Classic North Cruise

This cruise has something for everyone. Starting from Hurghada and sailing north, this route gives a perfect combination of reef and wreck diving. The famous horseshoe shaped reef of Sha'ab El Erg is a perfect example of the reefs on offer on this cruise with its beautiful hard coral garden and the chance to see dolphins.

The reef of Abu Nuhas has four well-known wrecks: Ghiannis 'D', Carnatic, Chrissoula 'K' and the Kimon 'M', all offering spectacular dives and plenty of fish life. Gubal Island offers protected anchoring for superb night diving on a small wreck at 10-15 metres with lionfish, scorpion fish, resident giant moray eels and much more. A short ride across the Straits of Gubal and you visit the most famous wreck of the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm! This is an awe-inspiring World War II British vessel with a cargo full of armaments, Bedford trucks, BSA motorcycles and much more, which were all destined for the British troops in North Africa.

She was sunk by the German Luftwaffe and now lies in 30 metres of water. Depending on divers' experience, weather and current conditions, we also try to offer a night dive here. Close by is the Ras Mohamed National Park, offering a morning dive at the 'Shark Reef', a sheer wall falling into the blue where two converging currents meet attracting an abundance of marine life and some of the most spectacular coral life of the Northern Red Sea.

All itineraries are weather dependant

Deep South and St Johns

Sailing to the southern-most reefs, these cruises depart from Marsa Alam to the vast reef system of Fury Shoals and St John's. St John's is a vast collection of small reefs offering some of the most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea. Habili Ali offers giant gorgonians and black corals whilst Grey Reef, Silvertip and schools of Hammerhead sharks might be found on the west side. Habili Gafaar is a mass of soft corals teaming with shoals of Snappers, Butterfly Fish and Barracudas.

Mantas, Oceanic White Tip, Grey Reef and Silvertip Sharks can be seen in the blue. Gota Kebir is a massive reef, famous for its tunnels and south plateau where Jacks and Barracudas can be seen and the occasional Manta. The tunnels are ideal for novice cave divers. Gota Soraya is rated as possibly one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with overhangs and cracks in the reef wall full of Glass Fish and Sweepers and an abundance of corals, Grey Reef, Silvertip, Oceanic White Tip and Hammerheads. Note: a minimum of 40 logged dives requested. Long overnight travel is necessary however if the weather conditions are more favourable the travelling will be done during the day.

All itineraries are weather dependant

Get Wrecked

The Get Wrecked cruise combines the 'best of the best' of the most famous wrecks in the northern Red Sea with some stunning reef diving.

Leaving from Hurghada, we aim to dive all the wrecks in the area including: El Mina, an Egyptian mine sweeper lying just outside Hurghada's harbour; the wrecks of Abu Nuhas including the Carnatic, Giannis 'D', Chrissoula 'K' and the Kimon 'M'; at Gubal islands the Barge, the Ulysses (sunk in 1887) and the Rosalie Moller; the Kingston (or Sarah H) lying at Shag Rock; the Dunraven at beacon rock  situated on the outskirts of the Ras Mohammed National Park and the most famous wreck in the Red Sea the SS Thistlegorm, which lies at Shab Ali.

These wrecks are spectacular and make fantastic material for the underwater photographer being smothered in corals, especially the Carnatic, which sank in 1869. The famous SS Thistlegorm and the Rosalie Moller are World War II wrecks and are the highlights of this cruise.

The SS Thistlegorm was sunk in 1941, bombed by the German Luftwaffe, while on a mission to deliver a cargo of ammunition and other war materials to the British troops in North Africa. The Rosalie Moller, carrying a cargo of coal, suffered the same fate just 48 hours later.

In between wreck dives you will also visit the reefs of the Straits of Gubal, Gulf of Suez and those to the north of Hurghada. A variety of deep walls and hard coral gardens with an abundance of reef fish make them well worth a visit.

All wrecks are subject to divers' experience and weather conditions.

All itineraries are weather dependant

Just Brothers

Experience your first dives at local site such as Gota Abu Ramada, also known as the "Aquarium" due to the abundance of fish life, before heading overnight to the Brother Islands.  The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore from El Quesir.

