Heaven Saphir

Boat

M/Y Heaven Saphir is a wooden-hulled Egyptian Red Sea safari vessel with a published length of 36 metres, beam of 8 metres and maximum commercial capacity of 20 guests. A specialist source dates the original build to 2004 and a major refit to 2017; the current operator page does not publish a newer refit date, so future refurbishment should not be assumed without written confirmation.

The official plan divides guest spaces across lower, main/middle and upper decks, with three outdoor sun areas. The air-conditioned salon is listed at approximately 59 m² and includes a bar, flat-screen television and DVD entertainment. Current imagery shows a separate dining arrangement within the broad salon, a shaded aft lounge, open forward deck and upper relaxation spaces. No lift or step-free route is published.

Heaven Saphir is powered by two MAN Turbo engines rated at 550 hp each and carries two supersilent generators listed at 120 kW each. Two desalination units are published at 2,000 litres per 24 hours apiece. These systems are technical capacities, not promises of unlimited freshwater or uninterrupted hotel-style service; guests should follow the crew's conservation and charging rules.

The stern working area provides individual tank stations, equipment storage, rinse points, hot-water deck showers and a separate rinse tank intended for underwater cameras. Two inflatable tenders with 40 hp outboards support entries and pickups. The operator lists 24 aluminium 12-litre cylinders with DIN/INT compatibility, two Bauer compressors rated at 250 litres plus a third at 150 litres, and a membrane Nitrox installation.

Published safety and navigation equipment includes a Thuraya satellite phone, radar, depth sounder, GPS, plotter and marine radio, together with two liferafts, 30 lifejackets, alarms and extinguishers in all cabins and the salon. Current reseller data also lists emergency oxygen, first-aid kits, flares, searchlight, bilge alarm and engine-room CCTV. Final safety equipment, diver-recovery procedure and evacuation plan belong in the onboard briefing.

Food is an important part of the operator's service concept. The official terms describe four full-service meal periods per day, while the onboard page describes three main meals plus afternoon tea and dessert. Both can refer to the same daily rhythm. European-style cooking with Middle Eastern touches, fresh bread, juices, coffee, vegetarian options and welcome drinks are promoted. Allergy, religious, vegan or medical requests must be submitted before travel; a themed menu or specific ingredient remains subject to supply.

An island or beach sunset BBQ is available on request and described by the operator as free, but not possible on every route. A seafood night is also request-dependent. Neither should be advertised as guaranteed solely because a reseller's inclusion table displays “Beach BBQ.” Alcohol is sold separately under the official terms.

The boat is primarily operated for scuba safaris, but the company also offers kite safaris, yoga retreats, corporate charters, free-diving programmes and land extensions. These are separate products. Kite instructors, massage specialists, yoga teachers, fishing, tubing, entertainment and Luxor/Cairo excursions are not standard inclusions in an ordinary dive week unless named in its contract.

Cabin

The most reliable current inventory reconciles to 10 guest cabins and a normal maximum of 20 guests:

• 6 Lower Deck Standard Twin Cabins — Cabins 1–6, normally 2 guests each: two separate side-by-side single beds, private bathroom, individually controlled air conditioning, mini-fridge and music system. The official technical page publishes approximately 12 m² per cabin; a current retailer lists 10 m². Use the operator's 12 m² as its own estimate, while acknowledging that the measurement is not independently surveyed.
• 3 Upper Deck Honeymoon Suites — Cabins 7–9, maximum 2 guests each: one shared double/king-style bed, private bathroom, individually controlled air conditioning, mini-fridge and music system. The operator publishes approximately 15 m²; the current retail category gives 13 m². These are the three upper-deck double-bed rooms in the live inventory.
• 1 Main/Middle Deck Executive Suite — Cabin 10: one double bed plus one separate single bed, private bathroom, individually controlled air conditioning, mini-fridge and music system. The operator lists approximately 20 m² and says the suite can sleep three; a current retailer gives 19.5 m² and also labels it maximum three.

Commercial capacity needs a careful explanation. Six Standard rooms provide 12 beds, three Honeymoon Suites provide six places, and the Executive can physically provide three sleeping surfaces—21 physical places. However, the official boat specification limits the vessel to 20 guests, and current 2026 schedules allocate only two saleable spaces to the Executive. The safe website inventory is therefore 10 cabins / 20 guests. Triple use of the Executive requires written operator approval and must never raise the total passenger manifest above the vessel's permitted capacity.

