All Diver Levels

Wrecks & Reefs

Jan-Dec

Red Sea

UD Rating – 3 Star

Snefro Spirit

A luxury liveaboard designed to meet all diver's needs.

A luxurious 18 guest liveaboard with twin cabins and master suites. Snefro Spirit is part of the King Snefro Fleet which offers 3 meals a day, Wi-Fi and free nitrox. Snefro Spirit has sauna on-board.

At 33 metres in length Snefro Spirit is a twin engine, built in Alexandria in 2008 and with yearly renewal, she comfortably accommodates up to 18 guests in 8 twin berth cabins and a master suite on the upper deck. All cabins are comfortably furnished, air-conditioned with en-suite bathrooms, mini-bar, safe storage and central music system. All cabins have a 220V power socket - ideal for charging cameras, strobes, torches or your mobile phone.

The spacious restaurant and salon area are air-conditioned and lavishly furnished, with plush sofas and polished wood flooring. Modern entertainment equipment with a large flat screen TV with DVD/CD player - ideal for reviewing the days photographs & video or just watching a DVD in the evening, games, books and magazines are also available. For those that can't get enough sunshine there 3 large sun decks (2 with a bar), partly shaded or open to the elements, lovely places for relaxing in-between dives or in the evening.

Snefro Spirit has a few added luxuries onboard, including an onboard sauna for non diving guest. WIFI is available free of charge (relies on mobile network coverage). Three main meals with a varied menu throughout your trip are served in a buffet format. There is something for everyone including vegetarian meals. Sweet and salty snacks, soft drinks, tea/coffee and water are always available throughout the day.

Twin Cabin (Lower Deck)

The 7 to 8 m² cabin is a twin berth cabin: 2 single beds side by side with en-suite bathroom and hot-water shower. The cabin is air conditioned, has a mini bar, bedding and 2 towels per guest are provided. Electricity supply is 220V with European-style 2-pin plugs. Inside your cabin you find as well life jackets, fire extinguisher, smoke detector and a safety box for personal belongings.

  • Twin beds
  • Air Conditioning
  • Mini Bar
  • Safe
  • En-Suite
  • Hot-water Shower

Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck

This spacious 10 m² upperdeck suite has a queen size bed, en-suite bathroom and hot-water shower. The large windows allow a view of the Red Sea. The cabin is air conditioned and is equipped with a mini bar, bedding and 2 towels per guest are provided. Electricity supply is 220V with European-style 2-pin plugs. Inside your cabin you find as well life jackets, fire extinguisher, smoke detector and a safety box for personal belongings.

  • 1 Queen Size Bed
  • Air Conditioning
  • Private Bathroom
  • Mini Bar
  • Safe
  • En-Suite
  • Hot-water Shower

Route Options

The all time favorite is covering the world top ten dive top spots such as Jackson Reef, Shark Reef, the World War II wreck of the Thistlegorm, the Dunraven and you have a chance to swim or dive with wild dolphins. A hidden island is waiting too. You will Dive - Eat - Sleep - Repeat for one week with 20+ dives. Magnificent drift, reef, wreck and wall diving, caves, plateaus and the big blue. Dive into an underwater world that is unique in both variety and the sheer number of species.
To enjoy diving you are an Open Water certified diver with at least 15 logged dives while an Advanced Open Water license and 20 logged dives is mandatory to dive the wreck of Thistlegorm.

We do not announce a day by day plan but set up the best plan to cover all sites in the area, avoiding crowded sites and taking weather condition and regulations into consideration.

1. Day 1
In the evening, starting from 18:00 H (6 PM) onwards transfer to New Marina (El Wataneya) port and embark. Welcome on board, cabin arrangement and boat briefing. Permission work with port authority, sailing very early next morning.

