Looking for the best liveaboards in Egypt? Keep on reading as in this article, we break down and compare the best liveaboard boats out there.
The Red Sea has long been considered one of the world’s top scuba diving destinations. Known as North Africa’s underwater paradise, one of the best ways that you can explore its depths is by hopping on a liveaboard.
With a wealth of Red Sea liveaboards on offer, the trouble is deciding which one to go for and what areas to explore. Answer: all of them!
Experience the wreck-littered North as well as the remote South, and hit the three most iconic dive sites in Egypt: Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, and Marsa Alam. If you do this, you would have experienced the diversity of the Red Sea’s reefs in its entirety.
To help you plan and choose your ideal Egypt liveaboard experience, here is a comprehensive guide giving you everything you need to know.
View Contents
- Editor’s Top Egypt Liveaboard Picks
- Best Egypt Liveaboard Comparison Table
- Best Budget Liveaboard Diving in Egypt
- Best Mid-Range Liveaboard Diving in Egypt
- Best Luxury Liveaboard Diving in Egypt
- FAQ on Egypt Liveaboards
- Egypt Liveaboard Diving Highlights
- Egypt Diving: What You Need to Know
- Best Dive Sites in Egypt
- 1. The Brothers
- 2. Daedalus Reef
- 3. Ras Mohammed
- 4. Thistlegorm Wreck
- How to Get to Egypt
- Best Diving Itineraries in Egypt
Editor’s Top Egypt Liveaboard Picks
✨The 1 Thing We Never Leave Home Without…✨
Coming from someone who has been traveling the world for the last 8 years AND has been in the hospital 2x, travel insurance is something everyone NEEDS to get. Get a quote below!
Best Egypt Liveaboard Comparison Table
| Boat Name | Price | Guests | Shared Cabins | Photography Station | Extended Itineraries | Read Reviews |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Amelia Discovery | $ | 20 | Liveaboard.com Divebooker | |||
| Emperor Asmaa | $ | 20 | Liveaboard.com Divebooker | |||
| Contessa Mia | $ | 16 | Liveaboard.com Divebooker | |||
| Emperor Elite | $$ | 24 | Liveaboard.com Divebooker | |||
| RedSea Blue Force 3 | $$ | 16 | Liveaboard.com Divebooker | |||
| Red Sea Aggressor | $$ | 26 | Liveaboard.com Divebooker | |||
| My Blue | $$$ | 24 | Liveaboard.com Divebooker |
|||
| My Odyssey | $$$ | 26 | Liveaboard.com Divebooker |
|||
| Red Sea Agressor II | $$$ | 22 | Liveaboard.com Divebooker |
Best Budget Liveaboard Diving in Egypt
Amelia Discovery
Max. Divers: 20 guests
Rooms: 10 cabins / AC
Bathrooms: 10
Designed by divers to give you the ultimate scuba diving experience, the Amelia Discovery is known for being one of the best budget liveaboard options in Egypt.
With a perfect balance of amenities and price, MY Amelia hosts 20 guests in 10 air-conditioned cabins complete with AC, en-suite bathroom and storage.
Diving on this liveaboard is stress-free due to their large dive deck and swim platform.
Plus, their 7-night itinerary allows divers to explore some of the best dive sites in the Red Sea. You will dive up to four times a day, with 21 to 24 total dives covering a full range from the Deep South and Elphinstone route to the Northern Wrecks and Ras Mohammed and Brothers Islands.
In between dives, relaxation is in store whether on comfy mattresses on the sun deck, in the shade of the lounge, or with a drink at the bar.
When choosing between the best Red Sea liveaboards, the Amelia Discovery won’t disappoint, especially if you’re a diving fanatic!
What’s Included: VAT, Accommodation, Transfers/pickups from Airport, Tanks, Weights, Belts, All Meals, Free Nitrox, Towels Provided, Transfers/pickups from Hotel
Click the button below to learn more and check the prices and availability for the MY Amelia Discovery
Emperor Asmaa
Max. Divers: 20 guests
Rooms: 10 cabins / AC
Bathrooms: 10
If getting value for your money is at the top of your list and you’re keen to explore Egypt’s dive sites in the South, the Emperor Asmaa should be your liveaboard of choice.