As part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a multitude of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics such as Tuna, Barracudas, Jacks and Snappers that cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional Hammerheads, Thresher, Silky and Oceanic White Tip Sharks and Mantas.

For the wreck diver, the wrecks of the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon Wrasse and Grey Reef Sharks.

The boat will then sail back to Hurghada or Safaga overnight for less strenuous dives to finish your week diving.

Note: Minimum of 50 logged dives requested and no night dives permitted in the Marine Park area by Egyptian Law.  These are challenging dives with strong currents, so not for inexperienced divers. Overnight travelling is required for this itinerary.  

All itineraries are weather dependant

Northern Variation

Dive what are considered by many as the Top 3 sites in this area: The Brother Islands, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone.

The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore from El Quesir.

As part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a multitude of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics such as Tuna, Barracudas, Jacks and Snappers that cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional Hammerheads, Thresher, Silky and Oceanic White Tip Sharks and Mantas.

For the wreck diver, the wrecks of the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon Wrasse and Grey Reef Sharks.

Daedalus Reef, also part of the Marine Park, is a large, oval reef with a lighthouse and is the furthest offshore reef in the Egyptian Red Sea. Its deep walls and drop-offs offer some of the most spectacular diving to be found. Daedalus has mountainous, pristine, hard coral formations. There is also a strong chance of spotting schooling Hammerheads, and grey reef sharks.

Elphinstone, with its shear walls covered in soft corals, offers a likely encounter with Oceanic White Tip sharks at the right time of the year.

The boat will then sail back to Hurghada via Safaga where you will dive the famous wreck of Salem Express and some less strenuous dives to finish your diving week.

(This trip may also depart from either Safaga or Port Ghalib marinas resulting in some dive sites not being available)

Simply the Best

On your first day start with a local site such as Ras Shona, which offers encounters with turtles and scorpionfish. As a second and night dive, Sha'ab Sharm offers wall dives where White Tips Reef Sharks can sometimes be seen on the plateau.

The boat then travels overnight to the islands of Rocky and Zabargad.  Rocky is a small island with walls all around. Hammerheads can often be seen at the north tip. Manta rays, Grey Reef sharks and Whitetip Reef sharks can be encountered around the whole island.  Dusk drift dives are ideal at the stunning coral slopes of Zabargad Island.

On the third day, dive the wreck of a Russian cargo boat, which is on the east side of the island. This 75m long, intact wreck, provides an alternative to reef diving. If the weather is inclement, then head to St. John's for a full day of adventure, which is only two hours away with the chance to dive Habili Ali and Habili Soraya.

A variety of sites ranging from the tiny pinnacle of Habili Gaffar to shallow coral gardens. Manta Rays are here most of the year and Grey Reef sharks patrol the wall dive sites. Caves and caverns make an alternative afternoon dive.  Night dives give the chance to see Spanish dancers and hunting Morays.

On the fourth day, the first dive is at St John's, and then onto a second dive at St. John's caves, a shallow reef riddled with caves and caverns at 7m providing a great exploration dive.

Sha'ab Maksour offers another wall dive or dive El Malahi, sometimes called 'The Playground' with its myriad of channels, caverns and swim-throughs.  Shiriniat at Wadi Gamal Island is a shallow reef with plenty of corals and reef life.

An early start to Elphinstone Reef, with its stunning walls of soft corals and the two underwater plateaux, one at either tip, offers the chance to see numerous sharks.

Note: Minimum of 50 logged dives requested and no night dives permitted in the Marine Park area by Egyptian Law. These are challenging dives, with strong currents, so not for inexperienced divers.  Long overnight sailing is required in order to do all the dives.  All the dive sites are subject to weather conditions.  Only two dives and one night dive are achievable on some days due to the travelling distance.

The Big Four

On your first day start with a local site such as Ras Shona, which offers encounters with turtles and scorpionfish. As a second and night dive, Sha'ab Sharm offers wall dives where White Tips Reef Sharks can sometimes be seen on the plateau.

