The Red Sea has long held a mythical status among divers. It is a place where coral walls drop into blue infinity, where hammerheads drift through sunlit water, and where World War II wrecks lie quietly beneath the waves. For those who want to experience this magic in comfort, the Bismarck Liveaboard offers a front row seat to some of Egypt’s most spectacular underwater realms.
Launched in 2023, this impressive 46-metre steel yacht combines modern design, thoughtful luxury, and serious dive capability. From the moment you step aboard, there is a sense that Bismarck was built by divers, for divers. Every deck, cabin, and corner has been designed to enhance both the adventure and the relaxation that come with a week at sea.
A Floating Resort for Serious Divers
The Bismarck’s five decks are spacious and beautifully finished. Accommodation ranges from elegant doubles to expansive suites on the upper jacuzzi deck, each fitted with air-conditioning, ensuite bathrooms, and soft lighting that makes returning from a dive feel like coming home. Wide corridors and open stairways create a sense of space, while the outdoor lounges and sundecks invite guests to stretch out and breathe in the sea air between dives.
In the evenings, divers gather around the outdoor bar as the sun dips below the horizon. Sea breezes mingle with the scent of barbecue, and laughter drifts across the deck. Inside, a comfortable saloon with deep sofas and large screens provides a welcoming space for dive briefings, photo sharing, or relaxed conversations over coffee. There is even a small wellness corner where guests can book a massage after a long day in the water.
Meals are a highlight of every voyage. The onboard chefs prepare a mix of Egyptian and international dishes, served either buffet-style or plated depending on the day’s mood. Fresh seafood, grilled meats, and colourful salads are followed by desserts that always seem to arrive at just the right moment. Soft drinks, coffee, and tea are available throughout the day, and the crew are happy to accommodate special dietary needs.
Dive Operations Designed for Exploration
The dive deck is spacious, shaded, and clearly built with divers in mind. Each guest has an individual gear station, and there are rinse tanks, camera tables, and dedicated charging points for photography equipment. Two large tenders make the journey to and from the dive sites smooth and efficient. Nitrox is available, and the Bismarck is fully equipped for rebreather and technical diving, which makes it an excellent choice for experienced or professional divers.
The crew are one of the vessel’s greatest assets. Experienced, multilingual, and deeply passionate about diving, they run each trip with a combination of precision and warmth. Whether it is a sunrise wake-up call, an extra helping at dinner, or a perfectly timed briefing before a dive, the service always feels personal and genuine.
Photo by Andreas Pretali on Unsplash
Into the Heart of the Red Sea
Bismarck sails to some of the most iconic dive destinations in Egypt, including the legendary Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone reefs. These offshore sites form the heart of Egypt’s deep southern diving and are known for both their beauty and their wild, open-ocean encounters.
The Brothers Islands rise dramatically from the sea, their walls blanketed in soft corals and gorgonian fans. The wrecks of Aida II and Numidia cling to the reef and are now covered in life, attracting everything from anthias and morays to the occasional grey reef shark. Farther out, Daedalus Reef is one of the Red Sea’s most exciting dive locations. Beneath the solitary lighthouse, divers descend along steep walls where schooling hammerheads sometimes spiral up from the depths. The currents are strong, the dives are thrilling, and the remoteness of the site adds a powerful sense of adventure.
Elphinstone offers a different kind of beauty. Its sheer walls are draped in pink and red soft corals, and drift dives here can be both peaceful and electrifying. Clouds of fusiliers fill the blue, and grey reef sharks often appear from the depths to patrol the edge of the reef.
On longer itineraries, Bismarck explores even further south to St. John’s, Zabargad, and Rocky Island. These sites are far from the usual dive traffic and remain among the Red Sea’s most untouched areas. Every cave, plateau, and coral head bursts with life, from tiny macro critters to large pelagics cruising the drop-offs.
Life on Board
Between dives, life aboard Bismarck settles into an easy rhythm. Guests relax on the sundeck, trade stories of hammerhead sightings, or soak in the jacuzzi while the horizon glows with the afternoon sun. Later, as darkness falls, the deck transforms into an open-air dining space under a sky full of stars.
It is this balance that makes a liveaboard experience so unique. Days are filled with exploration and adrenaline, while evenings bring calm, good food, and shared camaraderie. On the Bismarck, that balance feels effortless.
Why Bismarck Stands Apart
There are many liveaboards in the Red Sea, but few achieve the same blend of comfort, practicality, and diving performance. Bismarck manages to feel both luxurious and purposeful. It caters equally to experienced divers chasing pelagics and to those who simply want to enjoy Egypt’s underwater beauty without sacrificing comfort.
Each journey offers something unique. The chance to witness hammerheads cruising in the blue, to explore a century-old wreck now overgrown with coral, or to float silently over a reef so full of life that every inch seems to move. And at the end of each dive, there is the comfort of a warm shower, a good meal, and a view that stretches endlessly across the sea.
The Call of the Blue
For divers who crave adventure but appreciate the details that make a trip unforgettable, the Bismarck Liveaboard is more than just a boat. It is a gateway to one of the most extraordinary marine environments on Earth. The southern Red Sea rewards those who travel a little farther and dive a little deeper. Onboard Bismarck, that journey is as comfortable as it is unforgettable.
