Wrecks and Reefs is our premier Egyptian liveaboard itinerary for a reason. Dive into the best of the Northern Red Sea and uncover world-class wrecks and breathtaking reefs, day and night. The warm, clear waters are teeming with rich coral gardens and dramatic walls, brimming with marine life. Famous wreck dives are easily accessible, filled with history and intrigue. This year-round itinerary visits some of the most iconic dive sites in Egypt, with varied depths across dive sites suitable for all abilities - from novice to tekkie. Embark on your next scuba diving holiday adventure!
Ras Mohammed marine park is one of the most renowned areas for diving in the Northern Red Sea. Known for its stunning coral gardens and dramatic walls, we love spending our dives watching clownfish, napoleons, groupers, and snapper. Glassfish and anthias dart around, chased by the ever-present lionfish. Turtles are seen on many dives in both areas. Hunt out long-nosed hawkfish hiding in the gorgonian sea fans. Large schools of snapper, batfish, and barracuda aggregate in the blue, especially during June and July at Shark & Yolanda.
The Northern Red Sea is a wreck diver's delight. The almighty Thistlegorm offers unforgettable diving in to history. The Kingston, Dunraven, Giannis D, Carnatic, and Ulysses only add to the excitement. These 19th and 20th-century wrecks have become artificial reefs, each packed with unique artifacts that tell their story. Several resident pods of bottlenose dolphins can be spotted along this itinerary's route. Gubal Island is an excellent place to see them. Keep your eyes and ears peeled underwater here! Don't miss the night dive at Gubal, where the barge is home to resident giant morays, octopus, cardinalfish, nudibranchs, and more.
Wrecks and Reefs is the ideal itinerary for any experience level. However, some sites may have strong currents. Consult your travel advisor if you wish to complete your PADI advanced course or a specialty on board. Visibility is typically crystal clear, and water temperatures range from 20 to 28 degrees throughout the year. Travel times between dive sites are short, leaving more time for relaxation. Sites can be accessed year-round.
There is no doubt - few other dive destinations can offer the same quality and quantity of top dive sites in a single trip. Wrecks and Reefs keeps us all coming back for more, making this a scuba diving holiday you will never forget.
Exploring the Northern Red Sea
The Northern Red Sea is a diver's paradise, offering a diverse range of underwater landscapes and marine life. From vibrant coral gardens to dramatic drop-offs, the region is renowned for its exceptional visibility and warm waters. Whether you're a novice diver or an experienced tekkie, the Northern Red Sea has something to offer everyone.
Iconic Dive Sites
One of the highlights of the Northern Red Sea is the abundance of iconic dive sites. Ras Mohammed National Park, located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, is a must-visit for any diver. The park is home to some of the most spectacular coral reefs in the world, with over 220 species of coral and more than 1,000 species of fish. The park's diverse marine life includes everything from colorful reef fish to large pelagic species such as sharks and barracudas.
Another must-visit dive site is the Straits of Tiran, located at the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba. The straits are home to four main reefs: Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, and Gordon. Each reef offers a unique diving experience, with vibrant coral gardens, dramatic walls, and an abundance of marine life. The straits are also known for their strong currents, making them a popular spot for drift diving.
Wreck Diving in the Northern Red Sea
The Northern Red Sea is also famous for its wreck diving. The region is home to several historic shipwrecks, each with its own unique story to tell. One of the most famous wrecks is the SS Thistlegorm, a British merchant navy ship that was sunk during World War II. The wreck is now a popular dive site, with divers able to explore the ship's cargo holds, which are still filled with military vehicles, motorcycles, and other wartime supplies.
Other notable wrecks in the Northern Red Sea include the SS Dunraven, a British steamship that sank in 1876, and the Giannis D, a Greek cargo ship that sank in 1983. Both wrecks have become artificial reefs, attracting a diverse range of marine life.