Completely refurbished in 2015, Asmaa is a 30m custom-built vessel furnished to the highest standard. It hosts up to 20 guests in 10 twin-berth cabins with an en-suite bathroom. Ideal for families with children, Asmaa features an air-conditioned salon with a bar, sundeck and a TV that plays DVDs and CDs.
Designed with divers in mind, guests will be diving from a large dive deck for six days, diving twice a day with an experienced guide. Their diving itineraries include major dive sites in Egypt such as Fury and St. John’s, Northern Reefs & Wrecks, and Brothers & Elphinstone, so Emperor Asmaa is a great choice when deciding between Red Sea liveaboards.
What’s Included: VAT, Accommodation, Transfers/pickups from Airport, Tanks, Weights, Belts, All Meals, Free Nitrox, Possible Fuel Surcharge
Click the button below to learn more and check the prices and availability for Emperor Asmaa
Sea Serpent Contessa
Max. Divers: 24 guests
Rooms: 12 cabins / AC
Bathrooms: 12
Sleek and swanky is the Sea Serpent Contessa, a 34m liveaboard yacht that has been recently renovated to become a modern gem.
Sea Serpent Contessa has two large salons for downtime between dives. One is located on the main deck and it is equipped with a top-notch audio & video system perfect for relaxing. The other is on the upper deck where guests can enjoy fine dining with a stunning 360-degree view of the Red Sea.
What’s more, the vessel has a very large dive deck, perfect for spending the day kitting up and diving. You’ll spend time exploring the underwater treasures of Egypt from the Brothers Islands to the Salem Express.
Looking for an Egypt liveaboard for you and your diving friends? Sea Serpent Contessa is available for private charter and has an open bar — enough said!
What’s Included: VAT, Accommodation, Transfers/pickups from Airport, Tanks, Weights, Belts, Divemaster Services, All Meals, Towels Provided
Click the button below to learn more and check the prices and availability for the Sea Serpent Contessa
Best Mid-Range Liveaboard Diving in Egypt
Emperor Elite
Max. Divers: 24 guests
Rooms: 12 cabins / AC
Bathrooms: 12
Aboard the Emperor Elite, you will receive luxury service above and below the water’s surface.
With 38m of comfort and style, guests can make the most of the boat’s amenities, from the eight deluxe cabins with minibars and flat-screen televisions to the sundecks, lounges, bars and executive suite, where they can enjoy 5-star cuisine.
The diving is where this liveaboard really takes the crown, as guests will enjoy at least 21 dives at major sites over the eight-day cruise.
Voted “Liveaboard of the Year” in 2011, Emperor Elite is definitely one of your best options when choosing an Egypt liveaboard, especially if you want to experience some of the incredible dives in the south.
What’s Included: VAT, Accommodation, Transfers/pickups from Airport, Tanks, Weights, Belts, Divemaster Services, All Meals, Free Nitrox, Possible Fuel Surcharge
Click the button below to learn more and check the prices and availability for the Emperor Elite
Red Sea Blue Force 3
Max. Divers: 26 guests
Rooms: 12 cabins / AC
Bathrooms: 12
If you have a mid-range budget but are seeking a luxurious liveaboard experience, check out the Red Sea Blue Force 3. This new vessel was launched in 2018, stretches 42m, and provides divers with the ultimate liveaboard trip.
Relax in the sleek lounges, soak up the sun on one of the many sun decks, or enjoy a drink in the upper deck bar. This yacht has 12 gorgeous cabins that all have their own bathroom and air conditioning to keep you comfortable throughout the trip.
The Red Sea Blue Force 3 offers tours year-round that cover the entire Egyptian Red Sea, giving divers the chance to explore all that Egypt dive sites have to offer. Whether you’re looking for remote dive spots, wrecks, or vast marine life, you’re sure to discover it on this trip.
What’s Included: VAT, Accommodation, Transfers/pickups from Airport, Divemaster Services, All Meals, Dive Insurance, Travel Insurance
Click the button below to learn more and check the prices and availability for the Red Sea Blue Force 3
Red Sea Aggressor
Max. Divers: 20 guests
Rooms: 11 cabins / AC
Bathrooms: 10
Another amazing diving option is the world-class Egypt liveaboard, the Red Sea Aggressor. Offering year-round seven and ten-day cruises, divers will benefit from five action-packed dives each day, along with spectacular night dives.
