Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone (8 Days / 7 Nights - 19 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, Small Brother, Daedalus Reef, Shaab Torombi, Shaab Marsa Alam, Shaab Shouna and Elphinstone
Day 1
When you step aboard the Heaven Saphir liveaboard in Hurghada Marina or Port Ghalib, you know you are setting off for a diving trip of genuine repute. After securing your gear and receiving the essential safety and dive briefings from the tour guide, you will enjoy a relaxed dinner, getting to know your fellow divers before the ship sails into the night.
Core Days
The initial phase of your Red Sea trip offers check dives at sheltered coastal sites that set the stage for the offshore action. Reefs like Shaab Shouna, Shaab Marsa Alam, and Shaab Torombi are excellent for calibrating your gear and technique. These areas are home to thriving coral gardens and pinnacles in shallower water, where you can spot curious turtles, giant Napoleon wrasse, and common reef species, providing a gentle start before the stronger currents of the deep south.
The core of this Heaven Saphir itinerary focuses on the exposed, world-famous marine parks. The Brother Islands, comprising Big Brother and Small Brother, are monumental pinnacles where strong currents fuel a magnificent display of marine biomass. Their walls are densely adorned with black corals, sponges, and enormous gorgonian sea fans. This is a crucial site for pelagic sightings, with frequent encounters possible with grey reef sharks, silvertips, and schooling hammerheads, especially during the right season. Experienced divers also have the chance to explore the historic wrecks, Aida II and Numidia, lying off Big Brother, which are now completely encrusted with soft and hard corals.
Continuing south on the Heaven Saphir, you’ll arrive at Daedalus Reef, an iconic outpost known for its exceptional visibility and potential for encountering large pelagics, including oceanic whitetips and manta rays. This massive reef is a must-do for any experienced diver seeking the adrenaline of a true blue-water dive. Following this, Elphinstone offers dramatic north and south drop-offs. Its walls are a photographer's delight, full of vibrant soft corals, large schools of reef fish, and resident macro life such as frogfish and nudibranchs. You should also watch the blue here for whitetip reef sharks.
The dedication of the Heaven Saphir liveaboard to finding the Red Sea's biggest thrills and most colourful reefs ensures that every day offers something exceptional. The last full day includes 2 final dives before the Heaven Saphir begins its run back to port for the final evening.
Day 8
Your final morning concludes after a light breakfast with a fond farewell to the crew and disembarkation at Hurghada or Port Ghalib.
Daedalus & St. John's (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 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: St John's, Sataya, Daedalus Reef, Sha'ab Shaam, Erg El Rhadir, Elphinstone, Abu Dabbab, Sha'ab Shouna
Day 1
A Saphir representative will collect you from Marsa Alam Airport, help with the visa on arrival procedures, and escort you to the air-conditioned van for the 10 minute ride to Port Ghalib where the dive cruise ship is moored. Otherwise, you could take the 5 pm minibus shuttle service from Hurghada Airport to Port Ghalib (3+ hours) .
Leave your scuba bag in your personal dive box and take your remaining luggage into the cabin assigned to you. The tour guide will give a detailed briefing about the liveaboard features, safety procedures, what to expect from the diving, and other general information. During dinner you will meet the other guests and chat about the dive sites you're likely to visit. The boat will leave port on the next day, visiting an initial site ideal for a check dive.
Core Days
The southern Red Sea marine parks are a must for all experienced divers. This safari visits the reefs of St. John's, where you will surely have fun while diving drop-offs, pinnacles, tunnels and amazing hard-coral reefs, huge gorgonians and colourful soft corals that are home for rays, sharks, octopus, lionfish, nudibranchs, frogfish, large schools of fish: an underwater photographer’s dream! Lots of curious turtles, Napoleon wrasse and whitetip reef sharks will be common encounters, while dugongs are more difficult creatures to find.
Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone are a must for all experienced divers. You will surely have fun while diving drop-offs, walls, and huge gorgonians and colourful soft corals that are home to octopus, lionfish, nudibranchs, frogfish, large schools of fish: an underwater photographer's dream! Bucket list encounters include hammerheads, oceanic whitetip sharks and manta rays.
3-4 dives a day: 2 morning dives, one afternoon dive and a possible sunset or night dive when regulations allow, except for only 2 dives on the last full day of the tour when the boat will need to make its way back to port.
3 delicious meals a day, plus afternoon tea and dessert. Main meals are inspired by European cuisine with a slight Arabic touch. A professional chef prepares every dish using fresh fish and meat, baking fresh bread and delicious desserts daily. Unlimited drinking water, snacks, high brand coffee and tea are available throughout your trip on board the Saphir. Between the dives you can enjoy the hot Egyptian sun on the sundeck, or you can hang out there in the evening with a drink, watching the stars and listening to the sea.
Day 8
Disembarkation is planned to be at around 10:00 hrs, after a light breakfast and a final farewell to the crew and the rest of the guests that have made this diving safari so special. You can be transferred back to the airport or to a local hotel.
Daedalus, Fury Shoals & Elphinstone (8 Days / 7 Nights - 17 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, Fury Shoals: Shaab Maksour, Sataya South, Abu Galawa Kebir, Abu Galawa Soraya, Shirianit; Abu Dabab, Ras Shouna and Elphinstone
Day 1
The excitement for your Red Sea dive trip begins the moment you step onto the Heaven Saphir liveaboard at Hurghada Marina or Port Ghalib. After settling into your assigned cabin and preparing your kit in the dedicated dive box, you will attend the essential safety and dive orientation delivered by your seasoned tour leader. The first evening's dinner provides the ideal social setting to meet your fellow guests before the ship makes its initial overnight passage.
Core Days
The early diving days are dedicated to check dives at coastal reefs, where you can familiarise yourself with conditions and fine-tune your buoyancy. Locations such as Ras Shouna and Abu Dabab offer protected conditions over thriving fringing reefs. Here, you may encounter dugongs and curious green turtles grazing, along with diverse populations of smaller reef fish and macro life, preparing you for the more exposed deep south.
A primary highlight of this southern diving tour is Daedalus Reef, a truly isolated marine park. Recognised for its sheer, current-swept drop-offs, the reef attracts substantial pelagic activity. Divers venturing into the blue here stand a high chance of encountering oceanic whitetip sharks and schooling hammerheads. Manta rays may also visit this current-swept offshore reef. This immense reef pinnacle is a testament to the big fish diving opportunities provided by the Heaven Saphir.
The core of the trip explores the extensive and vibrant reef system known as the Fury Shoals. Dive sites within this cluster are celebrated for their health and variety. Shaab Maksour features spectacular walls and a plateau often patrolled by predators. Elsewhere in the shoals, the unique topography of Shirianit and the colourful underwater architecture of Abu Galawa Kebir and Abu Galawa Soraya offer outstanding photo opportunities amongst hard and soft coral formations, including a small wreck covered in glassfish. Furthermore, the immense horseshoe-shaped reef of Sataya South hosts a resident pod of spinner dolphins, an unforgettable spectacle for divers and snorkellers alike. The comprehensive exploration offered by the Heaven Saphir covers all the major attractions of this southern region.
The schedule concludes with a visit to Elphinstone, a legendary offshore reef known for its dramatic north and south walls, which are festooned with vast gorgonian fans and deep red soft corals. Here, you are likely to see large schools of colourful fish and Napoleon wrasse, reinforcing the Red Sea’s status as a world-class diving destination.
The final full day of diving will consist of 2 concluding submersions before the Heaven Saphir begins its return sail to port.
Day 8
Disembarkation at Hurghada Marina or Port Ghalib, following a final light breakfast and farewells to the crew who facilitated your superb Red Sea adventure.
