Red Sea Diving Itineraries

Our itinerary selection is widely varied and covers the entire Red Sea, with something to offer for every and all divers. On a typical day we offer up to 4 day dives, however the 4th day dive may be substituted for a night dive when the boat is anchored by a reef. A 7-night itinerary provides for between 18-20 dives; during our 10-night itineraries up to 30 dives will be possible.

The diving day aboard Blue Horizon is scheduled as follows:

Light Breakfast followed by a briefing and Dive 1
Full Breakfast, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 2
Lunch, relaxation period, briefing and Dive 3
Snack relaxation period, briefing and Dive 4, where possible
Dinner

Dive sites vary, with something for everyone on most itineraries. Currents are the norm in many spots so on several itineraries it is recommended that divers have experience beyond beginner level to ensure maximum enjoyment. Always check with your agent or our reservations team for the most suitable itinerary for your experience and certification.

Yacht Information
This 41-metre wooden vessel belongs to the fleet of our alliance partner Blue O Two and was completely refurbished in 2016. She now operates as Blue Horizon in the crystal blue waters of the Red Sea. She graciously welcomes up to 26 guests on board; in four suites, five twin/double cabins, and four fixed twin cabins.

Each cabin is equipped with air-conditioning, a private entertainment system, and a convenient en-suite bathroom. As Blue Horizon is specially laid-out for having guests spend their holidays aboard, there is of course ample space for all guests to relax and enjoy their diving cruise. A generous sundeck on the fly bridge, a separate bar and sky lounge with state of the art entertainment system and even a Jacuzzi make for a high quality stay on board.

There is also plenty of room for guests who prefer to relax and unwind in the shade. Featuring a nitrox membrane, booster pump, a technical blending panel, Blue Horizon fully caters for rebreathers and technical divers.

Blue Adventurer and Blue Melody complete our shared fleet in the Red Sea. Between them, these well-equipped yachts cover the best dive sites of the Red Sea, from the Thistlegorm and Strait of Tiran in the north, all the way to St. Johns and Fury Shoal in the south.

Each of our Red Sea vessels has a central fire detection system, with smoke detectors located in every single room, and all public areas on the boat that are connected to a central panel in the captain’s cabin, which shows where a fire may be in the event of smoke being detected. Each cabin is also equipped with a powder fire extinguisher, and all public areas have a mixture of extinguisher types and sizes depending on the location and potential cause of a fire.

Schedule and Rates

Master Liveaboards and Blue O Two offer a range of services to make your stay on board even more enjoyable. Full rental equipment, Marine Park & Port Fees, gases and dive courses can now be pre-booked and pre-paid at the time of booking. If you plan to dive with a rebreather or do any technical diving, please fill out the request forms below and return them to: bookings@masterliveaboards.com so we can best accommodate you.

• Recreational Rebreather Diver
• Open Circuit Technical Diver
• Rebreather Technical Diver

Land excursions are included in your cruise free of charge and services are available for an additional fee:
– Alcoholic beverages
– Blue O Two merchandise

Getting there and away… We recommend that you book your international flight to and from Hurghada airport or Marsa Alam, depending on your departure port. Both airports are served by many airlines and charter companies from all over the world. Embarkation time for Blue Horizon is normally at 6pm. Disembarkation is normally at 9 am. Please note that these times may vary depending on the itinerary so please check your cruise confirmation carefully. Depending on your onward plans, you can either transfer directly to the airport or check into a hotel to enjoy the Egyptian hospitality a little longer.

On arrival… Passports must be valid for at least six months and citizens from most Western countries can purchase a tourist visa upon arrival (USD25), which allows them to stay in Egypt for up to one month. Some nationalities may be required to purchase a visa prior to arrival, please consult the Egyptian Consulate in your country for more details. If you are traveling with medication, please ensure to bring your physician’s prescription with you.