2. Day 2 to Day 7
The boat will sail to nearby Temple or Ras Katy for a check dive. The week long safari will cover the area from the Strait of Tiran, Ras Mohamed National Park and the Gulf of Suez which is usual visited first. The National Park begins at the small bay of Marsa Ghazlani followed by the larger and deeper bay of Marsa Bareika. Continuing along the coast to Ras Za’atar, Jackfish Alley, Eel Garden and Shark Observatory, to the southern end of the peninsula with Anemone City, Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef and ending at the Quay. Because of the geographic position this is a privileged area distinguished to strong massive currents that transport large quantities of plankton and other food that give rise to an extraordinary growth of stony and soft corals and attract large schools of both reef and pelagic marine fauna, over a thousand species in all. Schooling barracuda, jackfish, tuna and many kind of sharks swim in these deep blue waters, especially in summer from June to August, sometimes early September. The safari will also take you to famous sites like the wrecks of Dunraven and Thistlegorm, Shag Rock and the wreck of Kingston, sail to Shaab Ali where pods of dolphins are common, explore several spots at Sha’ab Mahmouds reef system such as the Small Passage.

Don’t miss the four famous reefs in the Strait of Tiran: Jackson, Thomas, Woodhouse and Gordon Reef, probably the most interesting and richest in marine life. You can choose from several dive sites with superb wall and drift diving. In the afternoon of the 7th day the boat will return to Sharm area.

3. Day 7 evening/Day 8  early morning The last night will be spent at or close to port on board the liveaboard. Depending on the itinerary and/or administrative conditions, on week long safaris the last night might be arranged in hotel. This is usually communicated in advance. Depending on your check out and flight time return to New Marina (El Wataneya) port and disembark. Transfer to airport or hotel, disembark till 12:00 H (noontime) latest.

Important Info
You need to be at least an Open Water certified diver and have 15 logged dives. Advanced Open Water level is needed for wreck penetration dives and some of the more demanding sites visited on this safari, mandatory for Thistlegorm are at least 20 logged dives. You must have dived in the last year and recorded this in your log book to join this safari, if needed a Scuba Review is available onboard.

Open Water Divers are able to join night dives if they have previous night dives logged. This trip is suitable for snorkelers to join and snorkel at allowed sites, however priority is given to diving activities.

The itinerary is an example so if you have a special wish for a certain place in this area just let your dive guide know. Liveaboard itineraries are subject to various unpredictable changes including weather conditions. All dives and especially some wreck dives are subject to divers experience and weather permitted. Live aboard itineraries depend on the Egyptian Government, Coast Guard and/or Marine Police approval. Every effort is made but we cannot guarantee diving at specific sites. The final decision lies with the captain and guide. Safety always comes first!

This three-day safari is a best seller for more experienced divers, you will dive top spots like Ras Mohamed and the World War II wreck of the Thistlegorm. There is a variety of wreck and reef diving with beautiful coral gardens, drop offs, endless walls and colorful slopes rich in marine life and a good chance to swim with dolphins. To enjoy diving you are an Advanced Open Water certified diver with at least 20 logged dives, an Advanced Open Water license and 20 logged dives are mandatory to dive the wreck of Thistlegorm.

Day 1
In the evening, starting from 18:00 H (6 PM) onwards transfer to New Marina (El Wataneya) port and embark. Welcome on board, cabin arrangement and boat briefing. Permission work with port authority, sailing very early next morning.

Day 2
Early morning check dive at Temple or Ras Katy. Next dive is Jackfish Alley where you can easily enter the small caves there. The third dive will be the Alternatives, a chain of seven pinnacles with numerous sand patches and resident leopard sharks. Night Diving is very popular here.

Day 3
Very early morning the boat will sail to the wreck of the Thistlegorm, the most famous of the Red Sea wrecks, maybe even worldwide. There is so much to explore so the plan is a minimum of two dives. The first one is an orientation of the outside and the second dive a penetrating one. For the third dive your boat will sail to Small Passage where two channels cut the reef system of Shaab Mahmoud and connect the sheltered lagoon to the open sea. A night dive inside the lagoon is optional.

