Aphrodite
Explore the Red Sea's wonders in comfort and style.
- Individually controlled AC
- En-suite bathrooms
- Mini-bar
5.0(27 reviews)
23 guestsfrom $197/day
Free dive insuranceincluded with every bookingLiveaboards in the Deep South Red Sea
from $97 / day6 of 47 · Deep South Red Sea liveaboard routes, seasons & prices
AVO
Explore the Red Sea with AVO: Confirmed weekly voyages with ENOS safety and Nitrox included.
- Jacuzzi
- En-Suite bathrooms
- Aircon Cabins
5.0(9 reviews)
24 guestsfrom $195/day
Sindalahs
Explore the Red Sea's wonders in comfort and style aboard the Sindalahs.
- En-Suite bathrooms
- Aircon Cabins
- Warm Water Showers
5.0(33 reviews)
26 guestsfrom $155/day
Star Jet
Access the Red Sea's underwater sites from a well-appointed liveaboard.
- Snorkeling gear available
- Paddleboard available
- Kayaks available
5.0(89 reviews)
28 guestsfrom $145/day
Blue Seas
Premium Aquatic Expeditions: Discover the Maldives and Red Sea on a vessel defined by strength, security, and refined comfort.
- Two Large Sun Decks
- Individual En-suite Bathrooms
- Outdoor Shaded Lounges
4.9(45 reviews)
24 guestsfrom $155/day
Diving the Deep South Red Sea
The Deep South is the last stretch of Egyptian coast before Sudan: St. John's Reef, Fury Shoals, Sataya, Rocky Island and Zabargad. Boats leave from Marsa Alam or Hamata and sail south for hours, and that distance is the whole point — fewer boats, almost no day-trip traffic and hard coral gardens in a condition you rarely see anywhere else in the Red Sea.
St. John's Reef is a scattered complex of shallow reefs, pinnacles and caves right on the Sudanese border. Umm Kharerim — 'the cave system' — is a maze of swim-throughs where light shafts cut through the roof; Habili Ali and Habili Gaffar are pinnacles in the blue with grey reef sharks and hammerheads passing by.
Fury Shoals adds Sha'ab Claudia and Sha'ab Maksur: caverns, coral towers and a resident pod of spinner dolphins at Sataya that stays in the lagoon year-round. Further out, Rocky Island and Zabargad give the route its wild edge, with steep walls, strong current and pelagic traffic.
The deep south is not a wreck route and it is not a guaranteed shark route. It is the region you book for coral, caves, dolphins and quiet — the closest thing to Sudanese diving that you can reach on an Egyptian visa and a European short-haul flight.
Regions & routes
One sea, three completely different underwater worlds. Pick the route that matches your experience and the animals you dream of meeting — every itinerary writes its own story.
Liveaboards at Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone
Liveaboards in the Northern Red Sea
Liveaboards in Egypt
Liveaboards in the Red SeaTop reasons to dive the Deep South Red Sea
Remote reefs, healthy hard coral and moorings you often have to yourself. This is why experienced Red Sea divers keep coming back to the far south.
The healthiest hard coral in Egypt
Fury Shoals and St. John's sit far from any day-boat harbour. The result is dense, undamaged hard coral gardens in three to twelve metres — the best shallow reef diving in the country.
Caves and light shafts
Umm Kharerim at St. John's and Sha'ab Claudia are mazes of caverns and swim-throughs where sunbeams break through the reef roof. Easy, shallow and unforgettable for photographers.
Dolphins at Sataya
A resident pod of spinner dolphins rests in the Sataya lagoon all year. Most southern itineraries schedule a snorkel session with them at midday.
Sharks without the crowds
Habili Ali, Rocky Island and Zabargad bring grey reef sharks, hammerheads in summer and the occasional oceanic whitetip in autumn — usually with no other boat on the mooring.
Space to yourself
The distance from the ports filters out the fleet. On many southern dives you will not see a single diver who is not from your own boat.
Combines with the offshore reefs
Most southern itineraries take in Elphinstone and often Daedalus on the way out or back, so you get coral gardens and open-ocean walls in one week.