Daedalus, Rocky & Elphinstone (8 Days / 7 Nights - 19 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: Abu Dabab, Elphinstone, Rocky Island, Daedalus Reef, Sataya, Shaab Sharm, El Rhardir and Shaab Shouna
Day 1
This dedicated Red Sea South dive adventure begins when you step aboard the Heaven Saphir liveaboard in Port Ghalib. After securing your gear and completing the essential safety orientation, you will join your fellow guests for dinner, preparing for the overnight passage to the south.
Core Days
After initial check dives at sheltered coastal spots, the trip takes you directly to the legendary current-swept pinnacles. Rocky Island is an exhilarating wall dive, distinguished by its incredible density of soft corals, sea fans, and black corals, all thriving in the constant currents. These conditions make it an excellent spot for observing larger species like grey reef sharks and silvertips. The crew on the Heaven Saphir provides expert guidance to navigate these exciting waters.
Next, you will experience Daedalus Reef, one of the Red Sea’s most isolated and rewarding marine parks. Its enormous, vertical drop-offs attract a range of pelagics, providing certified divers with exceptional opportunities to observe scalloped hammerheads and oceanic whitetips, particularly during the early morning hours.
The itinerary concludes with a deep exploration of Elphinstone. Famed for its sheer drop-offs, the walls of this reef are a spectacular mix of soft corals and massive gorgonians. It remains a prime location for encountering oceanic whitetip sharks, making the most of your time on the Heaven Saphir. The final full day allows for 2 last dives before the Heaven Saphir liveaboard returns to the mainland.
Day 8
After a final light breakfast, you will disembark in Hurghada or Port Ghalib.
Fury Shoals & St. John's (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 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, St. John's, Sataya, Shaab Maksur, Gota Sataia, Shaab Claudio, Shaab Sharm, Shaab Shouna, El Rhardir and Elphinstone
Day 1
Your adventure begins when you board the Heaven Saphir liveaboard, typically in Port Ghalib. After stowing your kit and settling into your cabin, your dedicated tour leader will conduct an informative safety and dive orientation. You will meet the other guests over dinner, anticipating the week of exceptional diving to come before the vessel departs for a sheltered check dive location overnight.
Core Days
The opening dives often take place at accessible coastal spots such as Abu Dabab or Shaab Shouna. These initial submersions are essential for acclimatisation, allowing you to fine-tune your buoyancy amidst healthy shallow reefs where you are likely to encounter resident creatures like dugongs, large Napoleon wrasse and grazing sea turtles.
The core of this itinerary is a deep dive into the Red Sea's far south, focused on 2 immense and remote reef systems. The vessel then heads for the St. John’s reefs, a geological marvel in the deep south. Sites like Shaab Sharm, El Rhardir, and Gota Sataya offer exhilarating vertical walls and offshore pinnacles. St. John's is renowned for its spectacular and varied topography, featuring natural tunnels and hard-coral reefs that are home to numerous small creatures, from colourful nudibranchs and frogfish to schools of fish. Certified divers should observe the deep blue here for potential sightings of grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks, and the occasional manta ray.
A dedicated portion of the itinerary sees the Heaven Saphir navigating the extensive Fury Shoals system. This area is celebrated for its pristine condition and vibrant coral structures. The dive site of Shaab Claudio is famous for its sun-dappled caverns and swim-throughs, while the walls of Shaab Maksur and the coral gardens of other locations provide rich viewing platforms. Notably, the vast horseshoe reef of Sataya is a huge highlight, providing memorable surface intervals with its resident pod of spinner dolphins.
The final offshore destination is the legendary Elphinstone reef. This site is a Red Sea dive classic, known for its sheer drop-offs carpeted in dense gorgonian fans and soft corals. It is a crucial spot for spotting the whitetip reef sharks that frequent its plateaus, confirming the appeal of the Heaven Saphir for certified divers seeking world-class pelagic and reef encounters. The penultimate full day of diving includes 2 final submersions before the vessel begins its overnight sail back towards the port.