Marine Life in the Northern Red Sea
The Northern Red Sea is home to an incredible diversity of marine life. The region's coral reefs are teeming with colorful reef fish, including clownfish, angelfish, and butterflyfish. Larger species such as groupers, napoleons, and barracudas are also commonly seen.
Diving Conditions in the Northern Red Sea
The Northern Red Sea offers excellent diving conditions year-round. Water temperatures range from 20 to 28 degrees Celsius, with the warmest temperatures occurring in the summer months. Visibility is typically excellent, with visibility often exceeding 30 meters.
Planning Your Egypt Holiday
When planning your Egypt holiday, it's important to consider the best time to visit the Northern Red Sea. The region offers excellent diving conditions year-round, but the best time to visit depends on your preferences. The summer months offer the warmest water temperatures and the best visibility, but the region can be crowded with tourists. The winter months offer cooler water temperatures, but the region is less crowded, making it a great time to visit if you prefer a quieter diving experience.
When planning your trip, it's also important to consider the type of diving you want to do. The Northern Red Sea offers a diverse range of diving experiences, from shallow coral gardens to deep wreck dives. Whether you're a novice diver or an experienced tekkie, there's something for everyone in the Northern Red Sea.
Choosing the Right Liveaboard
Choosing the right liveaboard is an important part of planning your Egypt holiday. A liveaboard allows you to explore the best dive sites in the Northern Red Sea, with the convenience of having your accommodation and meals provided on board. When choosing a liveaboard, it's important to consider the itinerary, the facilities on board, and the level of service provided. We highly recommend the Ghazala Explorer and Ghazala Adventure due to the highest levels of safety and experience onboard
Tailoring Your Itinerary
We understand that every diver is different, and we are happy to tailor the itinerary to meet your needs. Whether you're a novice diver looking to complete your PADI advanced course, or an experienced tekkie looking for a challenging dive, we can adapt the itinerary to suit your requirements. We offer a range of courses and specialties on board, allowing you to enhance your diving skills while exploring the best dive sites in the Northern Red Sea.
Safety and Comfort
Your safety and comfort are our top priorities. Our liveaboards are equipped with the latest safety equipment, and our experienced crew is trained to handle any situation. We offer comfortable accommodation, with air-conditioned cabins and en-suite bathrooms. Our chef prepares delicious meals using fresh, local ingredients, ensuring you have the energy you need for your dives. See more about Ghazala Explorer and Ghazala Adventure
A Scuba Diving Holiday to Remember
There is no doubt - few other dive destinations can offer the same quality and quantity of top dive sites in a single trip. Wrecks and Reefs keeps us all coming back for more, making this a scuba diving holiday you will never forget. Whether you're exploring the vibrant coral gardens of Ras Mohammed, drifting along the dramatic walls of the Straits of Tiran, or diving the historic wrecks of the Northern Red Sea, you're sure to have an unforgettable experience.
Book Your Egypt Holiday Today
Don't miss out on the opportunity to explore the best of the Northern Red Sea. Book your Egypt holiday today and join us on the Wrecks and Reefs liveaboard itinerary. Whether you're a novice diver or an experienced tekkie, we have something for everyone. Contact us today to learn more about our itineraries and to book your spot on our next trip. email dive@scubatravel.com
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Scuba Travel have weekly departures of the Wrecks & Reefs itinerary so there is always a date to suit!
Embarkation
Ghazala Explorer departs from the New Marina Hurghada
Bella Eriny departures are typically from Sharm
Emperor Fleet departures are typically from Hurghada or Port Ghalib
Aggressor Fleet departures are typically from Hurghada
Trip Duration
All of our Wrecks & Reefs trips run for 7 nights with 7 nights spent on board your liveaboard.
There are normally 4 dives a day (3 day dives + 1 night dive) apart from on your first and last day. There are around 19-21 dives on an average week but this can vary depending on local weather conditions.
