Do I need a special certification to join?

You need a minimum Open Water certification; some wrecks and night dives require Advanced or logged experience—check with the operator before booking.

Yes, Nitrox is offered on this itinerary for divers qualified to use it; confirm mixes with the crew onboard.

What’s included in the price?

Typical inclusions are seven nights aboard, 21+ dives including night dives, 12L cylinders, three meals daily, water and some transfers—check the booking link for full inclusions.

Are night dives safe?

Night dives follow strict briefings and guides; carry a primary torch and backup and follow the buddy system and team signals.

What about insurance and medical requirements?

Diving medicals and dive insurance are recommended; the itinerary lists travel and cancellation cover in inclusions—confirm required documents before travel.

When is the best time to dive the Red Sea?

October–May is generally regarded as prime; this trip runs year-round with seasonal variations in temperature and visibility.

Mar Rojo Liveaboard 2026: Thistlegorm, Ras Mohamed & Iconic Wrecks | Scuba | Snorkel

Mar Rojo 2026 is a week-long liveaboard that sails the Red Sea from Hurghada, Egypt, combining world-class reef dives, historic wrecks and the deep walls of Ras Mohamed National Park. Departing from Hurghada, this route stitches together famous sites—the Thistlegorm wreck, Abu Nuhas’s notorious four wrecks, the protected channels of Gubal, and the nutrient-rich Shark Reef—into six days of diving and nocturnal explorations.

On the surface you feel the steady boat rhythm; below, colors and textures redefine the sea. Shaab El Erg’s hard coral gardens roll from shallow bommies into drop-offs where schools of fusiliers, bannerfish and rays hunt. Abu Nuhas offers the cinematic architecture of shipwrecks—Carnatic, Giannis D, Chrisoula K and Kimon M—each an artificial reef colonized by morays, lionfish and colonies of anemones. The Thistlegorm, a World War II freighter, remains one of the region’s most evocative wrecks: gun crates, motorcycles and army kit sit in ghostly rows, turned over time into habitat for sweepers and glassfish.

Ras Mohamed stands apart for its sheer verticality. Walls tumble toward depths exceeding 1,000 meters, fed by nutrient upwellings that concentrate pelagics. Shark Reef and the Yolanda site reward divers with dramatic walls, large-group sightings and the chance to drift with barracuda and trevally. Night dives on shallow wrecks reveal hawkfish, scorpionfish and the resident giant moray that slides from shadow into strobe light.

This itinerary is also social and practical: seven nights aboard, six days of guided diving, Nitrox on offer, and transfers included. The operator—Pura Vida (referenced in the booking)—adds an instructor-led presence to manage groups and safety. Meals, drinking water and basic comforts are handled aboard, leaving divers to focus on dive briefings, tailoring nitrox mixes and swapping wreck stories at sunset.

Why book this trip? For one week you gain a concentrated picture of the northern and southern Red Sea dive scene in a single, efficient loop. You’ll move from shallow coral gardens to deep wreck corridors, experience both daylight pelagic encounters and luminous night dives, and sleep under a sky that feels vast and close. For surface interval fans, dawn watches commonly bring dolphin pods; for photographers, clear water and diverse subjects make the Red Sea an exceptionally forgiving classroom.

Practical notes: bring your dive certification card and logbook, a camera with wide-angle capability, and respect marine park rules—Ras Mohamed is protected and benefits from careful diving practices. The program includes 21+ dives including night dives, 12L cylinders and three meals daily; excluded are international flights, personal dive equipment, port taxes beyond those listed, and tips—so plan accordingly before you arrive. Also, pack sensibly. Ideal for certified divers with some wreck experience, the trip suits photographers, wreck enthusiasts and those comfortable with drifting and night dives.

About Pura Vida Diving

Pura Vida Diving is a dive center based in Playa Blanca, Canarias, offering guided dives, certification courses and multi-dive packages for visitors to Lanzarote. The center runs a range of experiences from introductory bautizos and snorkel tours to professional-level training such as Divemaster and Instructor programs.

Activities include single and double immersions at the Museo Atlántico, specialized courses like Nitrox, Deep Diving and Night Diving, plus Extended Range and Decompression Diving options. Training follows recognized standards, with specific programs listed such as the Perfect Buoyancy SSI course, Scuba Diver to Open Water progression, Rescue and First Aid, and Instructor SSI Open Water preparation. Multi-dive packages (2, 4, 6, 8, 10 dives) provide guided dives with complete gear, daily transport on select packages, eco-friendly snacks and family-oriented amenities including a kids play area. Several programs include certification dives, confined water practice and open water sessions with clear hour estimates where provided.

Pura Vida Diving emphasizes eco-guided museum dives at the Museo Atlántico and structured training pathways including Assistant Instructor and Respond Right Instructor preparation. Courses specify age minimums when applicable, for example introductory dives are available from age 8. The center advertises no-expiration dive packages for returning divers and offers practical skills training such as buoyancy, underwater navigation and fish identification. All listed trips and course names reflect the center’s publicly offered schedule and program summaries. Schedules include single dives, multi-day courses and special trips such as Mar Rojo 2025 and wreck diving courses focused on pecios (barcos hundidos). Check schedules.