Liveaboard Diving in Zabargad

What To Expect On A Zabargad Liveaboard

Liveaboards to Zabargad will usually visit here as part of a Southern Red Sea itinerary. It is one of the largest islands in the Red Sea, and offers perhaps some of the best diving. Previously thought to have been formed by volcanic activity, the island was in fact formed by extreme pressures in the mantle, created by tectonic movement. This pressure extruded rock upwards from the mantle to form a huge mountain. The tip of which only breaking through the sea after the entire lower crust was uplifted due to a collision between the African and Asiatic continental plates. The peak remains at 285 metres above sea level.

The uniqueness of how the island was formed attracted ancient miners to extract green gemstones, called peridot, from the peridotite rock. Now that mining no longer takes place, the land is relatively uninhabited with most visitors using the island as a stop off to visit Rocky Island just to the south. This, coupled with the excellent management of the Marine National Park, has created a truly special site with extraordinary offerings for divers to explore on their Zabargad liveaboard cruise. 

What You Can See

Liveaboards to Zabargad Island will normally dive along its southern shore where prevailing northerly winds are blocked. The well-sheltered bay is home to green sea turtles and hawksbill turtles who use the beaches to nest during August.

Just off the southern shore, there is a small wall that drops to 50 feet (15 m), shallowing in gradient to form a gentle slope that continues to around 100 feet (30 m). From here, the reef drops off into the abyss. Visibility hovers at around 65 feet (20 m), creating excellent light conditions to see the astonishing colours of the coral and fish species in all their glory.

Upon the sandy slopes, you'll find large mounds of coral (known as pinnacles) that attract many smaller species of reef fish, including see-through glass fish, bright orange anthias and electric-blue damselfish. The pinnacles have created many overhangs, cavern areas and tantalising swim-throughs to explore. Wonderfully vibrant nudibranchs, pufferfish, scorpionfish and moray eels have also made the pinnacles their home. Octopus can even be spotted blending into their surrounding environment, changing colour and shape to match the species of coral they choose to sit on.

Swimming along the sandy tracks between the pinnacles are several larger species of fish including barracuda, humphead wrasse (better known as Napoleon wrasse), big grouper, and several types of shark. Hammerhead, oceanic whitetip and grey reef sharks can all be found at Zabargad Island. Camouflaging in the sand are imposing crocodile fish, growing up to half a meter in length, and bluespotted stingrays. Even manta rays have been spotted beyond the bays! Night diving here whilst on a Zabargad liveaboard is very popular, and many invertebrates, such as cuttlefish, octopus and squid, make an appearance.

Furthermore, to the east lies a Russian surveillance ship (known as the Russian Wreck), believed to be the Khanka, which sank in the 1970s. The wreck has been positively identified as a MOMA Class ship, but it's not yet known whether it really is the Khanka or not, due to a lack of publically available records (it is a Russian spy ship after all). Laying in just 80 feet (24 m) of water, the mast breaks the surface during low tide. Glassfish are prolific on this wreck, and it is possible to dive the engine room and bridge. Several other wrecks are rumoured to exist nearby, but the island remains relatively unexplored.

Getting There

Reaching Zabargad Island can only be achieved by Egyptian liveaboard due to the distance from the nearest ports. Liveaboards that visit Zabargad tend to depart from either Marsa Ghalib or Marsa Alam. The nearest airport is Marsa Alam International Airport, which is actually closer to the seaport of Marsa Ghalib, than that of Marsa Alam.


Zabargad Diving Reviews

  • 8.9 Fabulous
  • 37 Verified Reviews
  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Taj H
  • United States United States

I would recommend, but if you want sharks, end of February is not the right time of year.

Diving Zabargad in February on the Blue Seas

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Gabriel C
  • Brazil Brazil

The view of this island was espetacular. And the dives too.

Diving Zabargad in July on the JP Marine

  • 8.8 Fabulous
  • Gunnar F
  • Sweden Sweden

We were supposed to have a comfortable third dive, but everything change because of a sudden strong current.

Diving Zabargad in February on the Blue Seas

  • 9.2 Superb
  • Michael B
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Saw some sharks here too - pleasantly sutprised.

Diving Zabargad in June on the Discovery II

  • 7.6 Good
  • Alena Miriam S
  • Czech Republic Czech Republic

Shallow dives with beautiful corals.

Diving Zabargad in August on the JP Marine

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Vera D
  • Belgium Belgium

most beautiful with turtle, big Lanvin batfish, Habili Gafar: turtle and longimanus

Diving Zabargad in October on the JP Marine

  • 8.0 Very good
  • Silke K
  • Germany Germany

turtles for breakfast dive

Diving Zabargad in May on the Discovery I

  • 6.0 Review score
  • kristoffer G
  • Denmark Denmark

okay for small stuff and general fish

Diving Zabargad in July on the JP Marine

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Chun L
  • Hong Kong Hong Kong

Interesting underwater terrain.

Diving Zabargad in October on the Tala

  • 9.6 Exceptional
  • Udayan P
  • India India

Coral gardens were relaxing

Diving Zabargad in April on the JP Marine

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • Maruán K
  • Spain Spain

We saw a hammerhead really close to the reef

Diving Zabargad in April on the Alia

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • David D
  • United Kingdom United Kingdom

Again very good, remote site with few divers

Diving Zabargad in May on the JP Marine

  • 8.4 Very good
  • Britta B
  • Germany Germany

Very nice dive in low tunnels of the reef - beautiful rock formations

Diving Zabargad in June on the Golden Dolphin III

  • 10.0 Exceptional
  • C James B T
  • Canada Canada

Like our own private island. Superb coral. Would have done more dives

Diving Zabargad in October on the Golden Dolphin