When it comes to exploring the legendary waters of the Egyptian Red Sea, the vessel you choose sets the stage for the entire adventure. The Blue Seas liveaboard was built for exactly this purpose: to combine the region’s most spectacular dive sites with a standard of comfort that lets you focus entirely on what lies beneath the surface. Constructed in Alexandria and launched with the expertise of experienced Egyptian shipbuilders, this 41-metre yacht brings together the best of Italian hull design with classic, spacious interiors. As the sister ship to the Blue Pearl, the Blue Seas was refined using everything the Blue Planet fleet learned from building its first luxury vessels, resulting in a yacht that feels both generous in space and precise in its purpose.
The sense of space becomes apparent the moment you step into your cabin. With room for just 24 guests across 12 en-suite cabins, there is a feeling of personal breathing space on the Blue Seas that is rare on a safari. Accommodation options range from twin and double cabins on the lower and upper decks to the large Honeymoon Suite occupying the whole of the lower bow section. Each cabin features individually controlled air-conditioning, modern fittings, and either portholes or windows that let in the Egyptian light. It is the kind of private quarters where you can actually spread out your camera gear, review the day’s photos, and sleep soundly, ready for an early start to the next dive .
Above deck, the Blue Seas liveaboard offers communal areas designed for genuine relaxation. The main saloon is a bright, welcoming space with a separate dining area featuring marble-topped tables where meals are served. Upstairs, the bar lounge provides a more intimate setting, often buzzing with divers swapping stories or analysing the morning’s reef shark footage on the TV. When you need to recharge between dives, the 2 spacious sun decks offer plenty of options. You can claim a sun lounger on the partially shaded flybridge or stretch out at the bow to take in the panorama of the open sea. These are the spaces where the camaraderie of a liveaboard trip naturally develops .
For divers, the operational layout is where the Blue Seas truly distinguishes itself. The dive deck is notably spacious, with enough room to comfortably prepare gear without feeling crowded, even when the boat is full. There are individual storage areas, dedicated rinse tanks for cameras and equipment, a camera table with charging points, and a bathroom, ensuring that the transition from dive platform to lounge is smooth. A significant advantage is the inclusion of free nitrox for EANx-certified divers, allowing for extended bottom times across the 3 to 4 daily dives that typically define the itineraries .
Ask anyone who has sailed on the Blue Seas, and the topic of food inevitably comes up. The kitchen crew consistently earns high praise for the quality and variety of the meals, serving freshly prepared dishes that keep energy levels up for demanding dive schedules. From breakfast spreads to buffet-style lunches and dinners that often feature local fish, chicken, or beef, the standard of dining is a recurring highlight in guest feedback. There is a reason the chef has reportedly been headhunted by other operations; the meals here are the kind you find yourself looking forward to after a long drift dive.
The Blue Seas liveaboard earns its reputation through consistency and experience. Operated by Blue Planet, a name well established in the Red Sea, the yacht runs the full spectrum of classic Red Sea dive routes, from the northern wrecks and the marine parks of Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone to the remote reefs of St. John’s in the south. Whether you are hunting for hammerheads at Daedalus or drifting along the soft coral-covered walls of Elphinstone, this is a boat built to put you in the right place at the right time. With a crew that understands the rhythm of Red Sea diving and a vessel that prioritises comfort and space, the Blue Seas offers the confidence to book a diving tour that delivers exactly what you came for.
Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone (8 Days / 7 Nights - 17 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, manta rays, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Big Brother, Little Brother, Numidia Wreck, Aida Wreck, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone
Day 1
Your diving expedition begins upon arrival at Port Ghalib. Whether you are from Hurghada Airport or nearby Marsa Alam Airport, the crew is ready to welcome you aboard. After locating your designated dive box for your gear and settling your luggage into your cabin, you’ll attend a thorough safety and trip briefing from your guide. This covers the MY Blue Seas features and the expected dive schedule. Dinner provides a relaxed setting to meet your fellow guests and discuss the excitement ahead before the vessel anchors overnight. The Blue Seas liveaboard sets sail the following morning, making its first stop at a sheltered site for your essential check dive.
