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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Everything, Answered.
Six categories, thirty-eight answers. If your question isn’t here — write to us. We answer fast and we answer honestly.
01
General
Safaris depart from Hurghada Marriott Marina (10 minutes from Hurghada Airport, HRG) for northern routes, and from Port Ghalib Marina (near Marsa Alam Airport, RMF) for southern routes. Some southern routes also depart from Hamata. The departure port is clearly noted on each route page. Airport transfers are included in the price.
M/Y Aphrodite accommodates a maximum of 26 guests across 11 private en-suite cabins. Private charters mean the entire vessel is exclusive to one group. Individual bookings on open departures share the boat with other guests — up to the 26-person maximum.
Our crew and dive guides speak English, German, Russian, Arabic and Czech. If your group speaks a specific language, let us know when booking — we’ll assign the most suitable guide or arrange a translator.
Visa requirements vary by nationality. Most nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Hurghada or Marsa Alam airports, or purchase an e-visa before travel. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months beyond your planned departure date from Egypt. We also require a passport copy for Egyptian coast guard safari permits — please send it at least 5 days before departure.
All itineraries and dive schedules are examples and subject to weather, sea conditions and coast guard permits. Safety always comes first — the captain makes all final decisions on routing and diving. If a planned site is not accessible, we go to the best available alternative. No refund is issued for itinerary changes due to conditions beyond our control — this is standard for all Red Sea liveaboard operations.
If we need to change the departure or arrival harbour for any reason, we provide transfers for all guests at no additional cost.
02
Diving
- Most northern routes — Open Water Diver (OWD) minimum
- Advanced routes (Daedalus, Rocky, St. John’s etc.) — Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD) + 30 logged dives
- Brothers Islands — AOWD + minimum 50 logged dives — HEPCA marine park regulation, strictly enforced
Yes — free Nitrox 32% is included for all certified Nitrox divers on every departure, on every fill. Our on-board membrane system produces Nitrox continuously. No surcharge, no extra paperwork beyond your Nitrox certification card. A valid Nitrox/EANx specialty is required. Guests without Nitrox certification dive on air from dedicated tanks.
Typically 3–4 dives per day, including a night dive where permitted and conditions allow. Night dives are not permitted at Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, Rocky Island, Ras Mohamed NP or Tiran Island (HEPCA). Night dives are available at Sataya, St. John’s, Zabargad, Sha’ab El Erg and others depending on the route.
12L and 15L aluminium tanks, stage tanks (8–10L), twin sets with V weights, two compressors (L&W 280 L/min + Bauer Mariner 240 L/min). Equipment rental (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, fins) available for an additional charge. We recommend bringing your own mask and dive computer.
Yes — a personal dive computer is mandatory for all scuba diving on board. An SMB (surface marker buoy) is also mandatory. Please bring both from home.
Yes — dive insurance is mandatory for all scuba diving guests. We recommend DAN (Divers Alert Network) or equivalent. The nearest recompression chamber is in Hurghada. Guests without valid dive insurance will not be permitted to dive — no refund is issued. Comprehensive travel insurance is also strongly recommended for all guests.
Absolutely. Snorkellers are welcome on all diving departures and have access to the same sites from the surface. If a non-diver wants to try scuba, Discover Scuba introductory dives and full certification courses are available on board with our PADI and SSI instructors.
Yes — PADI and SSI courses are available at all levels: Advanced Open Water, Rescue Diver, Nitrox specialty, Deep Diver and others. Completing your AOWD on a liveaboard means your qualifying dives are at real Red Sea sites — Ras Mohamed, Thistlegorm, Elphinstone — not a pool. Contact us before booking to discuss options.
Yes. Twin set, rebreather and decompression divers are welcome. The Numidia wreck on Big Brother, the deep walls at Daedalus and Elphinstone all have serious technical potential. Please declare your configuration and planned profiles at the time of booking.
03
Kiteboarding
Kiteboarding safaris run as full charter only — the whole boat is reserved for one group. This ensures the water at each spot stays exclusively yours and allows us to optimise the daily schedule entirely around wind and conditions.
A zodiac is on the water at all times whenever your group is riding. If you drift, we come to you. Every session runs with active water safety — no waiting on shore, no swimming back.
The captain actively routes the boat to chase the best conditions. On low-wind days, alternative activities are available — snorkelling, intro diving, island exploration, water activities. The itinerary adapts to what the weather is doing.