One official Terms and Conditions paragraph says “four honeymoon suites,” but this conflicts with the operator's technical page, detailed cabin numbering and current sales inventory, all of which show three Honeymoon Suites plus one Executive Suite. The four-suite wording appears to treat all premium rooms together or to be an editing error; it was not used for the cabin count.

All ten cabins are published as ensuite and air-conditioned, with mini-fridge, storage and music. Daily housekeeping appears in current sales information. Cabin towels and toiletries are included by a current reseller, although the operator does not publish a permanent brand, number or replacement schedule. Exact mattress widths, safe, hairdryer, USB layout, sockets, bathrobes, window dimensions and acoustic performance are not consistently documented and should not be promised.

Standard rooms are the correct sharing category for friends and matched solo travellers. Honeymoon Suites have one shared mattress and are best for couples; they should not be sold to two guests requiring separate beds unless an alternative is confirmed. The Executive is the only published room with both double and single sleeping surfaces and can suit a pair who prefer separate beds or a family configuration approved by the operator.

All standard prices are based on double occupancy. A solo guest may be paired in a twin or reserve the whole cabin; current direct terms apply an additional 80% of the original per-person price for guaranteed sole use. Availability and the exact supplement must appear on the invoice. No accessible cabin or lift is published, so mobility, stair access, bathroom thresholds and tender boarding require individual assessment.

Diving

Heaven Saphir operates across much of the Egyptian Red Sea, from Abu Nuhas, Thistlegorm, Ras Mohammed and Safaga to Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone, Fury Shoals, Sataya, St John's, Rocky and Zabargad. Standard weeks usually provide six diving days; ten-night combinations extend the geographic range.

The official terms advertise up to four dives per day, including night dives when route and law permit. Diving starts the day after embarkation, the final full day is limited to up to two dives, and there is no diving on departure day. “Up to” is important: crossings, exposed marine parks, weather, coastguard restrictions, site access, group ability and the pre-flight interval all change the total.

Air fills, weights and belts are included in the direct standard price. The 24 aluminium 12-litre cylinders accept DIN and yoke/INT connections according to the operator. A 15-litre cylinder can currently be arranged with advance notice for a weekly surcharge. Supply is limited, so the size and valve must be written into the booking rather than requested at the dock.

The membrane system produces Nitrox in the 29–32% range. The current official FAQ prices unlimited Nitrox at USD 100 per week for certified users, while current reseller listings show approximately USD 80. Nitrox is therefore an extra unless the chosen departure explicitly includes it. Each diver must hold the appropriate certification and analyse and label the cylinder personally.

Rental equipment is available with sizes submitted during online check-in. Current price lists separately show BCD, regulator, wetsuit, computer, torch, fins, mask, SMB and snorkelling equipment. Prices and what constitutes a “full set” vary by channel. Lost or damaged equipment, specialty items, 15-litre tanks and a private guide require separate confirmation.

Some current sales pages advertise technical, rebreather and sidemount support. The primary operator's public technical page only establishes compressors, aluminium cylinders and membrane Nitrox. Rebreather cylinders, oxygen/helium, absorbent, booster, bailout, oxygen-clean equipment and technical guide are not automatic. A technical diver must obtain a written logistics sheet before paying.

The operator requires certification cards and a logbook. It does not publish one universal logged-dive minimum on the public route pages. Northern wreck weeks and sheltered southern reefs may suit a broader range, while Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone, Rocky and Zabargad can involve current, negative entries, deep walls and blue-water ascents. The confirmation should state the route-specific certification, minimum dives and recency requirement.

Night dives are commonly planned on sheltered reefs but cannot be guaranteed at exposed marine parks. Wreck penetration is never implied by a route name: it depends on training, recent experience, guide approval and conditions. Every diver should carry the required computer, SMB and signalling equipment, follow the gas plan and understand tender pickup and lost-diver procedures.

The operator does not sell dive insurance. Its price explicitly excludes both diving and travel cover. Guests should carry insurance for recompression treatment, offshore evacuation, repatriation, medical care and trip disruption, and should verify depth and activity limits. Possible turtles, rays, dolphins and pelagic sharks are route- and season-dependent; no animal encounter is guaranteed.