Day 4
First dive of the day will take you to the historical wreck of the Dunraven, which sank in April 1876 - an old wooden wreck with plenty of room for passing through thousands of glass fish that live here in the shade of the wreck. Next dive is Shark and Yolanda Reef, the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula with an endless wall unique in the Red Sea. Sailing back towards Sharm for your third dive at Ras Zatar, Ras Ghazlani or may be in Ras Um Sid. Return to New Marina (El Wataneya) port and disembark till 16:00 H (4 PM) latest.

Important Info
You need to be an Advanced Open Water certified diver with at least 20 logged dives. Advanced Open Water diver is mandatory to join the penetration dive the wreck of the Thistlegorm. You must have dived in the last year and recorded this in your log book to join this safari, if needed Scuba Review is available onboard.

The itinerary is an example so if you have a special wish for a certain place in this area just let your dive guide know. Live aboard itineraries are subject to various unpredictable changes including weather conditions. All dives and especially some wreck dives are subject to divers experience and weather permitted. Live aboard itineraries depend on the Egyptian Government, Coast Guard and/or Marine Police approval. Every effort is made but we cannot guarantee diving at specific sites. The final decision lies with the captain and guide. Safety always comes first!

Vessel Details

Type Wooden Hull
Length 33 m
Beam 8 m
Engine 2 x 520 HP G.M.
Generators 2 Silent Generators x 100 KW, 220 V
Desalination 2 Desalination Units, each 1 t/day plus 7 t storage
Sewage 4 Sewage holding tanks and treatment system
Navigation/Communication GPS Plotter, Echolot , VHF, Radar
Safety Life Vests & Fire Extinguishers located in each cabin. EPIRB, Fire Alarm, Smoke Detectors, Fire Extinguishers
Compressor 2 Bauer Mariner Compressor with Air Cooler (under deck)
Nitrox Nitrox Membrane System (under deck)
Zodiacs 2 Zodiacs with 25 hp outboard
Mask and Snorkel €3 /day
Fins €3 /day
15L Tank €5 /day
BCD €10/day
Regulator €10/day
Wetsuit Shorty €7/day
Complete Set (Computer,Torch,SMB & Scuba Gear Set) €45/day
Dive Computer €10/day
Snorkel Set (Mask,Snorkel & Open Heel Fins) €6 /day
Scuba Gear Set €25/day
Closed and open Heel Fins €5/day
Booties €3/day
Open Heel Fins & Boots SET €5/day
Wetsuit Full (3mm or 5mm) €10/day
Neoprene Hood €3/day
LED Torch incl. Batteries €10/day
Compass €5/day
SMB (Surface Marker Buoy) €2/day

Available Experiences

ITINERARIES AVAILABLE IN THIS DESTINATION

Marcelina

Friday, 06 December 2013

Fabulous Fiji by Marcelina Jesus on Sport Diver Magazine

Lured by the promise of world-class reefs and adrenaline-fueled shark encounters Marcelina Jesus ventures to the wild islands of Fiji.

Fabulous Fiji by Marcelina Jesus on Sport Diver Magazine

What Our Customers Have To Say

Reviews from our Clients, Journalists, Photo Pro's and our own Experts

Our reviews and blogs are an additional guide to evaluate of the holiday is exactley what you are looking for or not. Some love an Eco-Resort, some love air-con and a flat screen TV, we aim to ensure you get what you are looking for, at great value for money.

Jackson Reef

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Most northerly of the reefs of Tiran and the northern limit of day boats from Sharm El Sheikh. The wreck of the Lara lies at the northern end. There is superb wall diving along its entire perimeter, with numerous buttresses and gullies. Sightings of sharks, turtles and other big fish are not uncommon and you will find a huge diversity of different corals and sponges as well as clouds of trigger fish, masked puffers and banner fish. At the point you may be lucky and spot a Hammerhead in summer.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

Thomas Reef

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Between Gordon and Woodhouse reefs, smaller round reef with walls plunging deep and fully covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colourful fish life. It is almost possible to circumnavigate this reef in one dive. The east wall plunges dramatically to great depths with a mass of brightly coloured soft corals. The west wall is darker with overhangs and caves but is a great drift dive with sightings of Trevally and Tuna in the blue and schooling reef fish close to the reef.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 20m