The southern itineraries compared
Three itinerary families cover the far south. They differ in how far the boat sails and whether coral or sharks lead the week.
Coral & Caves
St. John's & Fury Shoals
Highlights
Umm Kharerim caves, Habili Ali, Sha'ab Claudia, Sha'ab Maksur, Sataya dolphins
Difficulty
Moderate
shallow reefs and caverns, some exposed pinnacles
Best season
March–November; warmest and calmest June–September
Photographerscoral loversdivers with 30+ logged dives
Coral & Sharks
Deep South & Elphinstone
Highlights
Elphinstone plus Fury Shoals, Sataya and the southern coral gardens
Difficulty
Moderate to advanced
one or two offshore days with current
Best season
March–May and September–November
Divers who want sharks and easy coral days in the same week
The Wild South
Rocky Island, Zabargad & St. John's
Highlights
Rocky Island walls, Zabargad, the deepest southern pinnacles
Difficulty
Advanced
remote, strong current, long crossings
Best season
May–October only
50+ logged divesexperienced divers looking for empty reefs
Requirements & experience per itinerary
The shallow coral gardens are gentle; the outer pinnacles are not. Here is what operators check before they let you on the southern itineraries.
| Route | Certification | Logged dives | Conditions | Gear |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. John's & Fury Shoals | Open Water Diver, Advanced recommended | Around 30 logged dives | Shallow reefs and caverns at 5–25 m, mild to moderate current, long transfers | DSMB, torch for the caves, 3–5 mm suit |
| Deep South & Elphinstone | Advanced Open Water recommended | 30–50 logged dives | Offshore plateaus with strong current mixed with sheltered coral gardens | DSMB mandatory, nitrox recommended |
| Rocky Island & Zabargad | Advanced Open Water — required by most operators | 50 logged dives minimum | Remote walls, strong and shifting current, deep blue-water descents, no shelter | DSMB mandatory, nitrox strongly recommended |
St. John's & Fury Shoals
- Certification:
- Open Water Diver, Advanced recommended
- Logged dives:
- Around 30 logged dives
- Conditions:
- Shallow reefs and caverns at 5–25 m, mild to moderate current, long transfers
- Gear:
- DSMB, torch for the caves, 3–5 mm suit
Deep South & Elphinstone
- Certification:
- Advanced Open Water recommended
- Logged dives:
- 30–50 logged dives
- Conditions:
- Offshore plateaus with strong current mixed with sheltered coral gardens
- Gear:
- DSMB mandatory, nitrox recommended
Rocky Island & Zabargad
- Certification:
- Advanced Open Water — required by most operators
- Logged dives:
- 50 logged dives minimum
- Conditions:
- Remote walls, strong and shifting current, deep blue-water descents, no shelter
- Gear:
- DSMB mandatory, nitrox strongly recommended
The caves of St. John's and Fury Shoals are open, well-lit caverns with direct exits — no cave certification is needed, but you always follow the guide and carry a torch. Marine-park rules apply throughout: no gloves, no reef hooks, no touching.
Signature dive sites of the Deep South
The reefs that shape a southern week. Each site has its own page with depths, conditions and the boats that go there.
St. John's ReefA scattered complex of reefs, pinnacles and cave systems on the Sudanese border — the southernmost diving in Egypt.Fury ShoalsSha'ab Claudia, Sha'ab Maksur and coral towers: caverns, swim-throughs and the best shallow hard coral in the country.Sataya Reef'Dolphin Reef' — a huge horseshoe lagoon with a resident pod of spinner dolphins and easy coral diving.Habili AliA submerged pinnacle in the blue with soft coral, grey reef sharks and summer hammerheads.Rocky IslandThe wildest site in the south: steep walls, strong current and pelagic traffic, weather permitting.Zabargad IslandA remote island with coral gardens, a wreck on the sand and dramatic topography.Samadai Reef'Dolphin House' near Marsa Alam — a protected lagoon and a regular first or last stop of the week.Elphinstone ReefThe offshore wall most southern itineraries add on the way out — plateaus, current and oceanic whitetips in autumn.
