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Red Sea Diving – Liveboard                                             


Wreck Safari
For dedicated wreck lovers there's now a pure wreck safari during which Enigma will concentrate on the following famous wrecks: Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Giannis D, Kingston/Sarah H, Carnatic, Chrisoula K and the Unknown wreck (sometimes called Kimon). You may also get the chance to visit lesser known wrecks such as the Rosalie Muller or the Million Hope.

Please note that any itinerary is subject to alteration due to weather conditions, and that our guides must assess the suitability of any dive site according to your level of diving experience. Your safety is our paramount responsibility.

Classic Northern Safari
The classic Northern route safari covers all divesites between the Straits of Tiran (Gulf Of Aqaba), Ras Mohammed (Red Sea), and the Straits of Gubal (Gulf of Suez). This alternative gives you the chance to visit the wrecks of the Thistlegorm and Dunraven.

Group Departures 7 Nights
The minimum group size for a departure is 8 people, with a maximum capacity of 12. If you have a large group and would like to arrange a departure date please contact us for availability, or for other liveaboard options. For a full closed charter of 12 people, one person will be free of charge. Enigma departs from Sharm El Sheikh.

Individual Departures 7 Nights*
We have individual departure dates available on Enigma and on other boats, so if you don’t travel in a group have a look at the list below. Let us know which dates suit you best, and we will try to fit you in with other guests who are looking for availability. * It is also possible to start one day after these dates for a six-night safari. Please contact us! Enigma departs from Sharm El Sheikh.
 

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Our Liveaboard Safari FAQ'S

If you do not find the answers you were looking for feel free to contact us with your questions or concerns and we will do our best to help you.

Red Sea Liveaboard Safari Frequently Asked Questions
1. I'm not a certified diver; can learn to dive on a Red Sea Livraboard safari?
2. Do you offer scuba diving courses on Red Sea Livraboard safari?
3. Can my non-diving travel companion join me on a Red Sea Livraboard safari holiday?
4. What Kind of Red Sea Livraboard safari is best for me?
5. How can I prepare before I arrive for my Red Sea Livraboard safari?
6. Should I bring my own linen and towels for a Red Sea Livraboard safari?
7. Do you offer Red Sea Livraboard safaris that are less than a week long?
8. What is included and not included in the price of a Red Sea Livraboard safari?
9. What type of meals are typically prepared on a Red Sea Livraboard safari?
10. I have special meal requirements, can you accommodate me?
11. How many dives can I make each day on a Red Sea liveaboard safari?
12. Is diving better in the north or south Red Sea?
13. Do you visit different dive sites each day?
14. What is the water temperature in the Red Sea?
15. Are there strong currents in the Red Sea?
16. What type of clothing should I bring for a Red Sea liveaboard safari?
17. What type of wetsuit should I use for a Red Sea liveaboard safari?
18. How much money and what currency should I bring?
19. Where do your Red Sea liveaboard safaris start and end?
20. When is the best time to go a Red Sea liveaboard safari holiday?

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I'm not a certified diver can I learn to dive on a Red Sea liveaboard safari? Yes, but only on our northern route liveaboard safaris and with advanced reservations so our instructor can prepare to make your course during the liveaboard safari.

Do you offer Nitrox diving on Red Sea liveaboard safaris?
We do offer Nitrox diving on some of our Red Sea liveaboard safaris but not on every trip. If you are interested in making Nitrox dives during a liveaboard safari please contact us for additional details.

Can my non-diving travel companion join me on a Red Sea liveaboard safari?
Yes, it is possible for non-divers to come with you on a Red Sea liveaboard safari holiday however, keep in mind that liveaboard safaris are for experienced divers so special requirements and activities for non-divers is limited. Some dives sites (mainly in the north) have coral reefs that are within a meter of the surface and offer excellent diving and snorkeling conditions at the same site. Contrast to the northern dive sites, the dive sites in the south Red Sea are primarily in open seas and subject to strong currents and other possible hazards. We strongly advise divers who want to bring non-diving companions with them consider only northern route liveaboard safaris since it is not likely a non-diver would have much opportunity to swim or snorkel on a liveaboard in the south Red Sea.

What kind of Red Sea liveaboard safari is best for me?
This would depend on several factors such as your level of training, experience and what type of diving interest you. If you want to join a Red Sea liveaboard safari the most important considerations should be your training and qualifications for obvious safety reasons. In addition, the Egyptian government is striving to improve safety conditions for divers in the Red Sea and continue to make changes to diving policies that dive operators must adhere to. One recent change was all divers on liveaboard safaris must have a minimum of 50 logged dives and be a certified advanced diver or higher. Not all but many of the dive sites in the north Red Sea are more suitable for novice divers; there are many large islands and coral reefs near the surface which offers more protection from winds and strong currents. Whereas in the south Red Sea most dive sites are situation in the open sea and far more distance between each site. Divers are exposed to much more challenging conditions such as strong winds and currents. For these reasons as well as the continuing changes in diving policies set by the Egyptian government we suggest you contact us directly for the latest information. If you are not sure if you have the minimum qualifications to join a Red Sea liveaboard safari please contact us for advice.

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How can I prepare before I arrive for my Red Sea liveaboard safari?
To help you prepare for your liveaboard safari before you arrive we will provide you with additional documents that include guidelines, helpful tips and suggestions as well as liveaboard safari safety guidelines. These documents explain in detail about what to expect during your liveaboard safari, what to bring, boat briefings and safety guidelines you are expected to follow. If you have additional questions or concerns not covered in these documents we are available to assist you any time.
 

