In this guide
Red Sea scuba diving — Brothers Islands · Daedalus · Elphinstone aboard Boreas · boreascruises.com
Why Dive Clubs, Schools & Individual Divers Choose the Red Sea.
The Red Sea offers year-round visibility averaging 20–30 metres, water temperatures between 22°C and 30°C depending on season, and a concentration of pelagic and reef species unmatched in the Mediterranean or the Atlantic. Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone consistently produce encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerheads, and thresher sharks at manageable depths.
Brothers Big and Small rise from 600 metres of open sea — the wall starts at 5 metres and drops vertical, with soft coral density that makes every safety stop a dive in its own right.
Most Red Sea dive operations run shared liveaboards with mixed groups, fixed rotation schedules, and limited surface interval facilities. Boreas is a 50m steel superyacht with 20 private cabins, a full spa, yoga zone, sea-view gym, and 2 bars — the dive programme runs around your group, not the other way around.
Full exclusive charter means all 20 cabins, the full crew, the complete dive operation — 3 zodiacs, Nitrox fills, PADI course facilities, equipment storage — are yours for the week. Your itinerary, your briefing schedule, your dive sites. Contact us to align dates and receive a group rate proposal.
The Full Dive Site Roster — Northern Red Sea & Deep South.
Boreas operates two core itinerary routes depending on group focus and season: the northern pelagic circuit covering Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone, and the mixed Best of the Red Sea route combining wrecks, reefs, and open-water sites accessible to all certification levels.
Two isolated seamounts in open sea, 60km offshore. Oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerheads, and thresher sharks regular from October to May. Vertical walls to 60m+ with dense soft coral. Requires overnight crossing — Boreas anchors in the lee of Big Brother.
Remote atoll reef 80km from the Egyptian coast. Scalloped hammerheads, silky sharks, grey reefs. The lighthouse plateau at 5–12m serves as a reliable surface interval point. Strong currents on the south corner — intermediate to advanced level.
Elongated reef south of Marsa Alam. Oceanic whitetip encounters at the north and south plateaux. The west wall runs to 60m with gorgonians and black coral. Accessible September to May, most productive October to March.
WWII British cargo wreck at 30m depth in the Strait of Gubal. Motorcycles, trucks, and rail carriages in the holds. Lying on its starboard side — two penetration areas accessible to Open Water certified divers. One of the most-dived wrecks in the world.
Four wrecks on a single reef — Chrisoula K, Carnatic, Giannis D, and Kimon M. Depths from 16 to 33m. The Carnatic at 27m offers swim-throughs with intact hull sections. Two full dive days possible on this reef alone.
Fury Shoals offers isolated reef systems with minimal boat traffic — macro life, sea turtles, and pristine hard coral at 8–25m. Samadai (Dolphin House) is a protected horseshoe reef where a resident pod of spinner dolphins rests. Snorkel and freedive access in addition to scuba.
The itinerary is confirmed at the start of each week based on wind, current, and group certification levels. The captain and dive team brief the group each morning — sites are selected to maximise dive time and minimise surface crossings. 3 zodiacs in the water throughout every session.
Sample Charter Week — Saturday to Saturday.
The itinerary below is a reference format for the Best of the Red Sea mixed programme — adapted daily to conditions, certification levels, and group priorities. Shark-focused weeks follow the same Saturday-to-Saturday format with the itinerary centred on Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone.
Boreas floating resort — sun deck · jacuzzi · wellness between sessions · boreascruises.com
Ready to charter Boreas for your dive group?
Request charter rates or schedule a partnership call — dive clubs, schools, wholesalers, and individual week bookings. We respond within 24 hours.
Boreas — Your Base Between Every Dive.
Most Red Sea dive liveaboards offer 8–12 berths, shared bathrooms, and a single communal deck. Boreas is a 50m steel superyacht with 20 private en-suite cabins, a spa with massage and facials, a yoga zone, a sea-view gym, two bars, and two jacuzzis. Surface intervals are not dead time — they are part of the programme.
Add Ancient Egypt — Land + Sea in One Trip.
For groups running 10 or 14-day programmes, Boreas offers a combined land-and-sea itinerary. Clients spend three to four days in Cairo and Luxor — the Pyramids of Giza, Valley of the Kings, Karnak at dawn — then board the superyacht at Hurghada Marina for the full seven-night diving charter.
Cairo & Luxor
Privately guided. Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Egyptian Museum, Valley of the Kings, Karnak, Luxor Temple. 5-star service standard throughout. Domestic flight Cairo to Hurghada included.
Red Sea Diving Charter
Seven nights aboard Boreas from Hurghada Marina. Full scuba diving programme across Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone, wrecks, and reef sites. All-inclusive — your itinerary, your schedule.
Egypt by land. Recovery by sea. Contact us to build the combined itinerary for your dive group’s 2026 programme.
Cairo · Luxor · Pyramids of Giza — Egypt land extension · boreascruises.com
Dive Equipment, Logistics & Everything Your Group Needs to Know.
Request charter rates for your dive group
Full exclusive charter, individual week bookings, and the combined land + sea programme — we respond within 24 hours.
Questions from Dive Operators & Individual Divers
Yes. The standard charter model is full exclusive — all 20 cabins, the complete crew, and the full dive operation are reserved for your group. This covers up to 48 guests on a Saturday-to-Saturday format departing from Hurghada Marina. Contact us with your group size and preferred dates to receive a rate proposal.
Nitrox 32% fills are included in the charter rate. PADI courses that can be run aboard include Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Divemaster, Enriched Air (Nitrox), and selected specialty courses. Course materials and certification fees are separate from the charter rate — confirm your requirements at the time of booking so we can prepare the correct materials and instructor scheduling.
Yes. Non-divers have full access to zodiac snorkelling at all dive sites, the spa (massage and facials), yoga zone, sea-view gym, 2 bars, and 2 jacuzzis. Marine awareness sessions and conservation briefings run on selected evenings and are open to all guests. The programme is structured so that non-divers are fully occupied throughout the week, not waiting for the dive group to surface.
Boreas operates two primary itinerary routes: the northern pelagic circuit covering Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone, and the Best of the Red Sea mixed route covering Sha’ab Abu Nuhas wrecks, SS Thistlegorm, Fury Shoals, and Samadai (Dolphin House). The specific sites dived each day are confirmed at the morning briefing based on current wind, sea state, and the group’s certification levels. The captain and dive team make the final call — the itinerary is adapted daily, not fixed in advance.
Yes. Boreas opens a limited number of individual weeks during the year for certified divers booking solo or in small numbers. These are not shared liveaboard departures — individual week guests join a single group booking for that week. Availability is limited and dates fill in advance. Contact us directly to check open weeks and individual rates.
October to May is the most productive period for pelagic shark encounters at all three sites. Oceanic whitetip sharks are present at Brothers and Elphinstone year-round but sightings peak from October through March. Scalloped hammerheads at Daedalus are most reliable from November to February. Water temperatures during this period range from 22°C to 26°C — a 5mm wetsuit is recommended.
Airport transfers from Hurghada airport are included within the defined timeframe on both arrival and departure Saturdays. The Boreas operations team coordinates pick-up directly. Groups arriving outside the standard transfer window should contact us in advance to confirm logistics. The vessel departs Hurghada Marina — embarkation typically begins on Saturday afternoon, with a welcome briefing and dinner the first evening.
Charter Boreas for your dive group.
Request charter rates, schedule a partnership call, or reach out directly. Full exclusive charter and individual week bookings. We respond within 24 hours.