Egypt Liveaboard Diving
Red Sea Tours & Private Charters
Since 2003 we organize Red Sea liveaboard expeditions with a clear focus: safety, structure and real dive experience
Our Liveaboard Boat
Built by Divers. Run by Professionals.
Safy Mar
Built in 2025 for divers who expect both performance and comfort, Safy Mar is a modern Red Sea liveaboard combining the strength of a steel vessel with the atmosphere of a boutique floating hotel. At 44 meters in length and 9,5 meters wide, the yacht offers generous space both on the dive deck and throughout the living areas.
Designed as a floating expedition base for up to 34 guests, Safy Mar provides a comfortable environment for intensive dive weeks as well as relaxed surface intervals between dives.
Across five decks the yacht offers everything needed for serious dive expeditions, including a spacious dive deck, dedicated camera table for underwater photographers, individually controlled air conditioning in cabins, refrigerators, comfortable beds, a coffee machine and an onboard ice maker.
Safy Mar combines modern design, practical functionality and attention to detail – creating the ideal platform for exploring the Red Sea’s most spectacular dive routes.
Our Red Sea Liveaboard Diving Trips
Liveaboard Diving Trips with Nautica Safari
Our expeditions are designed to showcase the very best diving the Red Sea has to offer. A liveaboard safari is a week-long journey aboard a comfortable dive yacht, following carefully planned routes that connect the most spectacular dive sites of each region.
During the expedition guests typically enjoy:
- Around 20 dives across the week
- Full-board dining prepared onboard
- Relaxed surface intervals on the sun deck
- Stunning sunrises and sunsets at sea
- A friendly, social atmosphere among divers
Each expedition is guided by experienced dive professionals and supported by a skilled crew and divemasters, ensuring smooth operations and safe, well-organized dive days.
The Red Sea liveaboard season runs year-round, with particularly favorable conditions in spring and autumn.
Red Sea Liveaboard Safari – How It Works
A dive safari in Egypt is a week-long expedition aboard a multi-deck liveaboard yacht, typically around 40 meters long, traveling between the most spectacular dive sites of the Red Sea. The crew takes care of everything onboard – from filling tanks and preparing equipment to ensuring guest comfort and safety throughout the journey.
One of the greatest advantages of a liveaboard safari is access to remote dive sites that day boats cannot reach, including places like Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef and the reefs of St. John’s Reef.
A typical expedition includes around 20 dives over the course of the week, allowing divers to gain valuable experience while exploring a wide variety of underwater landscapes – from colorful coral gardens to dramatic drop-offs and pelagic dive sites.
Life onboard follows a simple and enjoyable rhythm: dive, eat, relax and repeat. Equipment remains assembled on the dive deck throughout the trip, making each dive easy and efficient – just gear up, take a few steps and enter the warm Red Sea.
With different routes available throughout the year, divers can choose between relaxed reef exploration, shark-focused offshore expeditions or historic wreck diving itineraries.
Which Red Sea Safari Should You Choose?
Most divers opt for a one-week liveaboard expedition, with the choice of route depending on experience level and personal interests. Some prefer northern itineraries focused on historic wrecks, others enjoy the relaxed coral reefs of the far south, while thrill-seekers often head for offshore sites known for shark encounters.
For divers interested in the marine life of the Red Sea, certain routes focus more on reef ecosystems, dolphin encounters and the rich biodiversity of southern reefs. Photography enthusiasts can also join expeditions that provide extra opportunities to develop underwater photography skills while exploring the region’s most colorful reefs.
With a variety of routes available, every diver – whether looking for relaxed reef exploration, wreck diving or pelagic encounters – can find an expedition that matches their style of diving.
A southern Red Sea expedition combining the vibrant reef systems of Fury Shoal with the remote islands of Rocky Island and Zabargad Island.
Divers explore the colorful reefs of St. John’s Reef, the cavern labyrinths of Umm Khararim Reef and the gorgonian-covered walls of Habili Ali. The route then continues to Rocky for dynamic drift dives and shark encounters, while nearby Zabargad offers relaxed dives among coral pinnacles and vibrant reef life.
On the return north, the expedition visits the caves of Claudia Reef and the tunnels of Malahi Reef before finishing at the iconic Elphinstone Reef.
Minimum certification: Open Water Diver or equivalent.
A relaxed Red Sea expedition designed for divers traveling with non-diving family members. Warm, clear water, vibrant coral reefs, long sunny days and spectacular sunsets create the perfect setting for a shared adventure at sea.
The itinerary heads south toward the reefs of Fury Shoal, visiting sites such as Claudia Reef, the cave systems of Malahi Reef and the famous Sataya Reef — also known as Dolphin House.
