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Liveaboard Diving in Red Sea
What To Expect On A Red Sea Liveaboard
Liveaboards in the Red Sea have long been a divers favorite destination offering amazing scuba diving with healthy, colorful reefs and abundant marine life. Egyptian liveaboards have provided divers from around the world with some amazing dive experiences on some of the world's best-known dive sites. Numerous liveaboard itineraries are available, which can visit remote reefs or wrecks from WWII.
The name 'Red Sea' is rumored to come from the seasonal blooms of red-colored algae that appear near the surface at certain times of the year. But despite its name, the waters are an amazing blue water destination boasting comfortable water temperatures throughout the year, superb visibility, and great dive conditions year-round. As some of the best dive sites are far from shore, a liveaboard dive cruise is the best way to visit the more remote areas of this region.
The Red Sea is a seawater inlet extending from the Indian Ocean and lies between Africa & Asia. It holds the title of one of the saltiest bodies of water on earth due mainly to its geological formation, leading to high evaporation levels. Due to the water's high salinity, divers should be aware that they will need to add extra weight to their normal amount to compensate for the extra buoyancy provided by these salty waters.
Whilst the Red Sea is primarily bordered by Egypt and Saudi Arabia, most diving liveaboards in the Red Sea offer diving safaris directly from Egypt, with multiple well-established tourist destinations located throughout the country from North to South. An Egypt dive safari on a liveaboard is the best way to see this amazing dive and snorkeling area.
Diving areas/regions can be split between North & South, with different dive trip itineraries offered in both areas.
Northern Red Sea
The northern area of the Egyptian Red Sea is a divers paradise, offering amazing dive cruises at world-famous dive sites such as the Straits of Tiran and Ras Mohammed National Park. If diving wrecks is your thing, then the SS Thistlegorm or Dunraven wrecks will surely be a must-do on your dive list. A dive liveaboard departing from Sharm El Sheikh, Safaga, or Hurghada is an excellent way to fully explore the different dive sites available.
Southern Red Sea
To the south awaits some fantastic dive opportunities away from the crowds for those visiting on a liveaboard dive trip. Dive sites that are only accessible by overnight dive safaris can be explored. With well-known sites such as Daedalus Reef, The Brothers, St. Johns, Elphinstone, and Fury Shoals, it will surely delight all divers. Most liveaboard itineraries that operate in this southern area will depart from either Port Ghalib (Marsa Alam), Hamata or Hurghada.
Getting There
Northern Red Sea - Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada have their own international airports, with various international airlines flying directly to them. These would be a more convenient arrival port for dive liveaboard departures. Cairo is the main International airport in Egypt and will also offer domestic flights to most areas within Egypt.
Southern Red Sea - Marsa Alam International airport to the south is used by some international airlines, mainly from Europe. It is located very close to Port Ghalib (Marsa Ghalib), so it is a perfect arrival port for liveaboard trips from this area. Domestic flights from Cairo are also available. Land transfers from Hurghada to Port Ghalib are also possible; the journey takes approximately 2.5 hours each way.
Red Sea Diving Reviews
- 9.1 Superb
- 453 Verified Reviews
I've dove both northern and Southern routes. If I had to choose which was more enjoyable, the southern route comes out on top.
Diving Red Sea in March on the Emperor Asmaa
It was good, but would imagine it would be a great experience if better luck with wind conditions.
Diving Red Sea in April on the Snefro Pearl
Beautiful corals and easy shallow dives
Diving Red Sea in April on the Emperor Elite
Average overall, reefs are not that good, so if there's no big fish, or a wreck, it could be a boring dive. If you've done any diving in Maldives or Asia, you won't be too impressed with reefs here.
