Southern Red Sea Liveaboards

Top Dive Trip Options and Travel Information

From the Sinai Peninsula in the north through to St. John's pristine reefs at the Sudanese border in the south, the Red Sea shimmers as an example of dedicated environmental conservation. The success of the region's sea life is largely thanks to conservation efforts implemented in the early 1990s. The Egyptian government is planning further expansion of their conservation effort, which is good news for scuba divers, like you!

On liveaboard diving safaris in the Red Sea from Hurghada and further south, the weather plays a slightly more prominent role but rewards scuba divers with awesome visibility, sheer walls, lots of wrecks and pelagic action in droves. Characteristic of the region are sheltered reefs and towering pinnacles, a favourite habitat of a diverse shark populations. Dark clouds of schooling reef fish, swarming snappers and heaps of surgeons also abound. Divers speak in hushed tones of sites such as The Brothers, Elphinstone, Daedalus, St John's and Sudan.

From Hurghada down to St. John's, the south and deep south of Egypt's Red Sea possess an abundance of liveaboard-only dive sites, each fascinating in its own right and offering something different. [More details on these dive sites: Southern Red Sea.

The Brothers are among the most beloved places in the Red Sea, despite being only accessible by Egypt liveaboards and in an exposed location. Flourishing soft and hard coral growth overwhelms sheer walls where many pelagic fish dominate the blue. [More details on these dive sites: Brothers.

Due to its remote location, Daedalus Reef is a pristine site and one of the best to visit on Red Sea diving cruises. Currents, while occasionally trying, mean predators such as trevally, tuna and hammerheads are common visitors along with the less commonly sighted thresher sharks. [More details on these dive sites: Daedalus.

In the most southerly of Egyptian waters, the St John's Reefs system is riddled with tunnels and swim-throughs as well as shallow reef flats and steep walls. It therefore provides something very different from many other areas of the Red Sea. There is a great mix of pelagic action here as well as vibrant reef life. [More details on these dive sites: St. John's.

Liveaboard Diving Safari Options in Red Sea South

Red Sea South Trips

A variety of different liveaboard trips are available in this part of the Red Sea and are almost always for 7 nights. Brothers, Daedalus Reef & Elphinstone is among the most popular routes. Red Sea South trips also include Elphinstone but concentrate on the Fury Shoal dive sites. St John's Reefs Is the other main route which often includes sites like Rocky Island and Zabargad.

There is a great deal of cross-over between these routes, with some itineraries encompassing sections of 2 or more of the above-mentioned routes. Indeed, many of the boats from our 'North and Wrecks' section also make liveaboard tours of the Southern Red Sea.

Trips tend to feature 3 dives a day. Conditions can be more variable in the south with more exposed reefs experiencing less calm seas and occasionally strong current. For these reasons, the Southern Red Sea charters appeal to more experienced divers and those who have previously visited the northern regions. Indeed according to Egyptian law, it is necessary to show proof of 50 logged dives before you can dive in its marine parks located in the south.

> [More details: Red Sea South Trips]

Add-on Package

For an adventure of a lifetime, you can combine your Red Sea diving cruise with tours to discover the sights of ancient Egypt. Take an overland tour of Cairo to visit the Sphinx, the pyramids of Giza, and the national museums, or join a Nile River cruise to explore the Valley of the Kings: Egypt antiquity tours.

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