Season & water conditions
The far south is warmer than the north all year and the sailing window is dictated by wind rather than temperature.
Dec–Feb
23–25 °C18 °C32 °C
25–35 m
Quiet off-season. Warmer than the north, but wind can shorten the route and Rocky Island is usually dropped.
Mar–May
25–27 °C18 °C32 °C
25–35 m
Season opens properly: calm seas, mantas on the plateaus, very few boats on the southern moorings.
Jun–Aug
28–31 °C18 °C32 °C
20–30 m
Warmest water in Egypt and the summer hammerhead window at the outer pinnacles. A 3 mm shorty is plenty.
Sep–Nov
27–29 °C18 °C32 °C
25–40 m
Best all-round window: warm water, top visibility and oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone from late October.
Southern itineraries cover long distances, so most sailing is done overnight and the daily schedule can shift with the wind. If you are prone to seasickness, the sheltered Fury Shoals routes are a better choice than Rocky Island and Zabargad.
Big-animal calendar: when to see what
The south delivers dolphins all year and sharks by season. Every name links to a full species profile with photos, behaviour and the sites where it lives.
Spinner DolphinJFMAMJJASONDSataya lagoon, Samadai ReefResident pods rest in the sheltered lagoons through the day — the most reliable dolphin encounter in Egypt.
Grey Reef SharkJFMAMJJASONDHabili Ali, Rocky Island, St. John's pinnaclesPatrols the offshore pinnacles on almost every dive, usually just below the reef top in the blue.
Scalloped HammerheadJFMAMJJASONDHabili Ali, Rocky Island, outer St. John'sSummer schools pass the southern pinnacles at dawn — smaller than at Daedalus, but with no other boat nearby.
Oceanic Whitetip SharkJFMAMJJASONDElphinstone, Rocky Island, ZabargadAutumn brings the longimanus to the offshore stops that most southern routes include on the way out.
Reef Manta RayJFMAMJJASONDSouthern plateaus, Elphinstone, SatayaSpring plankton pulls mantas onto the shallow plateaus, often during the safety stop.
DugongJFMAMJJASONDSeagrass bays around Marsa Alam and Abu DabbabThe famous Abu Dabbab dugongs graze the seagrass close to the southern ports — often a first-day stop.
These windows come from years of sighting patterns across the fleet. Nature keeps no fixed schedule, but choosing your month with this table raises the odds dramatically.
Getting there & departure ports
Every southern itinerary starts in the south of Egypt. The further your route goes, the earlier the boat leaves the marina.
Port Ghalib (Marsa Alam)
The main southern hub, 15 minutes from Marsa Alam airport, with direct flights from most of Europe. Elphinstone lies just offshore.
Hamata
The closest port to St. John's and Fury Shoals — shorter crossings and more dive time in the far south. Around two hours by road from Marsa Alam airport.
Marsa Alam town
Used by some operators for southern round trips; transfers are short and the coastal reefs start immediately.
Hurghada
Occasional long southern routes start here. Expect a full night of sailing before the first southern dive.
St. John's sits directly on the Sudanese border, but Egyptian southern itineraries stay in Egyptian waters — no second visa is needed. Boats that continue into Sudan are sold as separate itineraries with their own visa and permit rules.
What does a Deep South liveaboard cost?
Real numbers instead of guesswork: these are the current starting prices per day, taken live from the bookable departures in our system — the same basis you see on every boat card across the site.
Deep South (St. John's & Sataya)
Long crossings and marine-park fees put the south slightly above the northern routes.
Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone
The offshore shark route — a similar price level with a very different week underwater.
Northern Red Sea (wrecks & reefs)
The cheapest Egyptian week: sheltered wrecks and reefs from Hurghada.
Egypt (whole fleet)
The entry price across every Egyptian route, for a quick sanity check on any offer.
Included in the trip price
The week is full board: cabin, all meals, water, coffee and tea, three to four dives a day, tanks, weights and a dive guide are included in the trip price.
