Trail
Hammerheads at Daedalus, wild dolphins at Sataya, oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone. Two full days at Daedalus — the best hammerhead site reachable from Europe. 18–21 dives.
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Golden Mix
The most complete Red Sea week — Daedalus, Sataya dolphins, St Johns caves, Rocky Island, Zabargad. This route ends permanently after 2026 due to permit costs.
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BDE — Shark Route
Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone. The dedicated shark itinerary — up to 5 species including hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, grey reef, thresher and silky sharks. 17–21 dives.
The Red Sea dives all year
There is no closed season in the southern Red Sea. Every month offers world-class diving. What changes is which species are most active — use this guide to plan around what you most want to see.
Hammerhead Season
Scalloped hammerheads school at Daedalus Reef in large numbers. May and June see shallower schools at 20–30m. July to September the sharks hold deeper on the drop-off.
Water 26–29°COceanic Whitetip Season
Oceanic whitetip sharks peak at Elphinstone and Daedalus. October and November are the prime months. Water cools to 22–24°C by December — a 5mm wetsuit is recommended.
Water 22–26°CDolphins at Sataya
The resident spinner dolphin pod at Sataya — Dolphin House — is present every month of the year. The Pelagic Trail spends a full day at Sataya. Snorkelling with the pod is permitted.
Water 22–29°CManta Rays
Manta rays are most reliably spotted at Elphinstone and Daedalus during this window. Autumn is peak season overall — comfortable water temperature and strong pelagic activity.
Water 25–28°CFor full seasonality detail on hammerhead shark diving see our complete hammerhead diving guide →
What is included in your trip
From €750 per person for 7 nights. Paid directly to DiveSafariMaster by card — the boat owner's price, with no agency markup added.
- ✓ 7 nights / 8 days aboard — Saturday to Saturday
- ✓ Roundtrip transfers — check transfer conditions
- ✓ Full board — breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
- ✓ Non-alcoholic beverages all day
- ✓ Wine with dinners
- ✓ 6-day diving programme
- ✓ 12L tank and weights
- ✓ Professional dive guides
- ✕ Flights, visa, insurance
- ✕ Dive insurance — details →
- ✕ Taxes (€145 / €215 from June 2026)
- ✕ Service charge
- ✕ Nitrox & tank upgrades
- ✕ Equipment rental — full list →
- ✕ Alcohol beyond dinner wine
- ✕ Optional trips & extras
✈️ Airport Transfer Included
Transfer from Hurghada (HRG) and Marsa Alam (RMF) included. Saturday arrivals between 12:00–18:00. Hotel pickup available.
Transfer conditions →🤿 Equipment Rental Available Aboard
Full equipment rental available — BCD, regulators, wetsuit, mask, fins. Book in advance or request on arrival.
Full rental list →Why trust DiveSafariMaster
We operate in remote open-ocean conditions 80km offshore. These are the certifications, safety standards, and facts that matter when choosing a liveaboard operator for the southern Red Sea.
PADI Certified Dive Center
Certified as a PADI Dive Center since November 2024. Operating to EU and US safety standards. Courses available aboard.
HEPCA Member
Member of the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association. All dives conducted within HEPCA regulations.
CDWS Certified
Certified by the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports Egypt. All itineraries comply with CDWS requirements.
European-Owned Operator
European-owned and operated company. In business since 1999. Every departure is personally overseen by the DiveSafariMaster team based in Egypt.
Direct Card Payment
Book and pay by card directly with the operator — no agency, no intermediary, no markup. Booking confirmation comes directly from the DiveSafariMaster team.
30 Years at the Helm
Our captain brings 30 years of Red Sea navigation experience. The crew undergoes weekly safety training before every departure.
Dive insurance is mandatory for all guests aboard. DAN Europe and Dive Assure accepted. Insurance information →
Satisfied with what you see? We are ready to answer any question.
Common questions before booking
Ready to dive the
southern Red Sea?
All departures Saturday to Saturday from Marsa Alam Marina. Book and pay by card direct with the boat owner.