You will find yourself swimming among hammerheads, dolphins, and abundant reef fish. Yes, it’s as good as it sounds and it doesn’t stop there!
After a day full of scuba diving, you can wind down in your lavish stateroom equipped with a private bathroom, and spend the rest of the evening enjoying the complimentary beer and wine on the sundeck or in the hot tub (unless you’re going on a night dive!).
If you opt for the Red Sea Aggressor to explore all of Egypt’s big dive sites, you won’t go with another liveaboard again.
What’s Included: VAT, Accommodation, Complimentary Toiletries, Transfers/pickups from Airport, Tanks, Weights, Belts, All Meals, Alcoholic Beverages
Click the button below to learn more and check the prices and availability for the Red Sea Aggressor
Best Luxury Liveaboard Diving in Egypt
MY Blue
Max. Divers: 24 guests
Rooms: 12 cabins / AC
Bathrooms: 12
A lovely luxury option, MY Blue is a newly-built 43m yacht that takes divers to the best sites in the Red Sea.
The MY Blue has 12 cabins, seven of which are twins, which makes it ideal for meeting other divers or traveling with friends. There are also four seaview cabins and a master for those who are willing to spend a little more. Each cabin comes with air conditioning and a private bathroom.
You won’t be spending too much time in your cabin as the rest of the boat offers spacious common areas full of comfortable lounges to enjoy a nice sea breeze.
Trips on the MY Blue take divers to Northern Wrecks and Reefs, as well as down south to marine parks and iconic dive sites like Daedalus and Brothers. While on a trip on the MY Blue, you’ll be diving up to 21 times on your seven-night trip to make sure you see all that the Red Sea has to offer.
What’s Included: VAT, Accommodation, Airport Transfer, Divemaster Services, All Meals, Nitrox, WiFi
Click the button below to learn more and check the prices and availability for MY Blue.
My Odyssey
Max. Divers: 26 guests
Rooms: 13 cabins / AC
Bathrooms: 13
Dive in style while traveling on the MY Odyssey, a luxury 40m liveaboard that takes divers to some of the best dive sites in the Red Sea.
The MY Odyssey features 13 cabins that are bright, spacious and well-decorated. You’re sure to feel right at home throughout the trip as the staff is attentive and ready to take care of your every need.
Besides the lovely cabins, the yacht also has large common areas complete with TVs, entertainment systems, and comfortable seating.
If you prefer to spend time outside, lounge on a beanbag on the terrace or take a soak in the hot tub. You’re traveling in luxury, so you may as well enjoy it!
On a typical seven-night trip, divers get to experience sites like Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone, and the Straits of Tiran, accessible from the ship’s large, well-equipped dive deck.
The best part? If you’re certified, the ship even offers free Nitrox!
What’s Included: Vat, Accommodation, Airport Transfer, All Meals, Divemaster Services, Complimentary Toiletries, Free Nitrox
Click the button below to learn more and check the prices and availability for the MY Odyssey
Red Sea Aggressor II
Max. Divers: 22 guests
Rooms: 11 cabins / AC
Bathrooms: 11
Another luxury option for your Egyptian dive adventures is the Red Sea Aggressor II.
This brand new vessel can take up to 22 guests in 11 cabins. You can choose from eight deluxe cabins, two master staterooms, or spring for the suite, all complete with a private bathroom, air conditioning, and a flatscreen TV preloaded with tons of movies and TV shows.
When you venture out of your cabin, you have a great selection of places to chill out, like the salon, sun deck, or bar area filled with plush couches. Plus, alcohol is included in the price you pay, so take advantage of that open bar when you’re finished diving for the day.
If that’s not enough for you, head to the upper deck to take a dip in the hot tub!
The Red Sea Aggressor II offers seven-night trips through the northern Red Sea, taking divers to sites like Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran. You’ll get to dive some of the most famous wrecks, explore abundant marine life, and photograph vibrant reefs.
Definitely consider this ship if you’re looking for a luxurious and unforgettable liveaboard trip!