Money Matters… The local currency is the Egyptian Pound: (EGP). Most hotels and bigger shops will accept major credit cards and there are many ATMs for cash withdrawal. Euro, USD and UK Pounds are widely accepted.

Climate and weather… Egypt has hot and dry summers and fairly moderate, cool winters; the air temperature can easily touch 40+C (104+F) in summer, while winter is a more comfortable 18-23C (64-73F) with occasional rain and cool nights. Take care all year round when exposed to the sun as it can be intense. In the desert areas temperatures are even more extreme, both hot and cold. Water temperatures vary from 20C (68F) in December up to 29C (84F) in August. Recommended are a 3 or 5mm full wetsuit (summer) and a 5 or 7mm full wetsuit (winter) with a hood/vest in case you feel cold.

Time zone… Local time is GMT + 2 hrs in wintertime, GMT + 1 hr in summertime.

Health… The general standard of medical care in Egypt varies per location but overall, it is fairly poor. It is recommended to take the usual precautions with uncooked food and refrain from drinking tap water. Protect yourself from the fierce Egyptian sun and drink plenty of water; heat strokes are fairly common.

Travel Advisories… For more in-depth advisories on travel in the Maldives, please take the time to read the following travel advisories and heed their advice:
– US State Department : link to https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/country/egypt.html
– UK Foreign & Commonwealth Office : link to https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

FAQs Whilst we have much information on our website you may find you have additional questions about your liveaboard, the diving in Egypt or general location information. Below are the answers to some commonly asked questions, should you have other questions or queries, please contact our reservations team who will be pleased to assist you.

Can I dive with Nitrox? Yes. All Nitrox qualified divers may opt to dive with Nitrox for an additional charge.

I am not Nitrox certified; may I take a Nitrox course whilst on board? We are happy to offer dive training courses aboard Blue Horizon. For those wishing to take a Nitrox certification course, please contact our reservations team.

What should I bring with me? Liveaboard lifestyle is relaxed and informal. Essential items include T-shirts, shorts, swim wear, long trousers / sarong/ long skirt, sturdy footwear for island visits and a warm jacket or pullover for cooler nights. Shower gel is provided on board, however guests should bring any hair care or personal beauty products they require, along with sunscreen. We have a fully stocked first aid kit on board, but guests should bring any personal prescription medications with them (with doctor’s note).

Does Blue Horizon have internet on board? Yes, we offer free internet on board, however the nature of the system means that it is not available 100% of the time.

Can I rent scuba equipment whilst aboard? Yes. We offer full scuba rental equipment: BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask/snorkel and fins.

Must I pay National Park fees? Applicable Marine Park fees for your chosen itinerary are included in the published cruise price.

I am travelling alone. Must I pay a single supplement or may I share a cabin? For solo travelers we offer 2 options. You may choose to have a cabin for yourself for which we charge a single supplement of 80% of the cabin price per week. However; if you wish to share a cabin, we will place you in a twin cabin with a member of the same sex. We do not mix cabins without express permission of both guests.

Must I spend an additional night in Hurghada either side of my liveaboard trip? We recommend guests spend an additional night 1 day before cruise departure so you are well rested before the start of the cruise. However, if you are travelling from Europe this is normally not an issue. Disembarkation at the end of the cruise will be at 9 am. If you are not remaining in Egypt for additional nights after your cruise, please allow plenty of time for the transfer to the airport and check-in.

Do I need dive insurance? Yes. All divers travelling aboard our vessels must ensure they are fully covered for all diving accident and emergency situations, including coverage for air evacuation. We also strongly advise our guests to obtain comprehensive travel insurance to cover against unforeseeable delays and potential missed flight connections. A combination dive and travel insurance, which includes the option for additional liveaboard cover, may be booked through Master Liveaboards or online through DiveAssure.

Dive Courses

Master Liveaboards encourages and facilitates all guests to continue their diving education. Dive courses can now be pre-booked and pre-paid at the time of booking. Please check below which courses are available on board or contact our Reservations Department via bookings@masterliveaboards.com.