Day 8
Your Red Sea experience concludes after a light breakfast on the boat. Disembarkation takes place at your specified port of origin, Port Ghalib.
Red Sea North & Wrecks (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 Dives)
Trip highlights: dolphins, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, drift diving, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Sha’ab El Erg, Siyoul Kebira, Siyoul Soraya, Sha’ab Mahmoud (Dunraven wreck), Ras Mohamed (Yolanda wreck), Shark Reef, Bluff Point, Abu Nuhas (Giannis D, the Carnatic, Chrisoula K, Kimon M), Thistlegorm wreck, Rosalie Moeller wreck, Small Gubal Island, Umm Gammar, Carless Reef
Day 1
The anticipation builds as you step onto the Heaven Saphir liveaboard, typically departing from Hurghada Marina. You'll check your diving kit into its dedicated dive box, meet the crew, and receive a thorough orientation from the tour leader. A relaxed dinner with fellow divers precedes the night in port, before the vessel motors out at first light to begin your diving experience with a check dive.
Core Days
This premier Northern Red Sea tour is designed to balance historical wreck diving with exposure to the region's most vibrant coral sanctuaries. The focus is initially on the Gubal Strait, featuring the famed SS Thistlegorm. Diving this WWII freighter, which rests upright at 32 metres, offers an emotional connection to history, as you navigate open holds still filled with military motorbikes, trucks, and equipment. Nearby, the Rosalie Moeller presents a deeper, atmospheric challenge for the experienced diver. For an added historical dimension, we seek out the Dunraven wreck at Sha’ab Mahmoud.
The notorious Abu Nuhas reef, a graveyard of ships, provides multiple dives on the wreck sites of the Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, and Kimon M. These vessels are now completely colonised by corals, making them phenomenal fish attractions, with huge schools of glassfish sheltering in the interiors. The Heaven Saphir allows divers ample time to explore the depth and variety of these remarkable artificial reefs.
Beyond the wrecks, the schedule turns to the magnificent natural walls and fringing reefs. We explore Ras Mohamed National Park, where the nutrient-rich currents of Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef create a high-octane diving environment. Look out for the seasonal appearance of scalloped hammerheads and other pelagics cruising the blue. The itinerary is further enhanced by exploration of reefs such as Umm Gammar, Carless Reef, Bluff Point, and Small Gubal Island, which boast dramatic wall dives and healthy coral formations. Finally, the Heaven Saphir liveaboard visits the shallow coral plateaus of Sha’ab El Erg and the reefs of Siyoul Kebira and Siyoul Soraya, offering further opportunities for spotting larger species.
The core diving component concludes with 2 final dives on the penultimate day, as the vessel prepares its passage back to the port of origin.
Day 8
The trip concludes the following morning. Disembarkation is scheduled after a light breakfast and last farewells to the crew who made your diving week special.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & Brothers (8 Days / 7 Nights - 20 Dives)
Trip highlights: hammerhead sharks, shark action, dolphins, manta rays, turtles, schooling fish & big pelagics
Diving environment: advanced divers, beginner divers, caverns, drift diving, healthy reefs, very popular, wall diving, wreck diving
Dive sites and activities: Umm Gammar, Shaab Mahmoud, Ras Mohamed (Yolanda wreck), Shark Reef, Thistlegorm, Abu Nuhas (Giannis D, the Carnatic, Chrisoula K, Kimon M), Big Brother, Little Brother, Numidia wreck, Aida wreck, Safaga: Salem Express, Panorama Reef, Tobia Arba, Gota Abu Ramada, El Mina
Day 1
Stepping aboard the Heaven Saphir liveaboard in Hurghada signals the start of a deep dive into the Red Sea. After getting your equipment ready and receiving a comprehensive orientation from the tour leader, you will enjoy dinner with your fellow divers before the ship sails overnight to the first dive location.