Core Days
This is a classic Red Sea route, specifically designed for advanced divers seeking the dramatic topography and thrilling pelagic action of the most isolated pinnacles. The itinerary focuses on the Big Brother, Little Brother, Daedalus Reef, and the internationally celebrated Elphinstone. The constant currents sweeping these sites ensure nutrient-rich waters, resulting in phenomenal coral growth and attracting sensational marine life.
The Blue Seas voyage first visits the Brother Islands. These isolated oceanic towers are renowned for their staggering vertical walls, which are absolutely saturated with massive gorgonian fans and a kaleidoscope of soft corals. The reef fish population is staggering, with huge schools of orange anthias, redtooth triggerfish, and vivid snapper crowding the reef face. Adding a historical dimension, you’ll explore the impressive wrecks here: the Numidia Wreck, a British cargo vessel that lies largely intact against the northern tip of Big Brother, and the Aida Wreck, a smaller supply ship.
We then proceed to Daedalus Reef, distinguished by its remote location and solitary lighthouse. The diving here involves exhilarating drift dives along steep drop-offs, making it a prime location for observing larger marine creatures. Keep your sight-lines extended into the deep blue for potential sightings of schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks, silky sharks, and the impressive oceanic whitetip shark.
Concluding the main route of Blue Seas is Elphinstone, a truly legendary dive with its famous north and south plateaus. The vertical walls are entirely blanketed in hard and soft corals, providing shelter for enormous Napoleon wrasse and large, inquisitive green sea turtles. Look closer, and you will find smaller wonders like moray eels, lionfish, and a stunning variety of colourful nudibranchs among the crevices. Encountering whitetip reef sharks patrolling the perimeter is also a common occurrence throughout these majestic dive days.
Please be aware that to accommodate safe flying intervals, diving concludes on the final full day after two morning dives, allowing for a relaxed lunch. The vessel then begins its return, spending the last night back in the calm of Port Ghalib.
Day 8
Following a quiet night in the harbour, enjoy a final light breakfast aboard. Disembark, with onward transfers provided to either Hurghada or Marsa Alam airport, or your chosen local hotel. Book your space on the Blue Seas liveaboard today to experience the definitive Red Sea offshore safari.
Daedalus, Fury Shoals & Elphinstone (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone and Dolphin Reef (Sataya), Sha'ab Sharm, Fury Shoals
Day 1
Your diving expedition begins with your arrival at Port Ghalib, the marina for the Blue Seas liveaboard and where the crew is ready to welcome you aboard. Once aboard the MY Blue Seas, you will be shown to your private cabin and allocated a personal dive box for your equipment. Before dinner, your trip director will conduct a comprehensive safety and boat briefing. The evening is spent meeting your fellow guests over a relaxed meal, anticipating the week’s diving before the vessel remains anchored overnight. The safari officially starts the following morning with a departure to a nearby site for your required check dive.
Core Days
This all-encompassing safari is tailored for divers, combining the legendary offshore pinnacles of Daedalus and Elphinstone with the vibrant, protected reefs of Fury Shoals. This combination offers a definitive all-round experience, featuring challenging deep walls and sheltered coral gardens.
The main part of the voyage takes you to Daedalus Reef, a remote oceanic pinnacle known for its strong currents and world-class pelagic viewing. This exposed location ensures crystal-clear water and attracts sensational big fish action. Divers regularly look into the deep blue for sightings of schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks, as well as cruising oceanic whitetips and the occasional majestic manta ray. The reef's topography consists of steep, dramatic drop-offs completely covered in healthy coral growth.