Other Information

Heaven Saphir sells direct departures, agency packages and full charters. The official terms and current reseller tables are not identical, so the dated itemisation always controls.

The current direct seven-night price normally includes:

• Eight days/seven nights onboard in the booked double-occupancy cabin category
• Four meal periods per day with full service
• Unlimited drinking water, tea, Nescafé, sodas and routine snacks under the official terms
• Up to four recreational dives per full diving day where operationally possible, with up to two dives on the last full day and none on departure day
• Air fills, weights and weight belts
• Dive-guide service; the operator advertises English, Russian and German, with other language arrangements for suitable groups
• Group airport transfers under the route-specific transfer plan
• Current retail packages may additionally list welcome cocktails, towels, toiletries and Wi-Fi; these should be retained only when written on the selected invoice

Transfers require route-specific confirmation:

• Marsa Alam Airport (RMF)–Port Ghalib transfers on arrival/departure days are published as free; the drive is about ten minutes.
• Hurghada Airport (HRG)–Hurghada marina transfers for northern itineraries are published as free.
• HRG–Port Ghalib is about 230 km and roughly 3–3.5 hours. The official pages conflict: one says group transfers are included, another says free for a full charter but about EUR 50–60 per individual booking. Ask for the exact rule in writing.
• The operator advises arrival at HRG by 15:00 for a southern trip, with the shared bus leaving around 17:00. The return bus leaves Port Ghalib around 10:00 and HRG flights should be booked no earlier than 16:00.

Normally excluded or charged separately under current direct terms:

• International/domestic flights, excess baggage and hotels outside the stated programme
• Egyptian entry visa; USD 25 is the operator's current example, subject to nationality and government change
• Diving and travel insurance
• Nitrox 29–32%, currently around USD 100 per week direct
• Marine-park fees, officially indicated around USD 70–100 depending on itinerary; a 2026 specialist schedule shows USD 160, so use the departure invoice
• Fuel surcharge, officially indicated around USD 60–100 depending on itinerary; current specialist schedules show USD 85
• Individual HRG–Port Ghalib transfer when not included
• 15-litre cylinder, rental equipment, private guide, courses, technical or rebreather logistics
• Beer, wine and other alcoholic/premium bar purchases
• Crew and guide gratuities, land excursions and personal purchases
• Kite instructor, massage therapist, yoga instructor and other themed specialists unless contracted

Heaven Saphir publishes one of the broader Egyptian Red Sea route portfolios, with seven-night circuits, ten-night combinations and specialist non-scuba departures. The following descriptions translate the official site lists into readable website copy; they remain sample programmes rather than guaranteed daily schedules.

Weather, current, coastguard permission, marine-park rules, route logistics and captain/guide judgement control the final order. A site can be repeated, replaced or omitted. “Up to four dives” is an operating maximum, not a promised daily number, and marine animals are never contractual.

Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone — Port Ghalib Return

This central offshore circuit is designed for divers comfortable with walls, current, negative entries and blue-water pickups. The official Ghalib/Ghalib example begins with Abu Dabab check dives, continues to the Brothers and allocates a substantial middle portion to Daedalus before finishing at Elphinstone and Ras Shouna.

Day 1 — Port Ghalib arrival: transfer, check-in after the published time, cabin allocation, equipment setup and general safety briefing. No dive is promised on embarkation day.

Day 2 — Abu Dabab check dives: sheltered sites allow weighting, equipment and group assessment before the exposed crossing.

Day 3 — Big and Little Brother: steep walls, fan corals and pelagic potential define both islands. Big Brother also carries the Numidia and Aida wrecks. Conditions determine whether both islands and multiple profiles are possible.

Days 4–5 — Daedalus Reef: the isolated lighthouse reef offers current-facing walls and possible hammerhead searches. Deep drop-offs demand disciplined maximum depth, turn pressure and separation procedure.

Day 6 — Elphinstone and Abu Dabab/Ras Shouna: north and south plateaus add coral walls and possible oceanic whitetips before the boat moves toward a protected area.

Day 7 — Final dives: up to two shallower dives around Ras Shouna, followed by equipment rinsing and the return to port.

Day 8 — Departure: no diving; disembark according to the transfer plan.