Temple

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

The Temple is located on the north side of Sharm El Sheikh Harbour. It is a group of three pinnacles that rise up from 65 feet below to the surface.
This is a flat, sloping reef with two major, and a few minor, pinnacles adding contour to the reef face. The largest of the pinnacles is 'The Tower'. Its bulk is split by two major fissures, one of which can be swum through. The second should not be entered, to avoid damaging the delicate gorgonians growing along its sides. All the pinnacles hide a surprisingly rich variety of reef animals.
The pinnacles are rather close to each other and have sand channels between them. The pinnacles have sheer walls which are covered with soft and hard corals, fan corals and reef fish. Coral growth throughout the site is good, with a density and mix of species difficult to match in the immediate area. They are a blanket of colour. The fish are as pleasant a surprise as the coral, with a truly amazing range of species colonizing the reef. There are lionfish all about, as well as stonefish that do not move and are camouflaged. Around the pinnacles are schools of glass sweepers that move together.
Because The Temple is so close to Sharm El Sheikh and Na'ama Bay, it is a very popular night-dive site. At night the basket stars create the illusion of a curtain in the light current as they feed. As the basket stars are hit by your dive light, they tend to withdraw into a ball. As the light moves away, they expand back out and continue feeding. The feather stars and soft corals have many colours that are very beautiful in the dive lights. You can find parrotfish in the crevices with your dive lights. Some may even have their cocoons around them.
The typical depth range of the Temple is 10 to 65 feet deep and is best accessed by a boat dive or local guide. The expertise required for this site is a snorkeled, novice, advanced, dive master or instructor.

  • Dive Type:
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 35m

Ras Za’atar

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Ras Za'atir is located on the northern tip of the Ras Muhammed Peninsula and is within the boundaries of the Ras Muhammed National Park. The reef at this site is similar but more contoured than Ras Ghozlani, with many cracks and fissures, some forming small caves which can be entered.
It is made up of a steep wall and some large caves. The current runs along the sheer wall from the north to the south and into a cove. There is a reasonable range of coral species, both hard and soft and a large-scale growth of xeniid soft corals. Coral quality is generally good, but suffers from silting and sandfall, particularly from the north. There are some large caves that are filled with glass sweepers and soft corals. Black coral trees are found deeper along the wall and are the home to many long nose hawkfish. The shallow areas of the wall are excellent places for macro photography.
There are many small invertebrates, like the feather tube worms, corals and nudibranchs. Large open water fish are also found in this area. Because Ras Za'atir is dived less often than its neighbour, Shark Reef, there are more open ocean fish here. You can often see barracudas, manta rays and sharks. There may be even more sharks at Ras Za'atir than at Shark Bay.
The typical depth range of Ras Za'atir is 20 to 165 feet and is best accessed by a drift boat dive or local guide. The expertise required is a novice with an instructor, advanced, dive master or instructor.

  • Dive Type:
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 30m

Jackfish Alley

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Fisherman's Bank, also known as Jackfish Alley and Stingray Alley, is located on the north side of the Ras Muhammad Peninsula and is within the boundaries of the Ras Muhammad National Park. It is a popular shore dive site and is located a short distance from the beach. The reef top is sand and has a sloping drop-off. There are many colourful reef fish like the emperor angelfish, regal angelfish, yellow band angelfish and pairs of blue cheek butterfly fish.
Beginning with a sheer wall, the early section of the wall is very porous, with lots of small holes and crevices, and boasts a couple of penetrable caves, each featuring separate exit and entrance holes.
Proceeding southward, the wall gives way to a sandy plateau at around 20m (65ft), well covered with coral heads and outcrops. After widening out considerably, the plateau narrows at its southern end to form a small channel or alley. Further out from the wall, a second, seeper plateau can be found. Coral growth is good overall and the fish population is excellent, with plenty of the jacks and stingrays that give the site at least two of its names, and all the usual reef fish.
The typical depth range of Fisherman's Bank is 10 to 80 feet and is best accessed by a shore dive, boat dive, or local guide. The expertise required for this area is a snokler, novice to advance.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 40m