Blue Seas then proceeds to Elphinstone, celebrated globally for its sheer vertical walls and the famous north and south plateaus. These exposed locations are rich in nutrients, fostering enormous gorgonian fans and a dense covering of vibrant soft corals. Common large animal sightings here include friendly green sea turtles and the striking Napoleon wrasse. Keep an eye out for whitetip reef sharks patrolling the upper reef structure, while deeper dives offer the possibility of encountering the slender thresher shark.
The final element of the safari explores the expansive, well-protected reef systems of the Fury Shoals. This area is renowned for its shallow, pristine coral formations, pinnacles, and unusual swim-throughs. Specific dive sites like Sha'ab Sharm feature beautiful walls and small cave systems, providing shelter for colourful reef fish such as parrotfish and butterflyfish, alongside moray eels and secretive scorpionfish. The famous Dolphin Reef (Sataya) is another key site, home to large resident pods of spinner dolphins, giving you an unmatched opportunity to observe these animals. The sheer variety here ensures the Blue Seas liveaboard offers truly rewarding diving for all experience levels.
Diving activities conclude on the last full day after 2 morning dives, ensuring you have sufficient surface interval time before flying. The vessel makes its return to Port Ghalib to anchor for the final night.
Day 8
Following a light breakfast, check-out is scheduled, and crew members will provide transfers back to the airport or your hotel.
Daedalus, Rocky & Zabargad (8 Days / 7 Nights - 18 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Daedalus Reef, Zabargad, Rocky Island and Elphinstone
Day 1
Your adventure begins at Port Ghalib, the launch point for these southern dive expeditions. Once aboard the MY Blue Seas, you will stow your equipment in your personal dive station and settle into your cabin. A detailed welcome briefing will follow, covering safety procedures and the specific challenges and rewards of this deep south itinerary. Dinner provides a relaxed setting to meet your guides and fellow certified divers. The Blue Seas liveaboard remains anchored overnight, departing early the following morning after a mandatory check-dive at a sheltered coastal site.
Core Days
This liveaboard safari is reserved for experienced divers keen to explore the challenging, current-swept wilderness of the Red Sea's most remote southern parks: Daedalus Reef, Rocky Island, and Zabargad. These isolated sites promise exhilarating wall dives and unparalleled pelagic activity.
The cruise takes you first to Daedalus, easily identifiable by its solitary lighthouse. The sheer vertical walls here are densely packed with healthy hard coral structures and extend into the deep oceanic blue. These conditions attract magnificent marine megafauna; divers frequently encounter schooling scalloped hammerhead sharks in the morning hours, alongside patrolling oceanic whitetip sharks along the current-facing walls.
Further south lie the legendary Rocky Island and Zabargad Island. Rocky is a tiny, exposed pinnacle that acts as a magnet for larger species, including grey reef sharks and powerful tuna. Zabargad, the largest island in the southern sector, offers a unique opportunity to dive a spectacular seamount ringed by pristine reef. It also features an accessible sunken wreck, richly colonised by soft corals, providing a contrast to the powerful currents of the deep blue. Throughout these southern sites, keep watch for enormous Napoleon wrasse, great barracuda, and playful pods of dolphins in the crossing.
Blue Seas often concludes the offshore segment with a dive at Elphinstone, renowned for its dramatic drop-offs covered in giant sea fans. Here, scuba divers frequently observe friendly green sea turtles and have the possibility of seeing the elusive thresher shark or seasonal manta rays. Please note, diving concludes after two morning dives on the last full day to adhere to safety protocols before the vessel returns to port.
Day 8
Following a quiet night anchored back in Port Ghalib, a light final breakfast is served. Disembark, with ground transfers arranged to take you back to your hotel or airport, marking the end of your Red Sea deep south diving adventure.