Core Days
This safari is structured around accessing 2 of Egypt's most significant dive experiences: the historical wrecks and some of the remote offshore pinnacles. Your exploration begins with the famed WWII freighter, the SS Thistlegorm, resting upright at 32 metres. Exploring the open holds reveals an incredibly preserved cargo of military vehicles and equipment. Additionally, the notorious Abu Nuhas reef offers divers access to 4 distinct wrecks, all of which have transformed into stunning artificial reefs covered in soft corals and dense populations of glassfish.
The Heaven Saphir then ventures to the iconic Brothers Islands. Big Brother and Little Brother are exposed marine parks where nutrient-rich currents foster extraordinary marine growth, making them magnets for pelagic species. The walls are covered in massive gorgonian sea fans and black corals. Look out for grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks, and large schools of tuna patrolling the blue. Historical dive sites here include the coral-encrusted remains of the Numidia and Aida II wrecks on Big Brother.
The schedule also incorporates diving at Ras Mohamed. The sheer walls of Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are known for powerful currents that concentrate baitfish, leading to impressive sightings of schooling jacks and snappers. This combined itinerary aboard the Heaven Saphir provides certified divers with a complete perspective on the variety and history of the Northern Red Sea.
The final day of diving includes 2 concluding dives before the Heaven Saphir liveaboard starts its sail back to Hurghada.
Day 8
Disembarkation occurs after a final light breakfast, concluding the trip in Hurghada.
Red Sea North, Wrecks & Tiran Straits (8 Days / 7 Nights - 22 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: Sha’ab El Erg, Straits of Tiran: Gordon Reef, Thomas Reef, Woodhouse Reef, Jackson Reef, Laguna Reef; Sha’ab Mahmoud (Dunraven wreck), Ras Mohamed (Yolanda wreck), Shark Reef, Abu Nuhas (Giannis D, the Carnatic, Chrisoula K, Kimon M), Thistlegorm wreck, Rosalie Moeller wreck, Carless Reef, El Mina
Day 1
The anticipation builds as you step aboard the Heaven Saphir liveaboard at Hurghada Marina, the starting point for your dive exploration of the Northern Red Sea's iconic wrecks and reefs. After securing your diving equipment and being shown to your cabin, your tour leader will provide an essential safety and dive briefing. You will enjoy a relaxed dinner, getting to know your fellow divers, before the ship sets sail overnight.
Core Days
This route provides a thorough immersion into the region’s best historical dive sites. The primary focus is the Gubal Strait, featuring the legendary WWII freighter, the SS Thistlegorm. Lying upright at 32 metres, you will explore its intact holds filled with a preserved cargo of military motorbikes, trucks, and equipment. Nearby, the deeper wreck of the Rosalie Moeller offers an atmospheric dive, while the Dunraven at Sha’ab Mahmoud provides a shallow, coral-encrusted wreck opportunity. The dive tour also dedicates time to the Abu Nuhas reef, known as the 'ship graveyard,' where the famous wrecks of the Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, and Kimon M have become vibrant artificial reefs, offering penetration routes and attracting immense shoals of glassfish. The inshore patrol boat wreck, El Mina, completes this exceptional collection.
The cruise continues to the spectacular walls and offshore pinnacles of the Straits of Tiran. This vital passage boasts 4 immense barrier reefs - Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse, and Jackson Reefs - where strong currents sweep nutrients past the coral formations. These currents attract schooling pelagics like barracuda and jacks, offering superb blue-water encounters. Further south, the Ras Mohamed National Park is visited, with the famed Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef providing spectacular wall dives. Here, the scattered cargo of the Yolanda wreck provides an intriguing sight, set against some of the Red Sea's most vibrant soft coral displays. Other sites, such as the walls of Carless Reef and the quiet lagoon of Sha’ab El Erg, offer a change of pace with diverse reef life. The skilled crew aboard the Heaven Saphir ensures that all divers are well-prepared for these dynamic dives.
The last full day includes 2 final dives before the Heaven Saphir makes its return to the home port.
Day 8
Following a light breakfast, disembarkation is scheduled at Hurghada Marina.
[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].