Ras Ghazlani

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

At the Northern Tip of Marsa Bareika, Ras Ghazalani rates as one of the most beautiful dive sites in the Ras Mohamed area. Having been closed to divers for many years, this site has an extraordinary array of beautiful table corals, glass fish covered pinnacles and an overall stunning landscape. Keep your eyes open for the huge Blackspotted Pufferfish, Malabar Groupers and the occasional Eagle Ray. A very gentle drift dive, this site makes a perfect end to your diving day.
The typical depth range for Ras Um Sid is 20 to 80 feet and is best accessed by a shore dive, dive boat and local guide. The expertise required for this area is a snorkeled, novice, advanced, dive master or instructor.
This site lies at the mouth of Mersa Bereka, the large shallow bay that nearly separates Ras Muhammad itself from the Sinai mainland. The reef follows the shoreline at the bay's northern point: a sheer but shallow inshore wall gives way to a sloping, patchy reef face below about 15m (50ft).
It's hardly worth listing the vast array of coral at this site - if it exists in the Red Sea, you'll find it here. Fish life is abundant all across the reef in a riot of scintillating colour. This is possibly the nicest spot on the southern coast for small reef species.
Unlike the popular, but overcrowded sites, this superb site is not visited by hordes of divers each day, so its delicate beauty has been preserved. .

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

Ras Mohamed

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Ras Mohammed peninsula separates the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. Currents flow out of both gulfs and bathe Ras Mohammed in rich nutrients, which assure plentiful and varied marine life. At Shark Reef and Yolanda wreck, many fish species can be found: groupers, barracuda, batfish, Napoleon wrasses, blue-spot stingrays and a special treat, crocodile fish. It's an amusing and memorable site to see groupers swimming around a huge mountain of toilets at the bottom of the sea.
Really several dive sites, Ras Mohammed has earned itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world, here at the tip of the Sinai where the vast bodies of water, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet has created an ecosystem like no other and wall diving is at its very best.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 18m

Shark Observatory

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

The site is not aptly named as it is not noted for its shark sightings, however, it is a fantastic dive. The site stretches from the foot of the observatory cliff in the north, across the mouth of a shallow box-shaped inlet, to the beginning of the Anemone City in the south. There are two possible shore entry points, one inside the inlet and the second in the small cove at the foot of the cliff. Both can be reached by road.
In the past, it was possible to see sharks here just by looking down from the cliff top but with the advent of dive tourism and its attendant boat traffic, the sharks have mostly moved on.
The site is a vertical wall, sloping outwards at its foot. The rugged profile is most dramatic in the northern section, where the reef face is especially contoured, with fissures, inlets and crevices to explore. Coral growth is good with lots of variety among both soft and stony species.
The steep profile does not encourage dense populations of smaller reef species, so quality and quantity of fish are somewhat dependent on currents and the pelagic life they encourage. Jacks, barracuda and the occasional gray or blacktip shark liven things up when the current is running: snapper, surgeons and unicorns are present in schools of varying size, and larger reef fish such as big grouper and Napoleons are usually on hand.
Divers should be careful of the strong currents which are common in this area and those who enter from shore should be doubly cautious. Once beyond the point to the north, there is no shore exit point. Do not round the point if current could prevent you from returning to the exit point.