Fury Shoals & St. John's (8 Days / 7 Nights - 17 Dives)
Trip highlights: dolphins, manta rays, dugongs/manatees, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Abu Dabab, Elphinstone, Sha'ab Claudio, Dolphin Reef (Sataya), Sha'ab Sharm, St. John's (Habili Ali, Umm Kharalim & Gota Kebir), Fury Shoals, Abu Galawa, Marsa Shouna
Day 1
Your expedition with the Blue Seas liveaboard begins at Port Ghalib. Once aboard the MY Blue Seas, you will be directed to your cabin to settle in, placing your gear in your dedicated dive station. Your guide will provide a full briefing, outlining safety procedures and the spectacular diving awaiting you in the deep south. This evening is for a relaxed dinner where you can meet fellow divers before the vessel anchors overnight. Departure to a sheltered check dive site takes place the following morning.
Core Days
This route is ideally suited for divers looking to explore the pristine, complex reef structures and famous marine life encounters of the far south. It focuses on the vast, healthy systems of Fury Shoals and St. John's, complemented by key offshore pinnacles and famous coastal bays.
Blue Seas starts by navigating the Fury Shoals, an immense reef system known for its varied and pristine topography. Dive sites here feature shallow, sunlit coral gardens, intriguing underwater caves, and coral mazes. At Sha'ab Claudio, divers can explore a spectacular labyrinth of swim-throughs and tunnels carved into the reef, providing a natural studio for photographers. The area is rich in macro life, including numerous species of nudibranchs, frogfish, and vibrant lionfish, all nestled among massive formations of porites coral. A highlight of this region is Dolphin Reef (Sataya), a large, horseshoe-shaped reef famous for hosting resident pods of spinner dolphins, offering an incredible opportunity to observe them during surface intervals.
Continuing south, you reach the remote St. John’s Reefs. This collection of oceanic walls and pinnacles, including Habili Ali, Umm Kharalim, and Gota Kebir, is renowned for its exhilarating deep dives and outstanding coral health. The pinnacles here are carpeted in soft corals and huge sea fans, attracting larger visitors. You can expect frequent sightings of whitetip reef sharks and the majestic Napoleon wrasse patrolling the reef edges. Pelagic encounters are a definite possibility, with grey reef sharks and oceanic manta rays occasionally appearing in the blue.
The cruise may also incorporate famous coastal dive sites like Elphinstone, known for its sheer drop-offs, and bays such as Abu Dabab and Marsa Shouna, where divers often encounter large, curious green sea turtles and may even spot a rare dugong grazing on seagrass. The variety of sites on this Blue Seas liveaboard route guarantees exposure to the full spectrum of Red Sea biodiversity, from small reef inhabitants to impressive pelagic species.
Please note that to ensure safety before flying, diving activities conclude on the final full day of the cruise after 2 morning dives. The vessel then returns to Port Ghalib for the last night.
Day 8
Following a peaceful night at anchor in Port Ghalib, enjoy a final light breakfast. Check-out and disembark from Blue Seas, after which transfers will be provided to the airport or your local accommodation.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & Tiran Straits (8 Days / 7 Nights - 21 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Ras Mohamed, Straits of Tiran (Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, Gordon, Laguna reefs), Thistlegorm, Shaab Mahmoud, Shag Rock, Abu Nuhas wrecks (Giannis D, Carnatic, Kimon M, Chrisoula K)
Day 1
This dive safari begins at Hurghada Marina. Once aboard the Blue Seas liveaboard, you can store your equipment in your personal dive box and settle into your cabin. An essential welcome briefing will cover the MY Blue Seas features, safety protocols, and the northern diving schedule. Dinner is a social affair, providing a chance to meet fellow divers before the vessel anchors overnight. The boat departs in the morning for your compulsory check dive at a suitable nearby site.
Core Days
This route is the premier choice for certified divers interested in the Red Sea's most famous shipwrecks and the current-swept reefs of the Tiran Straits. The voyage focuses heavily on world-class wreck diving. The highlight is the legendary SS Thistlegorm, a former British armed merchant navy vessel that rests at 32 metres. Now an artificial reef, its massive holds are filled with wartime cargo, including trucks, motorbikes, and rifles, all heavily colonised by marine life. Night dives here often reveal massive schools of fusiliers and snapper, alongside patrolling trevally and giant moray eels.