The boat then travels overnight to the islands of Rocky and Zabargad.  Rocky is a small island with walls all around. Hammerheads can often be seen at the north tip. Manta rays, Grey Reef sharks and Whitetip Reef sharks can be encountered around the whole island.  Dusk drift dives are ideal at the stunning coral slopes of Zabargad Island.

On the third day, dive the wreck of a Russian cargo boat, which is on the east side of the island. This 75m long, intact wreck, provides an alternative to reef diving. If the weather is inclement, then head to St. John's for a full day of adventure, which is only two hours away with the chance to dive Habili Ali and Habili Soraya.

A variety of sites ranging from the tiny pinnacle of Habili Gaffar to shallow coral gardens. Manta Rays are here most of the year and Grey Reef sharks patrol the wall dive sites. Caves and caverns make an alternative afternoon dive.  Night dives give the chance to see Spanish dancers and hunting Morays.

On the fourth day, the first dive is at St John's, and then onto a second dive at St. John's caves, a shallow reef riddled with caves and caverns at 7m providing a great exploration dive.

Sha'ab Maksour offers another wall dive or dive El Malahi, sometimes called 'The Playground' with its myriad of channels, caverns and swim-throughs.  Shiriniat at Wadi Gamal Island is a shallow reef with plenty of corals and reef life.

An early start to Elphinstone Reef, with its stunning walls of soft corals and the two underwater plateaux, one at either tip, offers the chance to see numerous sharks.

Note: Minimum of 50 logged dives requested and no night dives permitted in the Marine Park area by Egyptian Law. These are challenging dives, with strong currents, so not for inexperienced divers.  Long overnight sailing is required in order to do all the dives.  All the dive sites are subject to weather conditions.  Only two dives and one night dive are achievable on some days due to the travelling distance.

Famous Five Cruise

Note: 50 logged dives required by Egyptian Law

This cruise has something for everyone. Starting from Hurghada, sailing North for a check out dive before heading on to Gubal Island.

Abu Nuhas has four well-known wrecks: Giannis D, Carnatic, the lentil wreck and the tile wreck, all offering spectacular dives and plenty of fish life. Why not explore the Rosalie Moller which lies from 30 to 50 metres deep and is in excellent condition. Although the visibility is not always good, the fish life is amazing. The wreck is covered in glassfish from bow to stern and hunting them are masses of lionfish. Around the wreck are the usual pelagics such as tuna, trevallies, emperor fish and many more.

A short ride across the straits of Gubal and you visit the most famous wreck of the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm! An awe-inspiring World War II British vessel with a cargo full of armaments, Bedford trucks and BSA motorbikes, which were all destined for the British troops in North Africa. She was sunk by the German Luftwaffe and now lies in 30 metres of water. Depending on divers' experience along with weather and current conditions, we do where possible try to offer a night dive here. Nearby is the Ras Mohammed National Park, offering a morning dive at the renowned 'Shark and Yolanda' reefs. Ras Mohammed National Park is the furthest Sinai destination before heading South towards the Brothers.

The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore from El Quesir. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, Barracudas, Jacks and Snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional Hammerheads, Silky and Oceanic White Tip Sharks and Mantas. Even the rare Thresher Shark can sometimes be found there. Sightings of the Grey Reef Shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateau of Small Brother.

For the wreck diver, the wrecks of the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon Wrasse and Grey Reef Sharks.

The boat will then sail back to Hurghada via Safaga where you can dive at Panorama Reef or the famous wreck of Salem Express for a memorable finale!

All itineraries are weather dependant

It is easy to overlook how important the technical specifications of a boat are to your safari experience.

All Bella Safaris boats have a high cruising speed and ultra-reliable Caterpillar engines, ensuring that you see the best dive sites on your safari.

Powerful compressors and a nitrox membrane guarantee that you won't be waiting for your tanks to fill when you would rather be in the water.

Reliable and quiet compressors ensure minimal disturbance to your trip.

We take care of the technical details, so you can focus on enjoying your liveaboard!