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North & Tiran
The most complete Red Sea liveaboard route from Hurghada. Four Tiran Strait reefs, Ras Mohamed National Park, SS Thistlegorm, SS Dunraven Wreck, Sha'ab Abu Nuhas and El Fanous — 7 nights covering the full northern Red Sea in one safari.
The Full Northern Red Sea in One Safari.
The North & Tiran is the broadest Red Sea liveaboard route from Hurghada — covering every major zone of the northern Egyptian Red Sea in one week. Coral pinnacles and dolphin lagoons near Hurghada, the world-famous national park of Ras Mohamed, four of the Red Sea's most dramatic drift-dive reefs in the Tiran Strait, two legendary wrecks (Thistlegorm and SS Dunraven), and the ship graveyard of Sha'ab Abu Nuhas.
The Tiran Strait reefs — Jackson, Thomas, Woodhouse and Gordon — are named after British cartographers and lie between Tiran Island and the Sinai Peninsula. Strong, nutrient-rich currents funnel through the strait and support some of the most pristine and biodiverse reef systems in the Red Sea: gorgonian walls, vertical drop-offs, hammerhead sharks in the blue, and wrecks right on the reef itself. These are drift dives — you ride the current, your boat picks you up.
Combined with Ras Mohamed National Park (global top-10 dive site), SS Thistlegorm, the SS Dunraven (1876) and Sha'ab Abu Nuhas wrecks, and the night-dive favourites of Mahmoudat and El Fanous East, this route genuinely has everything the northern Red Sea offers.
Diver Requirements
Open Water Diver with 20+ logged dives minimum. The Tiran Strait reefs involve strong, unpredictable currents and are best suited to divers with drift diving experience. Check dives on Day 2 allow the guide to assess all divers. Advanced Open Water recommended for Thistlegorm and SS Dunraven dives.
What's Included on This Route
Tiran · Ras Mohamed · Thistlegorm · Sha'ab Abu Nuhas
Every iconic dive site in the northern Red Sea on one liveaboard safari from Hurghada — coral reefs, drift dives, wrecks and night dives across all 7 dive days.
El Fanous East
Sha'ab Abu Nuhas — Wreck Alley
Sha'ab Mahmoudat
Shark Reef & Yolanda Reef — Ras Mohamed
Jackson Reef — Tiran Strait
Gordon Reef — Tiran Strait
Thomas Reef — Tiran Strait
Anemone City
SS Dunraven — Sha'ab Mahmoud
SS Thistlegorm
Siyul Kebira Lagoon
Sha'ab El Erg — Dolphin House
Day by Day
All itineraries are subject to weather, coast guard permits and captain's discretion. Tiran Strait dives are subject to current conditions — site order may change.
Embarkation
Board M/Y Aphrodite from 18:00 — a 10-minute transfer from Hurghada Airport (HRG). Welcome briefing, cabin allocation, safety brief and dive equipment set-up. Overnight in port. Departure the following morning after coast guard clearance.
El Fanous East · Sha'ab Abu Nuhas · Mahmoudat Night
Depart after coast guard clearance (~09:00). First dive at El Fanous East — a check dive on the coral pinnacles north of Giftun, ideal for establishing weights and trim. Second dive at Sha'ab Abu Nuhas — wreck alley in the Strait of Gubal, diving the Giannis D (1983 Greek freighter, 4–27m). Sail to Sha'ab Mahmoudat for the third dive on the reef pinnacles. Night dive at Mahmoudat: cephalopods, leopard sharks, blue-spotted rays and ghost pipefish in the sandy sections after dark.
Shark Reef & Yolanda Reef · Jackson Reef · Gordon Reef
Sail south to Ras Mohamed National Park for the first dive — Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef drift, along the 700m wall with resident grey reef sharks and barracuda, finishing above the Yolanda wreck's surreal cargo of bathtubs and toilets. Then north into the Tiran Strait for two drift dives: Jackson Reef (the most famous, coral garden on the south, hammerheads in the blue) and Gordon Reef (accessible, the Loullia wreck on the surface). No night dives at either national park site.
Thomas Reef · Anemone City · Shark Reef & Yolanda Reef · Mahmoudat Night
Morning drift dive at Thomas Reef — the smallest and most spectacular Tiran reef, with purple and red soft coral walls and the Thomas Canyon starting at 35m. Second dive at Anemone City on the south corner of Panorama Reef — giant anemones packed with clownfish from 5–20m, a colourful contrast to the morning's drift. Third dive back at Shark Reef & Yolanda Reef for a second visit with different conditions and light. Night dive at Sha'ab Mahmoudat: one of the best night dive reefs on the north route.
SS Dunraven · SS Thistlegorm
Two of the greatest wreck dives in the Red Sea in one day. Morning dive at the SS Dunraven — the Victorian steamship lying upside down at Sha'ab Mahmoud since 1876. Less crowded than Thistlegorm, in excellent condition — penetrate from the stern opening, pass the boiler, exit at the bow. Then sail to Sha'ab Ali for two dives on the SS Thistlegorm — the WWII merchant ship at 16–32m. Arrive before day-trippers for long, quiet bottom times on Nitrox.
Sha'ab Abu Nuhas · Siyul Kebira Lagoon · Sha'ab El Erg · Fanous East Night
Return to Sha'ab Abu Nuhas for a second wreck — the Carnatic (1869, the oldest wreck on this route) or Chrisoula K (still with its cargo of Italian floor tiles). Second dive at Siyul Kebira Lagoon — a calm, sheltered coral garden dive for long Nitrox bottom times. Third dive at Sha'ab El Erg dolphin lagoon — spinner dolphins most mornings. Night dive back at El Fanous East: blue-spotted rays, octopus and sleeping parrotfish around the pinnacles.
El Fanous East — Final Dive Day
Final dive day at El Fanous East — the same reef seen on Day 2 as a check dive, now familiar and relaxed. Frogfish, crocodilefish and rare macro life in the sand. Long Nitrox bottom times, unhurried pace. Return sail to Hurghada Marriott Marina for farewell dinner on board.
Disembarkation
Check-out after breakfast. Transfers to Hurghada Airport (HRG) — 10 minutes.
Marine Life on the North & Tiran Route
From spinner dolphins near Hurghada to hammerheads in the Tiran Strait — the North & Tiran liveaboard route offers the widest marine life variety of any north Red Sea safari.
Book North & Tiran from Hurghada
Tiran Strait reefs, Ras Mohamed, SS Thistlegorm, SS Dunraven, Sha'ab Abu Nuhas wrecks — the most complete northern Red Sea liveaboard route from Hurghada Marriott Marina on M/Y Aphrodite.