Another major cluster of dives is found at Abu Nuhas. This shallow reef has claimed numerous vessels, allowing us to explore 4 distinct wrecks on the seabed. You will descend upon the Giannis D, famous for its easily accessible engine room, the wooden hull of the Carnatic, and the Chrisoula K. These sites sit on a sloping sandy plateau, providing fascinating wreck penetration and an abundance of reef fish and invertebrates, including lionfish and vibrant soft corals. Further north, we also visit sites like Shaab Mahmoud and Shag Rock, offering dives with dramatic topography and the chance to spot reef sharks and green turtles.
Blue Seas then turns its attention to the Straits of Tiran, which lie between the Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia. The 4 prominent coral reefs here - Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, and Gordon - are world-renowned for their sheer walls and exceptional biodiversity, fed by powerful currents. Jackson Reef is particularly noted for potential pelagic encounters, where large groupers, schooling bannerfish, and hammerheads may be seen in the blue. These reefs offer spectacular hard and soft coral gardens, making Tiran an unforgettable experience for both wreck and reef enthusiasts.
To ensure a safe surface interval before flying, diving concludes after 2 morning dives on the last full day. The vessel returns to Hurghada Marina for your final night aboard.
Day 8
Following a light breakfast, disembarkation and transfer to your airport or hotel will commence. Book your place now on the Blue Seas liveaboard for this classic northern Red Sea adventure.
Red Sea South, St. John's & Elba Reef
Trip highlights: dolphins, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving
Dive sites and activities: Abu Dabbab, Rocky Island, Elba Reef, Fury Shoals: Dolphin Reef (Sataya), St. John's (Habili Ali, Umm Kharalim & Gota Kebir), Wadi Gamal, Marsa Shouna, Elphinstone
Day 1
Your Red Sea Deep South diving expedition commences at Port Ghalib, with convenient access available from both Marsa Alam and Hurghada Airports. Once aboard the MY Blue Seas, you will stow your equipment in your personal dive box and settle into your cabin. Your dive guide will then conduct a full safety briefing and outline the week’s schedule. Dinner is a relaxed affair, giving you the chance to meet your fellow certified divers before the Blue Seas liveaboard anchors overnight. The vessel departs for a coastal check dive on the following morning.
Core Days
This extensive safari is specifically designed for divers seeking remote, low-traffic environments and truly unique sites in the deep south. The voyage pushes to the limits of Egyptian territory, including the legendary Elba Reef. Diving here offers a rare privilege, as part of the reef system falls within a designated area requiring special naval clearance. A key attraction is the historic Levanzo wreck, an Italian steamship from 1901 that lies broken but beautifully colonised at depths between 22 and 75 metres, offering a dramatic, overgrown dive.
Continuing the offshore portion, Blue Seas visits Rocky Island, an exposed pinnacle known for its rich marine biodiversity. The strong water movement here promotes phenomenal coral health, supporting massive gorgonian fans and black coral formations. These powerful currents draw in consistent pelagic action; look for cruising grey reef sharks, sleek silvertip sharks, and great barracuda in the blue. Large green sea turtles are frequently found resting on the shallower reef tops.
It then transitions to the expansive St. John’s Reefs and the thriving Fury Shoals. St. John’s is a complex of majestic pinnacles and drop-offs, including Habili Ali and Gota Kebir, which feature some of the healthiest and most varied hard and soft coral systems in the Red Sea. Expect encounters with large Napoleon wrasse and numerous whitetip reef sharks. Within Fury Shoals, sites like Sha'ab Claudio present spectacular, light-filled coral caves to explore, while Dolphin Reef (Sataya) is internationally known for its resident pod of spinner dolphins, observable from the surface during your break. Coastal dives, such as those near Wadi Gamal and Marsa Shouna, offer calmer shallow diving, ideal for spotting stingrays, tuna, and the elusive dugong over the seagrass beds.