  • Dive Type:
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 40m

Shark and Yolanda Reefs

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

When divers think of Sinai, they think of Shark Reef and Yolanda. The two reefs are actually the twin peaks of a single coral seamount rising just off the Ras Muhammad coast, separated from the mainland by a shallow channel.
Shark Reef, the easternmost of the two, boasts a sheer wall dropping to well past 50m (164ft) along its northeast and eastern sides, giving way to a steep reef slope as the reef proceeds southwest toward Yolanda. A shallow saddle lies between the two reefs at 18 to 20m (60-65ft). A second shallow patch lies south of Yolanda. This second flat patch is the site of what remains of the Yolanda, a wrecked freighter. The ship itself slipped into the deep in 1986 after a severe storm, but much of its cargo remains, incongruously strewn across the reef.
Coral is excellent, with good if sparse growth on the wall sections and dense coral gardens on the shallower flat areas. Big pelagics and schooling fish swarm these reefs in the thousands. The Most impressive concentration is on the wall at Shark Reef. On the reef, hundreds of different reef fishes can be spotted as can moray eels of a meter (3ft) and bluespotted and blackspotted stingrays.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 27m

Thistlegorm

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

The Thistlegorm was discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau and is probably the most famous wreck in the world. It sank in 1941 when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards, rather like opening a tin of sardines.
The stern section of the wreck lies almost horizontal to the sea bed; the remainder of the wreck is nearly upright. Inside the wreckage, tyres, tanks, motorbikes, Bedford trucks, waders and wellington boots can be seen. Penetration is possible around the bridge and blast area. The large propeller is still in position and the guns on the stern are in excellent condition.
Artillery litters the blast area. A bath tub can be seen towards the bow and a toilet near the stern. The sea life is impressive with possibility of seeing tuna overhead the resident turtle. Expect this to be very busy, especially once the day boats have reached it; it is likely to be chaos both on the surface and under the water.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 31m

Dunraven

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

This wreck of a British sail/steam cargo ship that sank on April 22 1876 was officially discovered in 1977.
The wreck now lies in two sections next to each other, both of which are penetrable, but there is not always an entire route through. The large brass propeller lies to the north end of the wreck and the reef to the west. The engine can be found in the northern section of the wreck.
The sealife is interesting here and a swim along the reef makes a good end to the dive. Napoleon fish are common, as well as lionfish and flathead scorpion fish. There is a particularly impressive brain coral on the reef as you leave the wreck that is only three metres below the surface.

  • Dive Type: Drift Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 29m

Abu Nuhas

Hurghada , Red Sea

Also known as “Ships Graveyard”, Abu Nuhas is located close to the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Suez. Four wrecks are lying in a chain on a sandy bottom of a steep sloping reef covered with table corals. The following wrecks are found there;

Ghiannis D was on the way from Rijeka to AI Hudayda at the southern end of the Red Sea, when the bow ran aground on the reef on April 19, 1984. The rear half of the wreck lies on the port side. At the front the funnel is the large letter “D” signifying the name of the shipping company, Danae. In front of the funnel is the bridge deck with different areas, an enormous winch and the bollard. Narrow portholes lead into the engine room. The mid-ship area resembles a scrap heap where steel girders are bent and torn up, and the side panels lie caved in on the bottom. Crocodile fish, scorpion fish, parrotfish, and groupers call the vessel home. This wreck is at 30 - 88 feet/10 - 27meters depth.

Carnatic was on the way from Liverpool to Bombay with 27 crew members, 203 passengers as well as a cargo of cotton, copper, and 40,000 pounds Sterling in gold. She ran aground in the night September 13,1869. Now the wreck lies at a depth of 65 - 88 feet/20 - 27 meters. The hull is covered with hard and leather corals.

Chrisoula K started her last trip on August 30, 1981 loaded with cheap Italian tiles. Chrisoula K ran aground due to a navigation mistake of the captain and sank in the same night. The wreck lies at 16 - 80 feet/5 - 25 meters depth.

