Red Sea Liveaboard Itineraries: North vs South

The Red Sea Liveaboard Market

Egypt has one of the largest liveaboard dive fleets in the world — over 200 vessels at peak season, operating from three primary ports: Hurghada (central coast), El Quseir (mid-southern coast), and Port Ghalib (south). The itineraries divide cleanly into two circuits, and the choice between them is really a choice between two very different diving experiences.

The Northern Circuit: Wrecks and Reefs

Departing from Hurghada or Sharm el-Sheikh, northern Red Sea liveaboards cover the sites that made Egypt's dive industry famous:

SS Thistlegorm — the most visited wreck dive in the world. A 4,898-ton British WWII merchant vessel sunk in 1941 with its cargo of military equipment (motorcycles, trucks, artillery, railway carriages) still inside. Located in the Strait of Gubal, 4-5 hours from Hurghada.

Ras Mohammed Marine Park — Egypt's first marine national park at the southern tip of Sinai. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef offer walls, soft corals, barracuda schools, and grey reef sharks.

The Brothers (Small and Big Brother) — two isolated islands, 70 km offshore from El Quseir. Oceanic whitetip sharks from August through November; hammerheads at dawn; two wrecks (the Aida and the Numidia).

Sha'ab Abu Nuhas — a shallow reef north of Hurghada with four wrecks: the Chrisoula K, Kimon M, Carnatic (1869 sailing steamer), and Giannis D.

The Southern Circuit: Sharks and Remote Reefs

The southern Red Sea — accessed from Port Ghalib or El Quseir — has a different character. The sites are further offshore, current is more significant, and the fish life is more genuinely pelagic.

Elphinstone Reef — an offshore pinnacle famous for oceanic whitetip sharks (August-November) and scalloped hammerheads (dawn, south plateau). One of the last reliable oceanic whitetip sites in the world.

Daedalus Reef (Abu Kizan) — the most remote accessible reef in the Egyptian Red Sea, 100 km from the coast. Resident scalloped hammerheads and grey reef sharks patrol the full perimeter.

St Johns Reefs — a cluster of seven reefs closest to Sudan. Almost no boat traffic. Pristine hard corals, schooling barracuda, turtles, reef sharks, and the crown jewel Zabargad Island.

Which to Choose?

• Wrecks: Northern circuit, specifically the Thistlegorm/Brothers loop
• Sharks: Southern circuit (Elphinstone, Daedalus, Zabargad)
• Both: A 7-night itinerary departing from El Quseir can cover the Brothers, Elphinstone, and the St Johns reefs in a single trip

Best season: October-November for sharks and comfortable temperatures; March-May for best visibility and calmer seas.