Should I bring my own linen and towels on a Red Sea liveaboard safari?
All your linen is provided for you onboard so it is not necessary for you to bring your own. We do suggest you bring your own personal towel for showers and a beach towel for after dives.

Do you offer Red Sea liveaboard safaris that are less than a week long?
Yes we do offer shorter trips; 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 day liveaboard safaris. We refer to these trips as mini-liveaboard safaris. We offer these shorter trips primarily on smaller boats like Terri II and the routes are typically northern including the Hurghada region and south down to Safaga. We do not make mini-liveaboard safaris south of Safaga. Although it is possible to make a shorter trip in the south we would have to use one of our larger boats which are chartered on a weekly basis only.

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What is included and not included in the price of a Red Sea liveaboard safari?

Following is what's included in our liveaboard safaris:

  • Arrival & departure airport transfers 4 Round trip transfers from to embarkation points.

  • PADI certified dive guides (English speaking) 4 Full board meals & snacks.

  • Mineral water, soft drinks, tea, coffee & juices.

  • Unlimited diving (average 3 to 4 dives each day).

  • Weights and tanks *12-liter aluminum 4 6 days diving*2 morning dives on last day.

  • 7 nights onboard *last night may be onboard or in 3 star hotel.

Following is what's not included in our liveaboard safaris:

  • International & domestic flights 4 Tourist VISA.

  • Scuba gear*available for rent.

  • Gratuities for dive guides & boat crew.

  • Alcoholic beverages.

  • Nitrox refills.

  • Red Sea environmental taxes.

  • Marine park & off-shore island permission fees*as applicable.

What type of meals are prepared during Red Sea liveaboard safaris?
Typically chefs prepare 3 full course meals daily which consists of a meat, chicken or fish, salads, hot vegetables and pastas, rice or potatoes. Fresh fruit and snacks including sweets are offered in the afternoons. Breakfast includes cereals, cheeses, marmalades, breads, fruit drinks and yogurt.

Surprisingly the chefs onboard are able to prepare very tasty meals, in sufficient quantities in a variety of cuisines; meals onboard generally receive excellent compliments from divers!
 

I have special meal requirements, can you accommodate me?
Absolutely; we are happy to accommodate special meal requirements upon request such as vegetarian, low salt or non-dairy meals. We ask that you tell us at least one day in advance about your special meal requirements so we can prepare accordingly to meet your needs.

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How many dives can I make each day on a Red Sea liveaboard safari?
Diving on Red Sea liveaboard safaris is unlimited however, the actual number of dives feasible in a given day may depend on the distance between dive sites, weather conditions and other factors. Normally divers are able to make 3 to 4 dives each day when all conditions are ideal.

is diving better in the north or south Red Sea?
This depends on what type of diving you like. If a poll of opinions was gathered from divers who have dived in the north and south Red Sea the majority would probably say diving in the south Red Sea is better.

The north Red Sea is most noted for the wreck diving and Ras Mohammed which remains very popular with divers today. For novice divers the north Red Sea is much better since it is more protected and less challenging in most sites although there are also sites that are only suitable for veteran divers.
The south Red Sea seems to dominate popularity for liveaboard safari diving, especially for seasoned divers. Chances for sightings of large marine life and shark are significantly better; combine magnificent soft coral and large sea fans, these special features are some of the reasons divers prefer the southern dive sites over the northern dive sites.

Do you visit different dive sites each day?
For each route there is a 'planned diving itinerary' which is designed to give you the best possible diving opportunities within a given number of days. How closely we can follow the planned itinerary depends on weather conditions, how much time is spent on each dive and other factors.

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For the Brother's Island route it is not possible to make night dives at the islands, it is prohibited but there is more than one dive worth making so few dives may be made when diving the Brother's Islands. Otherwise, every effort is made to make the very most of the every day so divers can make as many dives as possible with compromising safety. We consider that quality of dive more important than the number of dives.

What is the water temperature in the Red Sea?
During winter months water temperatures average around 22 Celsius, whereas the average temperatures in the summer months is around 27 Celsius. To see our chart for yearly average air and water temperatures click here.

Are there strong currents in the Red Sea?
In some places and sometimes yes, there are strong currents however these places are rare for daily diving. In some places such as the Thistlegorm wreck, you count on currents be present but depending on the time of day you dive this area will depend on the current strength, any where from mild up to moderately strong. Our dive guides are very experience and will escort you on dives with currents.


What type of clothing should I bring for a Red Sea liveaboard safari?
We recommend you bring along a few T-shirts, shorts, long-sleeve cotton shirts, long cotton pants (similar to jogging sports wear) and a light cotton jacket for the evenings. It is not permitted to wear shoes inside the common areas (salon and cabins).

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What type of wetsuit should I use for Red Sea liveaboard safari diving?
We strongly suggest you wear a 5mm suit during the warmer months (May through October) and 7mm during the cooler months (November through April). Two piece suits (farmer john style) are most suitable.

How much money and what currency should I bring?
You will not need a lot of money on the boat during your liveaboard safari; only for tips for your dive guide and boat crew. Any currency is accepted but most commonly used in Egypt is US dollars or Euros or Egyptian pounds.
 

When is the best time to go on a Red Sea liveaboard safari holiday?
The high season months for Red Sea liveaboard safaris are April through May and September through October. During these months Red Sea liveaboard safaris are more expensive, boats have more divers onboard, and of course dive sites can be over crowded with divers. Although the summer months are much warmer, June through August, this is low season and the diving is excellent. November is also a good time for diving in the Red Sea; less divers and the weather is usually still quite comfortable. December is a bit cooler but still tolerable with the proper wetsuit protection. January through March is normally quite a bit cooler but the biggest concern during these months is the strong winds.

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