Shaab el Erg: Shaab el Erg, also known as “Dolphin House”, is famous for dolphin sightings; it is not uncommon for a school of dolphins to join the dive. The reef drops down to a coral garden at 40 feet/12 meters deep with marine life like nudibranchs, tunas, trevallies, jacks, scorpionfish and sea turtles.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

SS Thistlegorm

Hurghada , Red Sea

The Thistlegorm was discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau and is probably the most famous wreck in the world. It sank in 1941 when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards, rather like opening a tin of sardines.
The stern section of the wreck lies almost horizontal to the sea bed; the remainder of the wreck is nearly upright. Inside the wreckage, tyres, tanks, motorbikes, Bedford trucks, waders and Wellington boots can be seen. Penetration is possible around the bridge and blast area. The large prop is still in position and the guns on the stern are in excellent condition.
Artillery litters the blast area. A bath tub can be seen towards the bow and a toilet near the stern. The sea life is impressive with possibility of seeing tuna overhead the resident turtle. Expect this to be very busy, especially once the day boats have reached it; it is likely to be chaos both on the surface and under the water.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth:

Rosalie Moller

Hurghada , Red Sea

Rosalie Moller sank in the 1940's. She was hit by a bomb. Penetration is accessible as the cracks are huge, but it is not necessary as the significant parts of the wreck are visible from the outside.
The prop and rudder are still in good condition. The deck is in good condition and very clean. The sea life is amazing, with glassfish that can be seen by the deck and reef sharks that can be spotted.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

Eel Garden

Dahab, Red Sea

This dive site is named after the huge population of Garden Eels. These small creatures swaying in the gentle current stretch for food particles passing by and disappear gently when divers are coming close by.
After swimming over the reef platform the entry of the dive site is through a small channel that leads to the main reef. The sandy bottom is home for the garden eels that come out and wave with the water and friendly Batfishes.
The reef slope has got an excellent selection of coral growth with both stony and soft species and this colorful and shallow reef boasts large numbers of Lionfishes, Damsels, Parrots, Groupers, Scorpionfishes and plenty of Sand Gobies. The whole area is great for photography.

  • Dive Type: Shore Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 30m

The Alternatives

Hurghada , Red Sea

About 30 minutes north west of Ras Mohammed is a system of flat top ergs, with names like "lonely mushroom, stingray station and sometimes known as the 'seven pinnacles'.
Best dive is around the third or fourth erg from the east where the current sweeps through feeding pristine corals with bright vivid colours, however, the visibility can be effected in rough weather.
'Stingray Station' lies at the western extremity of the Alternatives; this is an irregular reef and owes its name to the gathering of stingrays in March and April. The whole area is known as home to large groupers, turtles and leopard shark.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 30m

Straits of Tiran

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

The Straits of Tiran offers divers a choice of 7 dive sites, the Gordon reef, the Jackson reef, the Laguna reef, Million hope wrecks, the Tomas reef, the Woodhouse reef and Zingara. All these dive sites offer divers top quality diving with some sites offering maximum depths up to 100 metres.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 100m

Shag Rock

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Shag Rock is a large circular reef with two small wrecks on it. The Carina is a broken up wreckage of a 19th Century steamship that you drift past quickly. The kingston is another 18th century steamship, but is more intact than the Carina is. The reef makes quite a good dive with lots of branching coral, butterfly fish, yellow goatfish, sweet lips and sea cucumbers.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 16m

Giannis D

Hurghada , Red Sea

This Greek freighter hit the reef in April 1983 and over the course of two weeks slowly broke into two parts and sank. She is the most dived wreck in the area, laying in 24 metres and leaning to port with a fully intact stern section and an impressive engine room packed with glass fish.

The bow is very interesting too but is a long swim out. She is a great wreck for penetration but beware of disorientation due to the angle at which she lays. Be wary of the many lion fish and scorpion fish that call this wreck home and watch out for the strong surges in and around the wreck in rough weather.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 24m

Carnatic

Hurghada , Red Sea

The Carnatic is a British P & O steamer which struck the reef in 1869 and sank the next day as the weather worsened. She was a passenger and mail ship and is sometimes known as the ‘wine’ wreck for the numerous bottles once found in the holds; sadly not many now remain to be seen. Rumour has it that she sank with forty thousand pounds sterling of gold bullion, much of which was never recovered. The wreck lays in 29m and now the whole hull is draped in multicoloured soft corals and the inner areas are full of glass fish complete with red mouthed grouper sentinel. One davit supports a beautiful table coral. The wreck is now home to large grouper, octopus and morays and jacks and tuna cruise overhead.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 29m