Divers can enjoy a variety of easy and scenic dive sites including coral gardens, shallow walls and canyon formations, while non-divers can explore the reefs through snorkeling or simply relax on board.
Activities available during the expedition include:
- Snorkeling trips for non-divers
- Introductory dives and full Open Water Diver courses
- Beach barbecue on a remote island
- Water toys and inflatable platforms for kids
- Jet ski rides and water activities
- Evening social gatherings and games on board
Special pricing is available for families and non-diving guests.
A relaxed atmosphere, safe diving conditions and plenty of activities make this expedition ideal for families looking to experience the Red Sea together.
A southern Red Sea expedition combining the legendary offshore reefs of the Brothers Islands with the pristine coral systems of Fury Shoal.
The route offers a mix of dramatic drop-offs, strong currents and frequent pelagic encounters at the Brothers, followed by colorful coral gardens and relaxed reef diving in Fury Shoal.
Expect encounters with oceanic whitetips, reef sharks, vibrant reef life and some of the most untouched coral formations in the southern Red Sea.
Recommended for experienced divers comfortable with offshore conditions and drift diving.
A relaxed southern Red Sea itinerary focused on the diverse reef system of Fury Shoal. Short travel distances and flexible schedules allow for unhurried diving and extended time at some of the most beautiful coral formations in the region.
The route includes sites such as Claudia Reef, Malahi Reef, Sataya Reef and often finishes at the iconic Elphinstone Reef.
Expect colorful coral gardens, caves and swim-throughs, large schools of reef fish and frequent dolphin encounters. The calm conditions and varied topography make this route especially popular with underwater photographers.
Suitable for beginner and intermediate divers. This is also the only itinerary where completion of the Open Water Diver course can be arranged during the expedition (after completing pool training before departure).
A relaxed southern Red Sea itinerary focused on the diverse reef system of Fury Shoal. Short travel distances and flexible schedules allow for unhurried diving and extended time at some of the most beautiful coral formations in the region.
The route includes sites such as Claudia Reef, Malahi Reef, Sataya Reef and often finishes at the iconic Elphinstone Reef.
Expect colorful coral gardens, caves and swim-throughs, large schools of reef fish and frequent dolphin encounters. The calm conditions and varied topography make this route especially popular with underwater photographers.
Suitable for beginner and intermediate divers. This is also the only itinerary where completion of the Open Water Diver course can be arranged during the expedition (after completing pool training before departure).
One of the most prestigious Red Sea liveaboard itineraries, combining the region’s most iconic dive sites in a single expedition:
Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone Reef, Wadi El Gemal and the reefs of Safaga.
This route is designed for divers seeking encounters with pelagic species and dramatic offshore reef systems. Expect hammerhead sharks at Daedalus, oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone, and strong blue-water diving around the Brothers, along with historic wrecks such as the SS Numidia and Aida II Wreck.
The itinerary also includes calmer coral gardens and vibrant reef life around Wadi El Gemal and Safaga, creating a balanced expedition that mixes adrenaline-filled offshore dives with colorful reef exploration.
Minimum certification: Open Water Diver or equivalent. Experienced divers comfortable with currents and drift diving will get the most from this route.
About Liveaboard Diving in Egypt
Diving in Egypt
Egypt is one of the world’s most popular diving destinations, offering warm weather year-round and the clear waters of the Red Sea. Just a few hours’ flight from Europe, it provides access to one of the most diverse marine ecosystems on the planet.
The Red Sea is famous for its vibrant coral reefs, formed by nearly 200 species of coral and home to more than 1,200 species of fish, along with sharks, turtles and dolphins. Beyond the reefs, divers can also explore numerous historic shipwrecks, including the legendary SS Thistlegorm – one of the most famous wreck dives in the world.
With its combination of rich marine life, excellent visibility and spectacular reef formations, the Red Sea continues to rank among the top diving destinations globally.
Life on a Liveaboard – What to Expect
Life on a Red Sea liveaboard quickly falls into a simple rhythm: dive, eat, relax and repeat. Days usually include two to four dives, with shorter dive schedules on the first and last day due to travel logistics.
Divers typically dive in small groups with a guide, while night dives are often done in buddy pairs. Depending on the dive site and conditions, entries are made either directly from the dive deck or from a tender boat.
Onboard life is relaxed and comfortable. Guests spend most of the week barefoot, enjoying three main meals and additional snacks each day. Staying hydrated is essential, and fresh drinking water is always available throughout the yacht.
Equipment remains assembled on the dive deck for the entire expedition, making every dive simple and efficient — gear up, take a few steps and enter the water.
A liveaboard safari is also an excellent learning environment. With frequent dives, daily briefings and experienced guides always available, many divers gain more practical experience during one week at sea than in months of occasional diving. Additional training and specialty courses can also be completed during the expedition.