What’s Included: VAT, Accommodation, Airport Transfer, Alcoholic Beverages, Complimentary Toiletries, Divemaster Services
Click the button below to learn more and check the prices and availability for the Red Sea Aggressor II
FAQ on Egypt Liveaboards
Egypt is full of incredible dive sites. While you can do them from land based dive schools, the best way to reach some of the remote sites is through a liveaboard boat. Most liveaboards in Egypt take you diving to sites in the National Park of Ras Mohamed, Ras Umm Sid, Small Crack & Panorama Reef. You can also visit popular WWII shipwreck sites like the MV Salem Express & the SS Thistlegorm which are world famous.
Other sites such as Daedalus Reef and Brothers are popular for shark encounters. Egypt is one of those diverse places where you can see tons of large pelagics while also seeing wrecks, and colorful corals.
Liveaboard diving is available all-year round in Egypt as visibility is incredibly clear all of the time (win!). However, if you want to come in the dry season when the weather is better and the water is warmer, then aim for booking anywhere between June and September.
As there is no recommended best time to go scuba diving in Egypt, it really depends on what marine life you want to see and what itineraries you like best.
If you want to swim with whale sharks, between May and November is when they are most seen. To catch a glimpse of the notoriously elusive seahorse, head here between April and December. Manta rays? Between March to September. You get the picture.
Choosing a liveaboard in Egypt needs careful consideration. There are many incredible liveaboards in the area, you just need to find one with the right itinerary. A few of our top liveaboard picks are the Amelia Discovery if you’re looking for a budget-friendly option in Egypt. If you don’t mind splurging a bit, the My Odyssey and My Blue are great options.
Egypt Liveaboard Diving Highlights
The Red Sea is brimming with marine life, bursting at the seams with eels and stingrays, barracudas and dolphins, whale sharks, and other macro life — it’s a magnificent underwater world down there!
Naturally, this makes liveaboards one of the best ways to explore their depths in their entirety.
With Red Sea liveaboards, you can spend a week exploring the full range of iconic dive sites from north to south, experiencing wreck dives, and glimpsing rare species in their natural habitat.
Nothing beats this awe-inspiring experience and with liveaboards, you can completely maximize your time under the water’s surface. Not only do you get to live on the water, but you also get to dive safely and securely with experienced divers and travel to some of the more remote dive sites in the process.
What’s great about an Egypt liveaboard (and the Red Sea in general) is that it caters to divers of all levels, offering itineraries and dive sites for everyone.
Egypt Diving: What You Need to Know
Egypt Diving Safety
Although some dive sites experience current and allow for drift diving, the majority of scuba diving locations in Egypt are very safe. Due to excellent visibility and easy access to its depths, diving here is perfect if you are training or want to hone your technical skills.
No matter where you’re diving, a good practice is to ensure that you always have a neon dive flag or collapsible pole stowed in your BC pocket in case the current sweeps you astray.
For peace of mind during your diving adventures, we recommend having dive insurance in case of any medical emergencies.
Best Dive Sites in Egypt
1. The Brothers
The Brothers is made up of two islands (Little Brother and Big Brother) located in the center of the Egyptian Red Sea. It’s known for some of the best diving in the area and draws divers from around the world.
The Brothers is surrounded by beautiful reefs filled with marine life like barracudas, tunas, and even manta rays! The walls are covered in the most colorful coral, making it a great place to snap underwater photos.
But what really draws people to the Brothers is the magnificent shark population.
While diving at the Brothers, you’re likely to run into the oceanic whitetip shark, hammerheads, reef sharks, silvertip sharks and even on occasion the thresher shark!
If you’re looking for a thrilling diving experience, the Brothers is a must.
2. Daedalus Reef
Another world-famous dive site in Egypt is Daedalus Reef. Similar to the Brothers, this is a great place for shark encounters of many different species as well as beautiful coral of different colors.
Daedalus Reef offers mostly drift dives along deep walls covered in coral. As it’s located in a marine park, you’ll run into a huge variety of marine life just waiting to be discovered.
This site is very remote, making liveaboards the best — and only — way to access it. It also makes it one of the most pristine dive sites in the Red Sea, giving it its worldwide fame.
Daedalus Reef is best for experienced divers as the currents are very strong and the reef goes quite deep.
3. Ras Mohammed
Ras Mohammed is a national park that has been beautifully preserved and is teeming with sites waiting to be discovered. It has excellent visibility and is a great place to see a wide range of marine life.