Costs that come on top
Budget extra for marine-park and port fees (paid on board), nitrox fills, rental gear, soft drinks and alcohol, and the crew tip — customarily five to ten percent. Flights and pre-cruise hotel nights are never included.
September to November is the most popular southern window and sells out first. March–May offers the same reefs with calmer moorings and noticeably better prices.
Cost level
The calendar below shows how liveaboard prices shift month by month, so you can see exactly when your money goes furthest. We want every diver to get the best possible value, which is why we highlight the seasons that balance great conditions with the fairest rates.
$97–$181
per day liveaboard
Prices reflect typical costs for mid-range to premium options. Budget alternatives may be available.
Deep South Red Sea liveaboard FAQ
When is the best time to dive in the Deep South Red Sea?
Diving conditions in the Deep South Red Sea change throughout the year. Check our month-by-month best-time-to-dive guides to plan around peak visibility, weather and marine life encounters.
Do I need a liveaboard to dive in the Deep South Red Sea?
A liveaboard gives you access to remote dive sites in the Deep South Red Sea that day boats cannot reach, plus 3–5 dives per day in maximum comfort. For the best dives in the Deep South Red Sea, a liveaboard is the recommended choice.
What certification do I need to dive in the Deep South Red Sea?
Most Deep South Red Sea liveaboards require Open Water as a minimum, with Advanced Open Water and 30+ logged dives recommended for currents and deeper sites. Some expert routes require Tech or 100+ dives.
How much does a Deep South Red Sea liveaboard cost?
Liveaboard prices in the Deep South Red Sea typically range from €1,500 to €6,000+ per week depending on vessel category, route length and season. Browse the boats below for live pricing.
Do I need a visa for Deep South Red Sea?
Visa requirements vary by your nationality. Always check the latest entry rules with the destination's official government source before booking flights.
Is diving in the Deep South Red Sea safe for beginners?
Many Deep South Red Sea sites are beginner-friendly, but some routes feature strong currents or deep walls suited only to experienced divers. Check each vessel's recommended experience level.
What makes the Deep South different from the north?
Distance. The southern reefs are hours from any harbour, so the hard coral is in far better condition and the moorings are quiet. You trade the famous wrecks of the north for caves, coral gardens, dolphins and empty dive sites.
How experienced do I need to be?
For St. John's and Fury Shoals an Open Water card with around 30 logged dives is enough — most sites are 5–25 m. Rocky Island and Zabargad are a different matter: Advanced certification and 50 logged dives are the norm because of current and remoteness.
Will I definitely see the dolphins at Sataya?
Very often, but nothing in the sea is guaranteed. A pod lives in the Sataya lagoon year-round and most itineraries schedule a snorkel session there; encounters are in the water at the surface, never a chase by boat.
Do southern trips include Elphinstone?
Most do, on the way out or on the way back, because it lies just off Marsa Alam. If oceanic whitetips are your priority, book between late October and December and check that Elphinstone is written into the itinerary.
Which airport should I fly into?
Marsa Alam for almost every southern route. Boats leave from Port Ghalib, 15 minutes from the terminal, or from Hamata about two hours south. Hurghada works too, but adds a long road transfer or an extra night of sailing.
Is the south warmer than the north?
Yes, by two to three degrees all year. Winter water sits around 23–25 °C and summer reaches 31 °C, which makes it the most comfortable Egyptian region for divers who feel the cold.
Where to go next
Compare the far south with the other Egyptian route families, or explore the main liveaboard countries around the Red Sea — including Djibouti's whale-shark season and Saudi Arabia's emerging coast.
EgyptVisas, airports, ports and the complete Egyptian fleet
DjiboutiWhale-shark season in the Gulf of Tadjoura, Oct–Feb
Saudi ArabiaThe newest Red Sea coast — few boats, unexplored reefsRed SeaThe whole sea: all routes, seasons and countries in one overviewBrothers, Daedalus & ElphinstoneThe offshore shark route for 50+ logged divesNorthern Red SeaThistlegorm, Abu Nuhas and Ras Mohammed — the classic wreck weekPlan your trip
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