Woodhouse Reef

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

The Woodhouse Reef is located between Thomas and Jackson reef, Woodhouse reef is the narrowest and longest reef in Tiran. With no moorings this dive is always done as a drift. The Reef offers a sheer wall dropping down to a sandy ledge at 30 meters and dropping away into the abyss. The most interesting point of this dive site is the famous canyon that opens out at a depth of 30 meters and runs parallel to the main axis of the reef. Here divers will have the opportunity to spot black coral at a depth of around 22 meters and lots of pelagic fish cruising past in the blue.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 22m

Small Crack – Shaab Mahmoud

Hurghada , Red Sea

This is a small split in the middle of Shaab Mahmoud’s barrier. Drift along the outside wall next to beautiful corals and colorful fish. Look for a sand slope that leads you up and through the crack. When the current is right you can fly through the 5m deep channel and be thrown out across the sandy lagoon!

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 18

Gordon Reef

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

This is the most southerly reef of the four and has a different topography from the others offering both a shallow plateau area and drop offs. A huge variety of reef fish and big schools of grouper can be seen here and on the sandy bottom at 4 to 5 meter there is an eel garden area along with coral encrusted drums. The top of the reef, with its lighthouse, is also home to the wreck Lovilla which sits almost parallel to the wreck on Jackson Reef.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 18

Gubal Island

Hurghada , Red Sea

At the gate of the Straits of Gobal is ‘Bluff Point’, which gets its name from the turbulence created by strong currents that beat the eastern wall of the island.
The wreck of the ‘Ulysses’ lies on the reef 300m north of the lighthouse, starting at 5m and sloping to 25m. ‘The Barge’ wreck, south of the lighthouse, provides divers with a fun and unusual night dive. The wrecks skeleton creates protection for all types of night creatures.

  • Dive Type: Wreck Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 25m

Anemone City

Sharm El Sheikh , Red Sea

Anemone City is a broad shoulder of reef that juts out at a depth of 20m from the wall of Ras Mohammed; outside of the shoulder is deep blue water. In conditions of strong current giant trevallies, bluefin trevallies and big eye trevallies can be seen here in great numbers and in the shallow water you find the anemones after which it is named; this is the only place that they form in such dense colonies. It is usually dived in conjunction with Shark and Yolanda or with Shark Observatory to the north.

  • Dive Type: Boat Dive
  • Diver Level: Open Water Diver
  • Max Depth: 20m
Dates Duration Route Room Type Price
4 Dec 2024
7 Dec 2024
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £450
15 Dec 2024
18 Dec 2024
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Twin Cabin (Lower Deck) £408
18 Dec 2024
21 Dec 2024
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
22 Dec 2024
25 Dec 2024
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Twin Cabin (Lower Deck) £408
5 Jan 2025
8 Jan 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
8 Jan 2025
11 Jan 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Twin Cabin (Lower Deck) £408
12 Jan 2025
15 Jan 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Twin Cabin (Lower Deck) £408
15 Jan 2025
18 Jan 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
19 Jan 2025
22 Jan 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
22 Jan 2025
25 Jan 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
26 Jan 2025
29 Jan 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
29 Jan 2025
1 Feb 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
2 Feb 2025
5 Feb 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
5 Feb 2025
8 Feb 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
12 Feb 2025
15 Feb 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
16 Feb 2025
19 Feb 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Twin Cabin (Lower Deck) £408
19 Feb 2025
22 Feb 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
22 Feb 2025
1 Mar 2025
7 Nights Sinai Classic Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £1080
2 Mar 2025
5 Mar 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
5 Mar 2025
8 Mar 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Twin Cabin (Lower Deck) £408
23 Apr 2025
26 Apr 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467
27 Apr 2025
30 Apr 2025
3 Nights Mini Safari: Thistlegorm - Ras Mohamed Master Suite Cabin - Upper Deck £467