Diving Red Sea in May on the Emperor Superior
Diving the Red Sea was great lots of life on the reef and corals are in great condition. Pay attention to what Wetsuit to bring at what time of year the Blue-O-Two guide was spot on. We dived in June with 5mm no hood and were comfortable
Diving Red Sea in May on the Blue Horizon
Very Healthy, vibrant corals - soft & hard, warm
Diving Red Sea in July on the Sea Serpent Contessa
Incredible as always for variety ! 26-28 degree water temps, low to moderate winds = smooth channel crossings
Diving Red Sea in August on the Blue Pearl
A little different than I expected but beautiful coral gardens
Diving Red Sea in August on the Snefro Pearl
Loved all of the different fish, unbelievable coral formations and many Nemo sightings. Best place we have ever been to.
Diving Red Sea in September on the Blue
Diving was very nice, but not our best experience. Water was warm enough so that a skin or 3 mil was all we needed. Visibility was okay but not great. No problem with current. Overall nice but not fabulous.
Diving Red Sea in September on the Blue Melody
Rich coral and fish life - the best I have ever encountered
Diving Red Sea in October on the Blue Melody
3/10. Coral good but lacking color. Plenty of small fish but nothing larger. Extremely crowded dive sights; best quote was "100 divers for every shark seen". Many time the bubbles from so many other divers prevented seeing the sharks. At one dive sight I saw ~50 divers descend from the surface right in front of me. You have to memorize your boat name because there could be 40 zodiacs at the dive sight when you surface.
Diving Red Sea in October on the JP Marine
rougher waters than expected. not as colorful as expected. water temperature perfect.
Diving Red Sea in October on the Blue Horizon
The water was clear and a great place to dive.
Diving Red Sea in October on the SS Serena Dreams
The visibility was over 100 ft each day. This is my best week of diving and a new favorite destination
Diving Red Sea in November on the Emperor Elite
Best dives of my life--incredible light flowing through gorgeous hard and soft coral fields
Diving Red Sea in November on the Snefro Pearl
Best I've ever done. SO many fish, and so many varieties of corals.
Diving Red Sea in April on the SS Serena Dreams
Awesome coral and fish life
Diving Red Sea in April on the Tillis
Visibility was average at best at most sites and the marine life was pretty sparse. I guess I am used to a bigger ecosystem with plentiful quantities and species of fish in other places I have dove in the past.
Diving Red Sea in May on the Emperor Elite
good. vis wasn't the best.
Diving Red Sea in June on the Blue Storm
Beautiful. Warm, good visibility
Diving Red Sea in August on the Snefro Pearl
I went for the large animal experiences, and there were none in the first week of November due to higher water temperatures.
Diving Red Sea in October on the Blue Horizon
Generally good. Manageable currents
Diving Red Sea in November on the Sea Serpent Grand
In the winter water is cold but visibility is good.
Diving Red Sea in December on the Blue Seas
Great. Visibility not quite as good as other seasons but still good
Diving Red Sea in October on the Blue Pearl
I found it less interesting than Asia and Australia
Diving Red Sea in October on the Snefro Target
Nice shark-points, but i didn´t like the reefs and corals, not really nice and colourful
Diving Red Sea in October on the Nouran
Incredible, the visibility was amazing and the temperature was perfect
Diving Red Sea in October on the JP Marine
Great visibility and water temperature
Diving Red Sea in November on the South Moon
Nice dives, but we expected to see more sharks
Diving Red Sea in November on the Tillis
Amazing, great visibility and temperature, lots if marine life
Diving Red Sea in November on the Tillis
Excellent, varied and beautiful
Diving Red Sea in November on the Blue
Very colorful coral gardens
Diving Red Sea in November on the Blue
Good but we were not lucky to see any sharks or dugongs
Diving Red Sea in November on the JP Marine
I love it, there was as well current as easy diving
Diving Red Sea in November on the JP Marine
Amazing visibility and marine life
Diving Red Sea in November on the Blue Melody
Great but a bit cold especially during night dives , I think it could be more comfy starting from April to November.
Diving Red Sea in January on the Emperor Superior
Diving was simple and quiet at this time of year with lots to see.
Diving Red Sea in February on the Blue Pearl
Healthy coral, many fish and life
Diving Red Sea in March on the Blue Seas
A little bit cold in march
Diving Red Sea in March on the Blue
March is great for a bit of winter sun but a little early in the season really.
