Frequently Asked Questions – Red Sea Liveaboard Diving
Planning a Red Sea liveaboard diving trip? Find quick answers to common questions about booking, diving certifications, equipment rentals, daily schedules, onboard services, and what to expect during your stay on Xplorer Red Sea. Whether you're a recreational diver or technical pro, we've got your concerns covered.
All of our cruises include a minimum of 16 dives.
This means we guarantee at least 16 dives during the week. If it’s possible to do more—which is often the case—there is no additional cost. However, in winter (when days are shorter), it may be difficult to exceed this number. On the other hand, in summer, we have sometimes surpassed 20 dives. For other cruises, distance and therefore sailing time may prevent us from doing more dives.
We schedule 1 or 2 night dives per week, always at no extra charge. Some dive sites (located far from the coast) are prohibited for night dives for safety reasons.
Whenever possible, we try to accommodate the preferences of the divers on board, while always prioritizing safety.
Our cruises include:
Airport welcome upon arrival at Hurghada or Marsa Alam airport.
Round-trip transfers from the airport to the boat docked at the Marriott 5* marina (15 minutes from Hurghada Airport) or to southern ports Ghalib (15 minutes from Marsa Alam Airport),
Boarding possible from Saturday at 5 PM (sometimes earlier if the boat is ready). The cruise begins Sunday morning (departure around 8 AM).
6-day full-board cruise, with disembarkation the following Saturday morning after breakfast.
AQUARIUS reserves the right to accommodate guests in a 3* or higher hotel on a half-board basis in a shared double room at no extra cost for the last night, depending on scheduling and return flight times.
French/English-speaking dive guide.
Minimum 16 dives per week (often more), including 12L aluminum tanks and weights (weight belt not included).
Nitrox 32% (for certified Nitrox divers). Option to complete Nitrox certification in half a day for €175.
Soft drinks package: water, tea, instant coffee, sodas, and juice.
Egyptian government cruise taxes.
Not included in the price:
Airfare.
Visa fee ($25). Optional airport assistance + visa service for €35 (bookable in advance).
Environmental tax (payable in cash):
€50 per diver per week (standard cruises).
€80 per diver per week (Fury Shoal, North Tiran Dahab, and Kite cruises).
Tank upgrades:
15L aluminum tank (single outlet, DIN/yoke): €40/week.
15L steel tank (double outlet, DIN/yoke): €50/week.
Crew tips (discretionary, minimum €60 per diver per week).
Dive equipment rental (excluding tanks & weights): €100/week for full gear.
Guiding: dive supervision for Level 1 divers or those with fewer than 30 logged dives: €6 per dive (max 2 dives/day, payable on-site).
Alcoholic drinks (wine €15–18/bottle, beer €3).
Single Cabin Supplement:
Pre-book guaranteed single cabin: €600 extra.
Pay on-site (if available): €100 for the week (subject to availability).
Yes, of course. All expenses for the week (alcoholic beverages, equipment rental, lessons, souvenirs (t-shirts, polo shirts, towels, bathrobes, etc.) can be paid by credit card, but be aware of bank fees (3%). It is also possible to pay in cash (no risk of theft).
You can arrive whenever it suits you. Please note that if you arrive at the airport before Saturday at 5 PM, we may ask you to do one of the following:
1/ If you arrive during the night from Friday to Saturday, you can book a hotel room (around €35 per person for a double room or €50 for a single room.
2/ If you arrive on Saturday after 7 AM, you can go to Secret Garden Hotel (€10) to enjoy a trendy beach.
3/ If you arrive on Saturday after 2 PM, we may ask you to leave your luggage at our dive center and take a walk for 1 or 2 hours to allow our staff to finish preparing the boat (cleaning, restocking, refueling).
Same principle applies for departure:
1/ If your flight is after 8 PM on Saturday
2/ If your flight is after 10 AM, in addition to Secret Garden option, you can leave your luggage at the dive center and take a walk.
You have booked an Xplorer cruise—thank you for your trust! The entire Xplorer team will do our best to make your stay enjoyable.
To start, here is some important information and advice before departure.
Our services begin on Saturday at 5:00 PM and end the following Saturday at 10:00 AM. If you arrive before or depart after these times, we can offer you either:
A waiting area on a beach (with full amenities: bar, restaurant, toilets, showers)
A nearby hotel room at your own expense
For more details, contact us or your travel agency.
BEFORE YOUR ARRIVAL ON BOARD:
Send us a copy of the information pages (including photo) of your passport (and those of your companions) via email at least one week before departure.
If possible, bring soft-sided luggage (like duffel bags) rather than hard suitcases.
For clothing and toiletries, pack only the essentials—shorts, T-shirts, and swimsuits will be your main attire. Shoes are unnecessary onboard (everyone goes barefoot). Note: From mid-November to early April, a windbreaker or long-sleeve sweater may be useful.
Electrical outlets are European-style (220V).
Phones and Wi-Fi devices (if your plan allows) will only have network coverage on arrival and departure days.
Earplugs (like foam plugs) are recommended if you’re a light sleeper.
A waterproof bag for valuables (camera, passport, etc.).
Bring reading material (magazines, books, or DVDs—you can leave magazines behind).
WHAT YOUR GUIDE WILL NEED ONBOARD:
A copy of your passport (photo/info pages) or ID (front/back).
Your dive logbook (with recent dives).
Proof of your highest certification (card). A CMAS Level 2, PADI Advanced Open Water, or equivalent (or higher) is required for certain dive sites due to challenging conditions (currents, waves, wind, visibility). Advanced and Nitrox courses will be offered onboard for Level 1/Open Water divers.
Your travel voucher (with cruise name and booked services).