Within Ras Mohammed, a popular site is Shark Reef which is home to… you guessed it, sharks!
Other pelagic fish live here as well and there’s even a famous wreck called Yolanda that has underwater toilet seats! It’s a super unique place where you can view reef and wreck all in one.
Another amazing site in Ras Mohammed is Anemone City which contains gorgeous coral formations and anemone hiding loads of clown fish! If you’re on the hunt for Nemo, this is the place to find it.
Jackfish Alley is a lovely dive along a steep wall in Ras Mohammed. It’s a site filled with small caves to venture into, as well as sandy plateaus hiding stingrays.
No matter where you go in Ras Mohammed, you’ll be met with colorful coral, vibrant marine life, and endless exploring to be done.
4. Thistlegorm Wreck
If you’re coming to Egypt for wreck dives, no trip is complete without a dive to Thistlegorm.
Thistlegorm is a 128m British transport ship from World War II that was sunk by a German air attack in 1941. Thistlegorm is not only one of the most popular dive sites in Egypt, but one of the most famous wrecks in the world!
While exploring Thistlegorm, you’ll be able to feast your eyes on countless artifacts from World War II like locomotives, tanks, army trucks, jeeps, motorbikes, rifles and so much more. It’s a super large wreck with tons to see, so you’ll probably want to take a second or even third dive to soak it all in!
This dive can be tricky sometimes as the currents can be strong, but the visibility is usually good, allowing you to see all that is hiding within the wreckage, including diverse marine life.
Be warned, the Thistlegorm is considered to be the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea so it can often get crowded with many different divers at the same time. Be sure to follow all protocol and instructions from your dive master so you don’t get tangled up in another group.
Being on a liveaboard gives you an upper hand as you can dive early before the crowds, or after everyone leaves to return to shore.
Want to learn more about diving in Egypt?
How to Get to Egypt
Egypt is well-connected to many cities by international airlines, with regular and direct flights from across the globe, so getting there for a scuba diving adventure won’t be a problem.
With airports in Cairo, Sharm El Sheikh, and Hurghada, you can get to the major dive sites with ease and your liveaboard representatives will meet you there to take you the rest of the way.
There is something for everyone in these Red Sea liveaboards, but if you still haven’t found the one for you, you can browse to find yourself the perfect one (or a great last-minute deal!) on liveaboard.com or on Divebooker.
Best Diving Itineraries in Egypt
Almost all Egypt liveaboards offer a week on the Red Sea, traveling between different dive sites so you get to see all that the water has to offer. Boats run tons of different routes throughout the north, south and middle part of the Egyptian waters, stopping at world-famous sites along the way.
If you choose to take the northern route, you’ll likely hit wreck sites like Thistlegorm, Rosalie Moller and Abu Nuhas, as well as Ras Mohamed National Park that is filled with untouched corals and marine life galore.
Along this route, you’ll also get to experience the Straits of Tiran, explore its diverse reefs, and make yourself at home among large pelagic fish.
A southern route will land you at spots like St Johns, a remote area filled with tons of small reefs near the Sudanese border, Gota Soraya for a wall dive full of sharks, and Elphinstone Reef to experience the world-famous site.
One last option is to travel around the midsection, stopping at places like the Brothers Islands to explore the marine park, Daedalus Reef for deep walls and drop-offs, and various wrecks scattered throughout. Along this route, you’ll likely stop at Elphinstone as well.
It’s rare to come across an Egyptian liveaboard itinerary that spans longer than a week. On occasion, some boats will offer 10-night trips that give divers the opportunity to explore the Red Sea from north to south instead of staying in one section.
Wherever you choose to go, you’re sure to be met with world-class dive sites, breathtaking views, and an abundance of marine life to discover.
Search for your perfect Egypt liveaboard trip here!
Diving in Egypt is an unforgettable experience so choosing the right liveaboard can make or break a trip. Good luck!
Additional content contributed by Jane Elmets
Disclosure: Some of the links in this article are affiliate links. That means that if you book any of the liveaboards above, we get a small commission at NO EXTRA COST to you. This commission will help us maintain this site so we can keep producing awesome free content for you.
Inspired? Pin it!