FAQ – Red Sea Dive Safari
A dive safari is a 7-day liveaboard expedition where guests live onboard a dedicated dive yacht while traveling between the best dive sites of the Red Sea. Divers stay in comfortable twin cabins with private bathrooms. Solo travelers can share a cabin with another guest or request a single cabin upgrade.
The yacht provides the comfort of a floating hotel, including full-board dining, drinks, fresh coffee and all necessary dive facilities such as compressors, equipment storage and a fully equipped dive deck.
During the expedition divers typically complete 3–4 dives per day, exploring remote reefs and offshore sites that are not accessible by daily boats departing from shore. Each day the yacht moves to new locations, allowing divers to experience a wide variety of dive environments across the Red Sea.
A liveaboard dive yacht is a large, multi-deck motor vessel designed specifically for dive expeditions. Most Red Sea liveaboards are around 40 meters long and 8 meters wide, offering plenty of space for both diving operations and onboard comfort.
The yacht typically includes several dedicated areas:
- A dive deck equipped with compressors, equipment storage, wetsuit hangers and a camera table for underwater photographers
- Twin guest cabins with private bathrooms
- A dining area and kitchen serving freshly prepared meals
- A lounge deck with sofas and social spaces
- A sun deck with loungers for relaxing between dives
Liveaboards combine the functions of a hotel, restaurant and dive center in one vessel, allowing divers to travel comfortably between remote dive sites throughout the expedition.
Yes, on selected routes it is possible to complete the Open Water Diver (OWD) course during a liveaboard expedition, for example on relaxed itineraries such as the Fury Shoal route.
However, we recommend completing the theory and pool training before the trip. This allows you to finish the four required open-water dives during the safari (usually over two days), complete the certification and then fully enjoy the remaining dives for the rest of the expedition.
Yes. During a liveaboard expedition it is possible to complete the Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) course as well as a variety of specialty certifications such as Deep Diver, Nitrox or Wreck Diver.
Training dives are integrated into the regular dive schedule, allowing you to gain new certifications while still enjoying the full safari experience. A complete list of available courses and prices can be found in the Training & Courses section.
Yes. Divers with a basic certification such as Open Water Diver (PADI, SSI or equivalent) can join selected liveaboard expeditions.
For beginner divers we recommend easier routes with calm conditions, shallower dive profiles and colorful coral reefs – for example the Fury Shoal itinerary. These routes provide an ideal environment to gain experience while enjoying some of the Red Sea’s most beautiful reef systems.
Liveaboard expeditions in Egypt operate year-round, as the Red Sea offers favorable diving conditions in every season. Water temperatures typically range from around 22°C in winter in the northern Red Sea to about 30–32°C in the south during summer.
For divers who prefer warmer water and calmer sea conditions, the period from June to mid-October is usually the most comfortable.
Those who don’t mind cooler water or occasional wind may enjoy traveling between December and April, when there are generally fewer boats at dive sites and a higher chance of encounters with larger pelagic species.
Each season offers a slightly different experience – from warm summer diving to quieter winter expeditions with pristine reefs and fewer divers.
Yes, internet access is available on board. However, coverage depends on the yacht’s location – when traveling to remote offshore reefs, the connection may be limited or temporarily unavailable.
Dive groups typically consist of 6–7 divers per guide, ensuring safe and well-organized dives.
If you prefer a more personalized experience, a private 1:1 guide can also be arranged upon request before the expedition.
Yes, diving equipment can be rented for the expedition. Ideally, gear should be fitted before departure – you can visit our office to try it on, or we can arrange delivery so you can take the equipment with you to the safari.
The yacht also carries a selection of spare gear and backup equipment, including dive computers, wetsuits, fins, regulators, BCDs, masks, snorkels and essential spare parts for basic equipment adjustments or repairs.
Yes. A regulator and dive torch can be transported in your hand luggage. It is recommended to pack the torch and batteries separately.
These items are among the heavier pieces of dive equipment, so carrying them in your cabin baggage can help reduce the weight of your checked luggage, which is typically limited to 23 kg on most flights.
Most airlines operating flights to Egypt allow 23 kg of checked baggage.
In some cases it is possible to purchase an additional sports baggage allowance of up to 32 kg, which is useful for transporting diving equipment.
Typical fees for additional sports baggage include:
- Enter Air – approx. 95 PLN
- Smartwings – approx. 60 EUR
- FlyEgypt – approx. 60 EUR
Exact policies and prices may vary depending on the airline and ticket conditions.
Yes, many guests join liveaboard expeditions as solo travelers. You can reserve a single cabin, though the cost is usually close to the price of two guests.
Most solo divers choose to share a twin cabin, and we can match you with another guest of the same gender whenever possible.