Arrival
Once you have been picked up from the airport you will be taken to the port to board your liveaboard. If you are making your own way to the harbour we ask that you not board before 18:00. There will be a full welcome briefing on arrival and you can set your kit up. If you have prepaid any rental equipment this will be given to you on arrival. Enjoy dinner on board and settle in. The boat will not leave harbour on this first night.
After the boat permissions are sorted, the boat will depart the next morning and the check dive will be made.
A normal Wrecks & Reefs itinerary will dive at the following areas but the exact dive sites and order will vary week by week depending on what people enjoy, where the best sightings have been and reflect diver experience levels.
All liveaboard itineraries are subject to various unpredictable changes including weather conditions and changes in local Government approval. Whilst our boat operators make every effort, we cannot guarantee diving at specific sites. In adverse weather conditions, the guides and captain of the boat will have the final decision about which dive sites to visit to ensure that the safety of guests, staff and boats is not compromised in any way.
Tiran
Jackson, Thomas, Woodhouse and Gordon are the 4 reefs that make up the Tiran system and each has it's own individual charm. The coral gardens at Jackson are some of the most lavish you will find in Egypt and the wall stunning. Thomas is famous for the deep canyon but there are also some large sea fans to admire. Woodhouse is always a lovely drift dive, with plenty of nooks and crannies along the wall where you can find macro life. Gordon is distinctive for the tar barrels that are slowly becoming part of the reef - a vast school of banner fish live on the drop off. This is a perfect afternoon or night dive.
Please note: not all fleets departing from Hurgahda will dive in Tiran.
Ras Mohammed
If you visit the Northern Red Sea you have to dive Ras Mohammed! There are too many outstanding sites to mention but the best include Shark & Yolanda, Anemone City, Ras Gozlani and the wreck of the Dunraven - after you finish on the wreck head onto the reef to look for stone fish. The drop off in Ras Mohammed will take your breath away and you always have a good chance to see larger fish in the blue. Barracuda, tuna, snapper, rays and even larger passing pelagics are all common.
Around the Thistlegorm
Around Shaab Mahmoud you find 3 classic dive sites. The Thistlegorm needs little introduction to UK divers - sunk during the 2nd World War, she was laden with munitions and with several dives (including a night dive) to explore the holds, decks and environs, you will discover just why this ranks as one of Egypt's top dives. At Shag Rock you can enjoy both an incredible hard coral reef dive (often with turtles) and the small but adorable wreck of the Kingston. Another top reef dive is Small Crack - here a spilt in the reef allows divers to dive between the outer reef and inner lagoon. The crack is packed with marine life and it can be a super late afternoon or early morning dive.
Abu Nuhas
This is one of the best concentrations of wreck diving in the Red Sea with the newest and oldest wrecks you will visit on this itinerary. The Giannis D is always a popular dive with a brilliant (and easy!) engine room penetration. You can swim easily through the corridors and into the rooms as they have been cleared without entanglement risk. Head to the Carnatic for the oldest wreck - the iron ribs are iconic and the wreck is smothered in marine life. You may also dive the Chrisoula K, which is famous for the bathroom tiles in her hold!
Gubal and the Barge
Gubal island lies to the north of Abu Nuhas and has some excellent sites to explore. The barge is a wonderful afternoon and night dive with the massive resident morays, scorpion fish and stone fish. Bluff Point is a relaxing drift dive - and always chances to see dolphin. On a flat day you can dive the Ulysses, a smaller but similar aged vessel to the Carnatic.
On the west of Gubal is the Rosalie Moller. Due to the depth of this wreck it is not always offered but if you do dive it, cut through the swathes of glass fish to find a fantastic 2nd World War wreck.
Disembarkation
You will normally leave the boat after breakfast on your last day and be transferred to a hotel for the day. Your final transfer will take you to the airport for your return flight home. Please do speak to the travel consultant at the time of booking to confirm the exact last day arrangements.
We would be more than happy to help you. Our travel advisors are at your service to help you.
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