Yes — IKO and VDWS certified instructors are available on board. The flat-water lagoons at Tawila, Ashrafi and Abu Monar are excellent learning environments. Beginners take lessons while advanced riders use the same spots for freestyle and distance riding.
Kite equipment rental is available on board for an additional charge. Please confirm availability and sizes when booking — we recommend bringing your own equipment where possible.
04
Yoga & Wellness
Yoga and wellness retreats primarily run as full charters — the retreat leader books the whole boat and runs their own programme. Individual cabin bookings on wellness weeks are released when available. Contact us to be notified of upcoming openings.
Yes. The sun deck is the primary yoga space for morning sessions — open sky, full sunrise, 360° views. The shaded lower deck is good for afternoon sessions. The indoor saloon accommodates practice when needed. Yoga mats are provided on board.
We cannot guarantee wildlife encounters — dolphins are wild animals. What we can tell you is that Sataya (south) and Sha’ab El Erg (north) both have large resident pods that are present year-round. Encounters are frequent and often extraordinary. We route the safaris specifically to maximise this possibility.
Yes — children are welcome. Activities are adaptable to all ages. Sha’ab El Erg (northern route) is particularly suitable for younger guests. Please let us know in advance if children are in your group.
Completely. On a full charter, the retreat leader designs the daily schedule — session times, activities, pace. We handle logistics: meals, transfers, water activities and crew support. You lead the retreat; we run the boat.
There is no massage therapist permanently on board. A therapist can be arranged to join for the week on request — contact us before booking. Additional cost, subject to availability.
05
On Board
- Full-board halal open buffet (all meals)
- Soft drinks, coffee, tea and fresh juices
- Free Nitrox 32% — all dives, all certified divers
- 12L tanks, weights and weight belts
- Dive guide on every dive
- Airport / port transfers (HRG or RMF)
- Cabin with individual air conditioning
- Daily housekeeping, towels
Not included: marine park fees, dive equipment rental, alcoholic beverages, dive insurance, travel insurance, optional courses, tips (discretionary).
Boarding: from 17:00 on Day 1. First meal is dinner. The boat departs the following morning after coast guard clearance.
Disembarkation: after breakfast on the last morning.
Yes — vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, lactose-free and other dietary needs are accommodated. Please inform us at the time of booking — not on departure day. All food on board is halal by default.
Yes — alcohol is available on board and billed separately. Retreat leaders running wellness charters can request an alcohol-free environment for the full week.
Yes — Wi-Fi is available on board. Signal strength varies by location. Near shore and at populated anchorages connectivity is good. At remote offshore sites (Brothers Islands, Daedalus, deep south), signal may be limited or absent. The boat has satellite communication for safety.
All 11 cabins have private en-suite bathrooms, individual air conditioning, comfortable beds, storage and daily housekeeping. Fully restored in 2025, hull overhaul in 2026.
- Lower deck: 6 twin-bed cabins + 1 Master Suite (queen bed)
- Middle deck: 1 family room + 1 double cabin
- Upper deck: 2 sea-view cabins
06
Booking & Payment
Contact us directly via WhatsApp (+20 114 004 1188) or email (safari@aphroditeliveaboard.com). Tell us your preferred route, dates, number of guests and certification levels. We respond within 24 hours with availability and payment details.
- Individual cabin bookings: 100% full payment at the time of booking. Your cabin is confirmed only upon receipt of full payment.
- Private charter: 50% deposit to confirm, remaining 50% due 90 days before departure.
- Bank transfer (preferred) — in EUR. Bank fees are the guest’s responsibility.
- Visa or Mastercard — 2.5% processing surcharge applies.
- On board: Visa/Mastercard (2.5% surcharge) or cash in EUR, USD or EGP.
All cancellations must be submitted in writing. For individual bookings:
- More than 90 days before departure — 30% charge
- 60–90 days — 50% charge
- 30–59 days — 75% charge
- Less than 30 days / no-show — 100%, no refund
If a departure cannot proceed due to circumstances beyond our control (severe weather, coast guard orders, political events, pandemic, etc.), all payments are transferred in full to an alternative departure date of your choice within 24 months. No deposit is forfeited due to force majeure events.
Dive insurance is mandatory for all scuba diving guests. Comprehensive travel insurance covering trip cancellation, medical expenses and evacuation is strongly recommended for all guests.
Date changes and modifications are subject to availability. Contact us as early as possible — the sooner you reach out, the more options we have. A substitution fee of EUR 50 applies per guest substitution.
Still Have a Question?
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