BDE One-Way — Port Ghalib to Hurghada

The one-way version links Elphinstone and Daedalus to Brothers, then continues through Safaga toward Hurghada. It reduces backtracking and adds wreck/reef variety, but the transfer and flight plan must match different start and finish ports.

The official sequence begins at Elphinstone and Shaab Shouna, spends two days around Daedalus, then moves to Big and Little Brother. The Safaga sector can include Salem Express, Panorama Reef and Tobia Arba before final dives at Small Giftun and El Mina near Hurghada.

Salem Express is a maritime grave and must be approached with exceptional respect. Access, penetration and photography follow the guide's briefing and local rules. Long navigation can change the number of dives, while the final-day limit still applies.

Classical North — Wrecks and Reefs from Hurghada

Classical North concentrates on Abu Nuhas, Ras Mohammed, SS Thistlegorm, Shag Rock, Gubal and the Giftun area. It offers more sheltered night-dive opportunities than the offshore park routes and is the clearest choice for divers prioritising Red Sea wreck history.

After an orientation dive, Heaven Saphir can visit selected Abu Nuhas wrecks. At Ras Mohammed, Shark and Yolanda reefs combine walls, coral plateaus and schooling fish. SS Thistlegorm is normally the signature site, with exterior machinery, locomotives and wartime cargo; interior touring requires the right training and conditions.

Shag Rock and Gubal add reefs, wreck fragments and possible night dives. The week then works back through Abu Nuhas, Siyul and Small Giftun before final dives around Gota Abu Ramada or El Mina. The exact wrecks depend on sea state, mooring space and group experience.

Brothers–Safaga — Wrecks, Offshore Walls and Southern Reefs

This Hurghada-return circuit deliberately mixes northern wrecks, Brothers and Safaga. The official example includes Umm Gammar, Abu Nuhas, Ras Mohammed, Thistlegorm, Big/Little Brother, Salem Express, Panorama Reef and Tobia Arba.

The wide range means navigation time is significant and not every site is guaranteed. Wreck profiles and possible night diving dominate the first half; Brothers then introduces more exposed walls and pelagic potential. Safaga closes the programme with a different mix of plateaus, coral and the historically sensitive Salem Express.

It best suits divers who already meet the more demanding Brothers conditions, even if the northern sites themselves are easier. A guest interested only in Thistlegorm or only in sharks may prefer a more focused route.

Daedalus–Fury Shoals — Offshore and Southern Contrast

This seven-night Port Ghalib return route pairs the exposed walls of Daedalus and Elphinstone with the coral gardens, channels and small wrecks of Fury Shoals. It provides a strong contrast between pelagic-focused blue water and more protected southern reef diving.

The official sample uses Abu Dabab for check dives, then Elphinstone and two days at Daedalus. It continues through Shaab Maksour, Sataya South and Abu Galawa Kebir, where the small wreck can add a gentler profile and a possible night dive. Abu Galawa Soraya and Shirianit fill the next day before Elphinstone and Ras Shouna close the trip.

Current and sea state can reverse the sequence. Night dives are more realistic within Fury Shoals than at Daedalus. Dolphin encounters around Sataya are possible but not guaranteed and must follow responsible-interaction guidance.

Southern Route — St John's and Sataya

The St John's week focuses on coral architecture rather than northern metal. It normally begins and ends at Port Ghalib and can include Shaab Marsa Alam, Elphinstone, Big and Small Gota, Dangerous Reef, Habili Ali, Umm Arouk, Paradise Reef, St John's Caves, Sataya, Claudia and Malahi.

Large coral heads and steep walls alternate with shallow passages. The famous cave-like swim-throughs at St John's are recreational overheads only when surge, visibility, training and guide approval make them suitable; they are not an invitation to unsupported cave diving.

Sataya and Fury Shoals provide hard-coral gardens and dolphin potential. Claudia and Malahi add maze-like formations and shafts of light. The last full day uses up to two dives near Ras Shouna, preserving the return and no-fly interval.

Daedalus–Rocky–Zabargad–Sataya–Elphinstone

This deep-southern expedition links some of the most exposed and remote sites in the portfolio. After Abu Dabab and Elphinstone, the official plan moves to Daedalus, then Rocky Island, Zabargad and Sataya before returning north.