Dive safaris are known for their friendly and social atmosphere – divers tend to connect quickly, making it easy to feel part of the group from the very beginning.
Yes, Nitrox is available on board. It can be pre-booked when reserving your safari as a full Nitrox package for the entire expedition.
It is also possible to request Nitrox for individual dives during the trip, depending on availability.
Cabins on a dive safari are typically twin-share cabins with either two separate beds or one double bed. In twin cabins, the beds are usually slightly different in size, with one around 85 cm wide and the other about 95 cm wide.
Each cabin includes:
- Private bathroom with shower and toilet
- Bed linen, pillows, blankets, towels and bathrobes
- Storage space for clothing
- Electrical outlets (European standard)
- Safety equipment such as life jackets and a fire extinguisher
For trips during the cooler autumn and winter months, bringing a hair dryer can be useful.
Shark encounters are quite common on Red Sea liveaboard expeditions, especially on routes visiting sites such as Brothers Islands and Daedalus Reef.
Divers may encounter species such as oceanic whitetip sharks, thresher sharks and, at Daedalus in particular, schools of hammerhead sharks. Most of the time sharks keep their distance and avoid close contact with divers.
In reality, only a very small number of shark species are considered potentially dangerous to humans, and encounters with those species are extremely rare in the Red Sea. For divers, seeing sharks in their natural environment is usually one of the most memorable highlights of a safari expedition.
Dolphin encounters are very common during Red Sea liveaboard expeditions. Bottlenose dolphins are frequently seen riding the bow waves created by the yacht, often accompanying the vessel for several minutes.
One of the most famous locations for dolphin encounters is Sataya Reef, also known as Dolphin House, where several families of dolphins live in the lagoon. While the sea is never a guaranteed wildlife show, encounters with dolphins are a highlight of many safari trips.
Yes, non-diving guests are welcome on liveaboard expeditions. They can relax on board, enjoy the sun deck, go snorkeling or simply take in the atmosphere of life at sea.
For those curious about diving, introductory dives can often be arranged if conditions allow. We usually have spare equipment on board for guests who would like to try scuba diving for the first time.
Between dives, non-divers can also enjoy water activities, social gatherings on deck and the relaxed rhythm of liveaboard life.
Yes, children can join a liveaboard expedition. It works best for kids who are also interested in diving – typically from the age of 10, which is the minimum age to begin entry-level scuba training.
Young divers can participate in the regular dive program alongside other guests, gaining valuable experience and quickly developing their diving skills during the week-long expedition.
We also organize special family-oriented safari departures during the summer months, designed to make the experience enjoyable for both parents and children.
For a liveaboard expedition you should bring your personal diving equipment, including:
- BCD (jacket)
- Wetsuit
- Regulator
- Dive computer
- Surface marker buoy (SMB)
- Dive torch
- Fins (with boots or full-foot fins)
- Mask
- Spare parts such as fin straps or mask straps
- Batteries or rechargeable cells for your dive light
- Spare O-rings
In addition, pack the usual travel essentials such as clothing, toiletries and any personal medications you may need during the trip.
Yes, 15-liter tanks are available on board most Red Sea liveaboard yachts.
If you would like to use one, please request it in advance when booking your safari, as availability may be limited.
The typical rental fee for a 15-liter tank is around €35 per week.
The official currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound (EGP). However, for most dive safari trips it is not necessary to exchange money into local currency.
On liveaboard expeditions it is usually sufficient to bring cash in euros, which can be used for:
- Crew tips
- Marine park fees
- Possible fuel surcharges
Many places in tourist areas, such as Port Ghalib, also accept credit cards, euros or US dollars.
Since meals and drinks are provided on board during the safari, there is generally no need to carry large amounts of cash.
The tourist visa for Egypt can usually be purchased at the airport for about €30 or the equivalent in US dollars.
For a typical Red Sea liveaboard safari, it is recommended to bring around €225–€230 in cash to cover the most common local fees:
- €30 – tourist visa (paid at the airport)
- €40 – port fee
- €75 – crew tips
- ~€80 – marine park and environmental fees
These payments are usually made in cash, most commonly in euros.
The Red Sea offers good diving conditions throughout the year. Winters are mild and dry, while summers are hot and sunny. The cooler months – particularly January and February – can be windier, which may create more surface movement at sea.
The two main seasons are:
- Mild winter: October to April
- Hot summer: May to September
Many divers consider the best periods for a liveaboard safari to be April to mid-June and September to November, when temperatures are warm but not excessively hot.
New Year’s expeditions are also popular. During this time, water temperatures are typically 21–23°C, while air temperatures range from 19–25°C.
Southern routes such as Fury Shoal, St. John’s Reef and Zabargad Island usually offer warmer water, while northern itineraries are often preferred by divers interested in cooler conditions and famous wreck sites.