Diving Red Sea in March on the Blue
Clear water, healthy corals,
Diving Red Sea in March on the South Moon
The Red Sea as usual is very charming, beautiful and highly recommended.
Diving Red Sea in March on the Sea Serpent Contessa
great, but bad visibility in the north
Diving Red Sea in March on the Emperor Elite
I was pleasantly surprised about the perfect health of the corals in the Red Sea
Diving Red Sea in April on the Red Sea Blue Force 2
Not great visibility and a bit chilly (mid April) but still very good!,Not great visibility and a bit chilly (mid April) but still very good!
Diving Red Sea in April on the Blue Horizon
good, less pelagics than previously sadly and quite a lot of dead coral :(
Diving Red Sea in April on the Sea Serpent
I don't think you can get better value for money diving anywhere else.
Diving Red Sea in April on the Sea Serpent Grand
Great but with less fish than before.
Diving Red Sea in May on the Blue
Nice but a very windy week
Diving Red Sea in May on the Blue Storm
Warm water, Superb visibility
Diving Red Sea in May on the JP Marine
Visibility was amazing (20m+) but cooler than expected (24 degrees).
Diving Red Sea in May on the Snefro Pearl
Corals are well intact, you can spot nice life, be it big or small.
Diving Red Sea in May on the Emperor Elite
Still - after several Red Sea diving experiences - diving in the Red Sea is exciting! And: as THE responsibility of all of us - To be protected and preserved for future generations!
Diving Red Sea in June on the Tillis
Corals are here healty and full of life.
Diving Red Sea in June on the Snefro Pearl
Every trip we saw different things! And variety of diving spots too,Good
Diving Red Sea in July on the Blue Melody
Such great diving. Superb conditions, great viz, amazing sea life and incredible variety.
Diving Red Sea in August on the Snefro Pearl
Warm water, great visibility, lots and lots of fish and corals.
Diving Red Sea in September on the Sea Serpent Grand
Great (although not many big fishes)
Diving Red Sea in September on the Snefro Pearl
I felt cold at 27 degrees. Getting a 5ml for next time.
Diving Red Sea in September on the Snefro Target
Crowded, Diving is a real Mass tourism in the Red sea.
Diving Red Sea in September on the Emperor Asmaa
Wasn't as good as it has been. Missing the sharks, octopus and turtles
Diving Red Sea in September on the Snefro Pearl
Das rote meer fasziniert mich immer wieder mit den beeindruckenden Riffen und der Vielfalt.
Diving Red Sea in September on the Blue Horizon
Good. Visibility and fish not. not as good as previous trips to the Straits of Tiran.
Diving Red Sea in October on the Snefro Pearl
Very colorful, a lot of marine life, warm 29-30C water in early-october
Diving Red Sea in October on the Emperor Elite
Great BUT The Red Sea needs help and a rota of boats is essential to allow reef recovery. More attention needs to be devoted to environmental preservation in the dive briefing. The golden goose of liveaboards will evaporate if more species such as the already missing garden eels disappear altogether
Diving Red Sea in October on the Blue Melody
Beautiful well-preserved reefs all over.
Diving Red Sea in October on the Tillis
Can only recommend - good vis and stunning reeves
Diving Red Sea in October on the South Moon
Great. The colours, the life, the different kind of fishes.
Diving Red Sea in November on the Snefro Pearl
Amazing marine life and visibility, great weather in November.
Diving Red Sea in November on the Blue Melody
Overall very enjoyable! Some coral bleaching noticeable in relation to the last time I was there around 10 years ago
Diving Red Sea in November on the JP Marine
Always plenty of fish, turtle, lion fish, stingray. Group saw a shark 2 times!
Diving Red Sea in November on the Freedom III
Warm water. Little chilly close to the coast but late in season.
Diving Red Sea in November on the Sea Serpent Contessa
Not so cold in the water, but super uncomfortable on surface on this time of the year. Visibility was very good
Diving Red Sea in January on the Snefro Pearl
Very good, but water in Febnruary is fresh (24 degrees)
Diving Red Sea in February on the Blue Storm
Warm(ish) water, nice marine life.
