About North and Brothers Islands

We have several departures that will focus primarily on the Brothers islands and outstanding North Siani reefs throughout the year. They are popular so make sure you book early!


Trip Duration
All of our North & Brothers itineraries run for 7 nights with 7 nights spent on board your liveaboard.

There are normally 3 day dives apart from on your first and last day. Night diving is prohibited whilst at the Brothers although there will normally be at least 1 night dive during the week. There are around 17-18 dives on an average week but this can vary.

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.

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. There is then your first dinner and you can settle in for the evening. The boat will not leave harbour on this first night.

After the boat permissions are sorted, you will have an extensive safety briefing and the boat will depart the next morning and the check dive will be made.

A normal North & Brothers 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.

Hurghada
At the beginning and end of the trip you will do a dive around Hurgada. The exact sites will vary but Gota Abu Ramada is a great location for the check dive - look out for the baby barracuda, trigger fish and large coral blocks. As the boat comes back towards harbour at the end of the trip the must see dive is Shaab el urg. Not only can you wend merrily between the coral blocks but a resident pod of bottlenose dolphins are frequently seen and very playful.

The Brothers
You can dive both Big and Little Brother and both are quite individual, despite only being a stone's throw from each other. The south plateau at Big Brother doubles as a cleaning station for thresher sharks. Watch these graceful sharks circle the coral mounds early in the morning (watch the current too!). Drift down the west wall and keep an eye out for passing sharks beneath you. Along the wall there are long, delicate whip corals. If you ascend to the shallows near the jetty there is always a school of rabbit fish swirling around the beams. A resident turtle (he has a lot of red fuzz on his shell) patrols the wall all day long.

Little Brother is the shark mecca with regular grey reef sharks seen on the north plateau or around the sea fan garden. This itself is impressive with vast sea fans up to 5m wide catching the current. When the current is running you can dive from one end to the next in one go! The inner west wall has a range of corals and sea fans. Look out for the trumpet fish that hover beside divers, waiting for cover to hunt. Or just jump off the back of the boat to surround yourself with rainbow runners, tuna, barracuda and of course... more sharks! Hammerheads are usually seen in the spring, silkies late winter and oceanic white tips in the autumn.

Night dives are prohibited in this area.

Thistlegorm
The Thistlegorm is arguably one of the most famous and best wrecks in the world, the SS Thistlegorm was sunk in World War II with a full load of trucks, ammunition and supplies. She's a living museum of the war and should be dived at least twice to get a real taste of the wreck and all her cargo.

Ras Mohammed
Sailing overnight means you will wake up in Ras Mohammed and can start the day off before the day boats arrive at the world famous Shark and Yolanda. This classic drift dives delivers it all. Drama on the Shark Reef drom off with bat fish and snapper gives way to the picturesque Yolanda reef. Stay on the outside to hunt out the resident stone fish, play with blue spotted sting rays or get your pic taken with the toilets! Head around the back of the reef where small napoleons and massive morays await.

Shark Observatory and Ras Gozlani are superb dives with some similarities. You can hug the wall and dive along the coral reef where all manner of macro awaits. Head out across the narrow plateau otherwise where you find larger schooling fish and coral blocks. Trigger fish are common at both sites as are octopus hiding in the crevices and overhangs.

Abu Nu Has
Four wrecks situated close together making this an excellent location for wreck divers and underwater photographers, with all being suitable for recreational divers. Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K and Kimon M are covered in soft and hard corals and there are often bottlenose dolphins in the area.

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 as it can vary.