Rocky Island has steep walls, rich upper reef and open-ocean current. Zabargad is a large island with reef slopes, lagoons and wreck possibilities. The combination creates long passages and is less suitable for a recently certified diver who is not yet comfortable with rapid entries or blue-water ascents.

Sataya and Eroug El Rhadir provide a more sheltered contrast. Elphinstone and Abu Dabab can be repeated on the way back. Captain and guides may omit the remote southern pair if the weather window closes.

Ten-Night North + BDE + Safaga

The extended ten-night programme combines northern wrecks, Ras Mohammed, Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone and Safaga. The extra nights create a true cross-region journey rather than forcing every famous site into a normal week.

A representative flow starts with Shaab El Erg, Siyul and Gubal, then spends time at Thistlegorm and Ras Mohammed. Abu Nuhas follows before the offshore crossing to Brothers and Daedalus. Elphinstone and Marsa Shouna lead into Safaga sites such as Salem Express and Panorama Reef, with final Giftun dives near Hurghada.

The longer trip demands stamina and spares as well as skill. Repeated diving, variable current and overnight navigation require attention to equalisation, hydration, exposure protection and computer loading. Start and finish ports must be checked because current schedules can also run a Hurghada–Port Ghalib version.

Dolphin Joy & Relax — Free-Diving and Wellness Focus

Dolphin Joy & Relax is published as a free-diving trip based around Sataya/Dolphin Reef, not as a normal four-dive-per-day scuba safari. The sample spends several consecutive days in the Sataya area, allowing a slower rhythm for breath-hold sessions, surface observation and relaxation.

Dolphins remain wild and may leave the lagoon; no sighting, swim or interaction is guaranteed. Guests must follow distance, group and guide rules and should never chase, touch or feed animals. If scuba, yoga, massage or another activity matters, it must be added explicitly rather than inferred from the route name.

This programme can suit non-divers better than an exposed BDE week, but swimming ability, supervision, equipment, medical considerations and child acceptance still require confirmation.

Typical Diving Day and Route Choice

On an active reef day, the first briefing and dive may take place before breakfast. A second dive follows breakfast, a third after lunch and a fourth at sunset or night where permitted. Offshore crossings, marine-park rules and the final-day limit can reduce that schedule. Meals and surface intervals are organised around safe profiles rather than a rigid clock.

Choose Classical North for Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas; BDE for exposed walls and pelagic potential; Daedalus–Fury Shoals for an offshore/southern mix; St John's for coral passages; Rocky–Zabargad for expedition character; and the ten-night route for the broadest scuba coverage. Dolphin Joy & Relax is a distinct free-diving product.

Before paying, compare certification, recent experience, start/end ports, transfer, expected dives, cabin, bed type, Nitrox, equipment and all fees on one dated confirmation. A route title alone is not enough.

Embarkation and Preparation Checklist

Before arrival, verify passport, visa rules, certification cards, recent logbook, insurance and any required medical approval. Send flight details early enough for transfer planning. Nitrox, 15-litre cylinder, rental sizes, private guide, rebreather supplies and special diet must already appear on the booking; last-minute stock is not guaranteed.

Use the check dives to correct weighting, detect equipment problems, practise the required SMB procedure and form compatible teams. Tell the guide about a long break, equalisation issue or concern about current before the offshore crossing. Bring a personal computer, SMB and reel, audible signal, suitable exposure protection, torch where required, simple spares and authorised medication.

The published return timing does not make a tight flight safe. After the last dive, follow the longest surface interval required by the operator, training agency and insurer, then add navigation and road-transfer margin. For a Port Ghalib–HRG journey, the operator itself recommends flights from 16:00 or later.

Essential Itinerary Notes

• Standard trips are normally eight days/seven nights; extended combinations can run ten nights.
• The operator advertises up to four dives per active day, up to two on the final full day and none on departure day.
• No universal logged-dive minimum is published; obtain the exact requirement for the chosen route.
• Night diving, wreck entry and swim-throughs depend on law, site, training and guide approval.
• Hurghada normally serves northern routes; Port Ghalib serves many southern departures; one-way routes use both.
• Nitrox, 15-litre tanks, rental equipment, private guide and technical support require advance confirmation.
• Weather, current, permits and safety can alter the sites, order and dive count.
• Shark, dolphin, manta and other wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.
• Follow the most conservative no-fly interval required by the operator, training agency and insurer.