Diving Red Sea in March on the Emperor Superior
Rotes Mehr ist immer gut zum Tauchen. Es ist für alle Geschmäcke etwas dabei: Ob Kleinkram oder Großfisch, ob Korallen oder Fauna. Wasser ist selbst im Winter noch erträglich warm. Wir hatten Anfang März 22-23 Grad. Im Sommer, sind aber wohl zu viele Taucher und Taucherboote an bekannten Plätzen unterwegs.
Diving Red Sea in March on the Sea Story
It wasn't the best. Apparently it was off season for everything
Diving Red Sea in March on the Blue Horizon
Excellent dives. Water moderately cold (21-23 C) in March.
Diving Red Sea in March on the Blue Melody
Good visibility, amazing colours and abundance of life
Diving Red Sea in March on the Freedom III
Red sea has it all. Colourfull reefs and also the big fish!!
Diving Red Sea in April on the Tillis
Southern Red sea is a different vibe to the north, and well worth the travelling time.
Diving Red Sea in April on the Emperor Elite
Great visibility and the team are preserving the reef through education of guests
Diving Red Sea in April on the Tillis
I loved it. You have such a nice mix of everything, from nudis to sharks, from reefs to blue waters... It's all there!
Diving Red Sea in May on the Tillis
Good visibility and plentiful coral and sea life, not too crowded given the number of dive boats about
Diving Red Sea in May on the Snefro Pearl
Warm and wealthy of fish & reef, very nice.
Diving Red Sea in May on the Snefro Pearl
May sea water temperature 24 Celsius - 5mm full wets uit recommended incl. hood. Beautiful corals (pinnacles and walls), great tropical fish life, no pelagic encounters.
Diving Red Sea in May on the Snefro Pearl
Much better than a few years ago although still some poor dive sites that have nor recovered as well as others. Perhaps need to be left alone to recover?.
Diving Red Sea in May on the Emperor Superior
Red Sea is still one of most colorful and full of marine life dive sites in the world
Diving Red Sea in June on the Emperor Superior
Beautiful coral, canyons and variety of sea life
Diving Red Sea in June on the Sunshine
beautiful and warm water, 27deg and no need for a wet suit. (June Dive)
Diving Red Sea in June on the Snefro Pearl
The diving overall was good. We didn't see so much "big stuff" unfortunately but the diving was enjoyable and we were able to enjoy a lovely night dive.
Diving Red Sea in July on the Blue
Overall fantastic diving- such an abundance of life and colour, with comparatively healthy reefs to what you can find elsewhere.
Diving Red Sea in July on the Sea Serpent Contessa
Warm waters (30 degrees), fantastic visibility and great dive sites - perfect!
Diving Red Sea in July on the Snefro Pearl
Hay multitud de sitios de buceo para todos lo niveles y con la diversión asegurada.
Diving Red Sea in August on the Blue Seas
My first time diving there and exceeded my expectations. You're sailing past the most breathtaking scenery and beautiful shallows and reefs, and then you jump in and see the magical world down below.
Diving Red Sea in September on the Snefro Pearl
I enjoyed my first time diving in the Red Sea. The coral gardens are magical. I had hoped to see more large fish, but perhaps the time of year and high water temperatures may have been factors in their absence. I will definitely be back, perhaps at a different time of year, hoping to see larger fish.
Diving Red Sea in September on the Blue
Overall, very impressed with diving in the Red Sea, the corals look healthy and there seems to be endless dive sites that provide a diversity but it does get crowded in peak season with other boats and divers. Didn’t see any hammerheads in the week and very few Longimanus - not that you can expect to see them but people used to describe the hotspots as teaming with sharks. Not sure if that’s a result of overfishing, climate change or just wrong place at the wrong time.
Diving Red Sea in September on the Blue Seas
The coral was lovely . . like a garden
Diving Red Sea in October on the Blue Storm
The clear waters were great to dive. The marine life was average, and we saw no large fish or sharks. Many corals were bleached and lifeless. The soft corals were few.
Diving Red Sea in October on the Tillis