Medications & prescriptions: Ensure you have up-to-date medical certificates, especially if under treatment. If you take medication, you must provide a doctor’s letter confirming your fitness to dive. Without a valid medical certificate (issued within the last year), our instructor will ask you to sign a PADI form declaring (at your own risk) that you are in good health with no diving contraindications.
You must complete a check-in form and sign the boat rules.
ADDITIONAL COSTS:
€50 cash per diver (€80 for Fury Shoal, North Tiran Dahab, and Kite cruises) for the environmental tax (effective Jan. 1, 2020).
A €7 hyperbaric chamber insurance fee (supports chamber maintenance and on-call doctors).
Important: Level 1 divers may only dive twice per day and require supervision (€6 per dive).
DIVING EQUIPMENT:
Minimum safety gear required: Fins, mask, snorkel (PMT), BCD, regulator with pressure gauge, alternate air source, quick-release weight system, surface marker buoy (SMB), small mirror, and whistle.
Full gear rental costs €100/week. To ensure smooth service, send us your equipment list and sizes in advance. We carry backup gear for 2–3 divers in case of malfunctions.
Recommended (not mandatory): Dive computer and torch.
MONEY:
AQUARIUS accepts: Euros, US dollars, Egyptian pounds, and British pounds.
Credit/debit cards are also accepted (3% fee + unfavorable exchange rate).
Your weekly budget should cover:
Hyperbaric insurance (€7)
Equipment rental (if needed)
15L tanks (€30/week, if desired)
Alcoholic drinks (available at the bar after the last dive of the day)
Fresh orange juice (seasonal)
Advanced/Nitrox courses
Tip (bakshish): Minimum €60 per cruise (traditionally given at the end).
A briefing on onboard rules will be held upon arrival or early the next morning.
Most importantly, bring your good mood and humor to share freely!
The entire XPLORER AQUARIUS SAFARI team wishes you a great trip!
The information collected about you is necessary for processing your order and fulfilling your contract. It may also be used to send you promotional or commercial offers via email or postal mail from us.
Under Law No. 2018-493 of June 20, 2018, on personal data protection, you have the right to access, modify, correct, and delete your personal data. To exercise these rights, please contact Xplorer Red Sea, Internet Service, at passport@xplorer-redsea.com, providing your first name, last name, and address.
Generally, we prefer to have a minimum of 8 divers on board (this information is not contractual).
1/ For example, if you book more than a year in advance, you benefit from the current year’s price.
2/ If cabins in a higher category remain unsold, you will be given priority to upgrade (at no extra cost).
3/ Another advantage, and not the least, is that the itinerary you initially choose has a strong chance of being the final one.
For French nationals and those from the European Union, they must have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the return date or a valid identity card with 1 passport-sized photo.
The visa can be obtained upon arrival at the airport in Egypt. It costs $25 (a counter at the airport is open 24/7 to issue this stamp). It is not uncommon for the agents at the counter to say it costs €25 because they don’t have change (or don’t want to provide it).
For other nationalities, please check with the Egyptian consulate in Paris.
For €35 (bookable in advance through us), you can have airport assistance (French-speaking). The price includes the visa fee. The assistant will facilitate the administrative procedures. This service is not available for arrivals via Cairo, as the visa must be purchased there.
No specific vaccinations are required.
The amount charged to your bank card depends on the agreements you have with your bank.
Please note that we are credited 2 or 3 days after your payment.
It’s hard to say which nationalities are represented, as each week is different.
We mainly work with French, Belgian, Dutch, Spanish, Italian, and Ukrainian guests, but Turks, Swiss, Koreans, English, and even Chinese guests are not uncommon.
The mix of nationalities works very well, and it’s a great opportunity to learn another language or improve your English.
In any case, a French-speaking instructor is on board for all our departures.
No cancellation fees apply for airport assistance and visas.
Any cancellation must be notified in writing (email: resa@xplorer-redsea.com), and you must receive an acknowledgment of receipt from the company Xplorer Aquarius Safari.
The date of this acknowledgment of your email will determine the applicable cancellation fees.
The cancellation fee schedule is as follows:
Cancellation more than 90 days before the boat’s departure date: 25% of the total cruise/dive trip amount.
Cancellation between 89 and 45 days before the boat’s departure date: 50% of the total cruise/dive trip amount.
Cancellation between 44 and 15 days before the boat’s departure date: 75% of the total cruise/dive trip amount.
Cancellation within 14 days of the boat’s departure: 100% of the total cruise/dive trip amount.
Included Transfers:
For all our cruises, round-trip transfers between the nearest airport and the departure marina are included.
Transfers from Further Airports (Supplement Applies):
If you arrive at a more distant airport, an additional fee will apply.
Example: For departures from Port Ghalib, if you fly into Hurghada Airport, a €20 supplement (round-trip) will apply, payable on-site.
Pre/Post-Cruise Hotel & Dream Beach Transfers:
If you arrive before Saturday afternoon or depart the following Saturday after 2 PM, we can arrange transfers to:
Your hotel (we can book it for you).
Day use at Secret Garden.
What’s Included:
1 airport-to-boat transfer (arrival) + 1 boat-to-airport transfer (departure).
Not included: Additional transfers for extra hotel nights before/after the cruise (price varies based on distance and group size—available upon request).
For Beginner Divers (Level 1 or Divers with Limited Experience)
Each cruise description on our website specifies the required diving level.
For beginner divers (Level 1 or those with little experience), our instructors will supervise you for up to 2 dives per day (with an additional fee of €6 per dive).
If your underwater skills allow it, our instructor may offer you an Advanced Diver training course over 2 days / 5 dives, which will grant you full underwater autonomy.
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