Aldebaran Liveaboard Overview

Egypt’s Red Sea is one of the most popular dive destinations in the world—and for good reason. With warm, clear waters, you can dive year-round and explore shipwrecks, swim alongside vibrant coral gardens, and see hundreds of species of fish and sharks. Liveaboards in Egypt, including Aldebaran, usually only accept experienced divers. This is not only for safety, but to also ensure you get the most out of your dives.

With that said, the Aldebaran liveaboard covers the best dive locations in Egypt, offering classic dive routes in the north and south Red Sea. In the North, you can find some of Egypt’s most famous dive sites, including the SS Thistlegorm and the Ras Mohammed National Park. In the south, you’ll find less-crowded dive sites, but these tend to be deeper and feature stronger currents. It’s also where you’ll find big marine animals, like sharks and mantas.

Keep reading as we dive into our review of Aldebaran.

Where to book

Aldebaran liveaboard yacht with a red hull anchored on open blue water

Liveaboard.comNo booking fees Divebooker.comFree DAN insurance

Diving on the Aldebaran liveaboard

Diver silhouetted beneath a school of reef fish over a coral wall in the Red Sea

Scorpionfish camouflaged among soft corals with the sun glowing overhead

Scuba tanks lined up on the Aldebaran liveaboard's dive deck

Diver swimming near the surface above a hard coral reef

A dense school of barracuda swirling together in open blue water

Diving in Egypt offers something for everyone: wrecks, corals, sharks, currents, wall dives, and more. Plus, the turquoise waters boast excellent visibility (over 130 feet/30 m). Although you can dive with Aldebaran year-round, water temperatures vary considerably between seasons. They can dip as low as 70 F (21 C) in the winter and as high as 91 F (33 C) in the summer.

Aldebaran offers four diving routes, centered around either the north or south Red Sea. Each itinerary lasts seven nights and you can log up to three dives per day for a total of 17 dives. There are no dives on embarkation day, with two offered on disembarkation day.

You also have the option of doing a night dive every day of the trip, allowing you to log even more dives. All dives are done from the dive deck or tenders.

The Hurghada North itinerary includes the WWII wreck of the SS Thistlegorm and Ras Mohammed Marine Park. The Saint John’s itinerary includes the legendary Zabargad and Rocky Islands, which promise walls and shark encounters, including hammerheads. The Brothers Islands–Daedalus itinerary offers more walls and shark dives. Finally, the Daedalus–Zabargad itinerary features reefs, drop-offs, and shark diving opportunities.

Depending on the itinerary, the boat departs from Port Ghalib (Marsa Alam), Hamata Port (near Ras Banas), or Hurghada.

Whichever trip you choose, diving guidelines in Egypt recommend a certain level of experience. You’ll be visiting remote locations with strong currents and deep dives, so, as a good rule of thumb, you should have at least 30 logged dives.

At an extra cost, you can rent the scuba gear and dive using nitrox. For your safety, carry an SMB on all dives.

Highlights:

World-famous dive sites
Northern and southern itineraries in the Red Sea
Liveaboard for experienced divers
Remote diving

Onboard the Aldebaran

Sun loungers on the Aldebaran's bow deck with the Egyptian flag flying above

Shaded seating area on the upper deck with a marina view beyond

Lounge seating and dining nook aboard the Aldebaran liveaboard

Wooden deck seating overlooking a marina lined with buildings

Cabin bed on the Aldebaran with folded towels and magazines

Aldebaran is a 115-foot (35 m) modern liveaboard easily recognizable by its red hull.

Onboard, there are six twin cabins, two triple cabins, and two suites, for a total capacity of 20 people. All cabins have an en suite bathroom, air conditioning, storage space, a minibar, and ocean-view windows.

The cabins and the common living areas are spread over four decks. On the lower deck are the double and triple cabins.

On the main deck, you’ll find the dive deck, and a large, air-conditioned salon and dining area with comfortable couches and chairs. The decoration is stylish, with natural light filtering in through the windows. Separating the dining area from the salon is a simple bookcase with a TV and audio unit. At the front, there are also bean bags for divers to relax in the sun. Aldebaran also offers its guests complimentary Wi-Fi onboard.

On the upper deck are the two suite cabins and a shaded, open-air dining and sun lounge area, as well as an open-air sundeck with loungers.

Located at the back of the boat, the large dive deck has storage space for personal scuba gear and belongings. The camera table offers space to charge and secure cameras and other electronic equipment. The dive deck leads onto the dive platform, which makes entries and exits into the water or the tenders easy.

Apart from scuba diving, Aldebaran also offers kitesurfing programs.

Highlights:

Ocean-view cabins
Two triple cabins
Complimentary Wi-Fi
Kitesurfing lessons at an extra cost

Dining onboard the Aldebaran

Salon lounge aboard the Aldebaran with a TV and bookshelf

Guests enjoying homemade pizza together on the Aldebaran's deck

Aldebaran has a varied, rich menu served buffet-style. There are different types of soups, a selection of fruit and vegetables, as well as different cuts of fish and meat. You can find roast beef, grilled fish, salmon filet, roasted chicken, and Egyptian kofta.

Aldebaran can also accommodate most diets, such as gluten-free and vegetarian. Apart from alcoholic beverages, all soft drinks, tea, and coffee are included in the price.