In accordance with safety standards, diving concludes after 2 morning dives on the final full day. The Blue Seas liveaboard then returns to the calm of Port Ghalib for the final night.
Final Day
Following a light breakfast, disembarkation and transfer services to the airport or your onward accommodation commence.
[Information is best estimate in ideal circumstances and subject to changes beyond our control. The itinerary is a guide only and may be adapted to best suit the weather, tides, currents, availability and other prevailing events. Price is for the cruise, not for an exact number of dives].
Onboard the Blue Seas liveaboard, the daily pattern is set to the pulse of the Red Sea: early starts, unhurried surface intervals, and the quiet satisfaction of a day well spent beneath the surface. Here, the experience is designed by scuba divers, for divers, where every detail from the meal times to the layout of the dive deck is intended to keep your focus where it belongs: on the water.
The day begins before the sun crests the desert mountains. An early riser’s snack is put out for those who like to start with a cup of tea and a biscuit while kitting up in the pre-dawn calm. The first dive brief is typically around 6:30 am, with divers rolling off the stern shortly after, getting the first drop on sites before the winds pick up or the crowds arrive. Back on board the Blue Seas, the routine settles into the comfortable loop liveaboard guests know well. Breakfast is served after the first dive. It’s a spread of hot and cold options: eggs cooked to order, fresh breads, local cheeses, and plenty of fruit to refuel. The next hour or so is for logging dives, charging cameras, and moving the vessel to the next location.
A second dive follows mid-morning, often at a site just a short cruise away. After that, the boat finds a sheltered spot for lunch, typically around 1 pm. This is the longest surface interval of the day, a time to enjoy the main meal, find a spot on the Blue Seas sundeck, or simply doze in the air-conditioned saloon before the afternoon’s diving. The third dive usually kicks off around 3 pm, often targeting a different reef profile or a nearby pinnacle. Upon surfacing, it’s time for snacks and hot drinks as the crew preps the route for the night’s mooring. The final dive of the day is the night dive, a pre-dinner splash around 6 pm to catch the reef’s nocturnal shift.
Dinner is served at a relaxed pace, usually around 7:30 pm, allowing everyone time to shower and swap stories from the day before gathering around the tables. Food on the Blue Seas is treated with the same seriousness as the dive planning. The menus are not fixed; instead, the chef works with fresh provisions to serve a mix of international staples and local Egyptian cuisine, all presented buffet-style in the main deck’s air-conditioned saloon. It is a communal affair, with waitress service for drinks and a genuine ease that lets you eat according to your appetite after a long day in the saltwater.
A typical lunch might feature grilled chicken or fish alongside a spread of salads, rice, and local specialities like koshari. Dinners can be more substantial: slow-cooked beef stews, roasted vegetables, or freshly prepared pasta. There is always a focus on lean proteins and carbohydrates, the kind of food that sits well in a diver’s stomach. Between the main meals, the Blue Seas liveaboard crew ensures no one goes hungry. Snacks are always available. You’ll find baskets of biscuits, local candy bars, and fresh fruit set out in the saloon. For those needing a quick energy boost between dives, bread and toast are on hand, and there is usually a cake baked fresh for the afternoon. Ice cream is a standard offering after lunch and dinner.
The hydration station is self-service, with complimentary tea, coffee, water, and soft drinks in bottles available throughout the day. For those who enjoy a cold beer or a glass of wine after the diving is done, a selection of alcoholic beverages, including canned soft drinks, is available for purchase on board. The Blue Seas kitchen is accustomed to catering for divers with specific needs. Whether vegetarian, vegan, or requiring halal meals, advance notice ensures that the chef has the appropriate ingredients ready. The crew asks for dietary requirements to be communicated at the time of booking to guarantee a smooth experience.
