Hammerhead 2 | Northern Egypt, Southern Egypt

Boat

M/Y Hammerhead II is the larger vessel in Hammerhead Fleet's Egyptian Red Sea operation and entered service in 2019. The current operator page markets it as a 45-metre, five-deck liveaboard. The fleet's 2023 catalogue instead records 43 metres, a 9.3-metre beam and “four decks plus rooftop.” Both are official figures, so 45 metres should be treated as the current marketed length and 43 metres as the catalogue technical length until the operator supplies a revised survey.

The vessel carries 32 paying guests in 16 guest cabins. Two additional guide cabins and four crew cabins are working accommodation and do not increase saleable capacity. This distinction matters because the lower-deck plan shows ten rooms: eight for guests and two for guides. Advertising all ten as guest rooms would incorrectly produce 18 cabins and 36 berths.

Public areas are designed for a larger group. Official images show a wide panoramic salon, a bright restaurant with sea-facing windows, coffee and beverage station, shaded upper lounge, open sun areas and several outdoor seating zones. A forward open-air Jacuzzi is advertised and photographed. It is an onboard amenity rather than a guaranteed part of every day; guests should reconfirm its operational status if it is important to the booking.

Hammerhead II has a broad working stern with a dive deck described as holding 36 individual gear or kite-surfing positions, plus two public guest bathrooms. Rows of tank stations, central aisles and a low aft platform allow two groups to prepare without carrying wet equipment through the salon. Two 6.5-metre speedboats with 85 hp Yamaha outboards are listed for entries and pickups, along with a smaller emergency Zodiac.

The current operator specification publishes two main engines at approximately 1,400 hp each, two 270 kW generators, two Bauer K15 air compressors and a Nitrox compressor. Retail pages contain different figures—43 metres, engines around 1,350 hp and other tank capacities—so these should not be mixed into a single supposedly exact technical sheet. The operator's own dated confirmation should control a specialist charter.

Two watermakers are stated at 7 m³ per day each, with two fresh-water storage tanks of eight tonnes each and two 180-litre hot-water tanks. An onboard laundry room is fitted with two washing machines and a dryer. This does not mean personal laundry is free: current retail listings price laundry/pressing as optional, and crew use may take priority.

The vessel has a substantial central air-conditioning system, while guest cabins allow individual control. Advertised safety equipment includes an emergency first-response kit, oxygen, three 20-person liferafts, fire extinguishing and detection equipment, radar, GPS and VHF radio. These systems complement the muster drill, dive safety rules, personal signalling devices, insurance and the captain's authority; they do not remove normal offshore risk.

Full board is standard on current dive packages, with main meals, snacks, water, soft drinks and tea/coffee listed by major sales channels. Exact menus, alcohol, premium coffee and special-diet handling depend on the contract. Allergy, vegetarian, religious and medical requests should be submitted in advance and confirmed again before embarkation.

Although designed primarily for scuba, Hammerhead II is also promoted for free-diving, kite-surfing, leisure and custom cruises. Those activities require their own staff, safety plan and equipment. A standard dive fare does not automatically include kite instruction, free-diving supervision or a non-diving entertainment programme. Non-divers should ask what they may do while dive groups are away from the mother ship.

Cabin

The precise saleable inventory is 16 guest cabins for a maximum of 32 guests, divided as follows:

• 8 Lower Deck Standard Twin Cabins — maximum 2 guests each: each has two separate single beds. The official 2023 catalogue describes both beds as approximately 100 cm wide. These are the conventional sharing cabins for friends or paired solo travellers.
• 6 Upper Deck Panoramic / Deluxe Mixed-Bed Cabins — maximum 2 guests each: each has one larger bed and one separate single bed, plus broad exterior windows. The current fleet page states approximately 160 cm + 100 cm; the 2023 catalogue instead states 130 cm + 100 cm. The live configuration and mattress widths must therefore be reconfirmed. These rooms are sold for two guests, not three.
• 2 Upper Deck Panoramic Master Suites — maximum 2 guests each: forward-facing suites with one shared double bed. The catalogue describes the main mattress as approximately 140 cm and also labels a small auxiliary “baby bed.” That narrow auxiliary berth is not published as a third adult bed and must not be used to advertise triple occupancy without written operator approval.

The guest arithmetic is clear: eight lower twins + six upper mixed-bed cabins + two upper Master Suites = 16 cabins and 32 guests. In addition, the lower deck includes 2 twin guide cabins and the vessel has 4 crew cabins. They are operational rooms and are excluded from guest sales.

Every guest cabin is advertised with a private ensuite shower/toilet and individually controlled air conditioning. Lower rooms have smaller hull windows; the six Deluxe cabins and two Master Suites have the larger panoramic outlook shown in official photographs. Category names vary between “upper-deck cabin,” “Deluxe,” “panoramic” and “Master,” so a reservation should identify the deck and bed layout rather than rely on the label alone.

The upper mixed-bed rooms are especially easy to misdescribe. One larger bed plus one single does not automatically create three capacity, and two unrelated guests should confirm which person will use which mattress. Couples may prefer the larger bed and leave the single unused, while friends can use the two separate surfaces. Exact widths conflict between official documents, making written bed confirmation appropriate when comfort or accessibility depends on it.

The Master Suites should be sold for two on the main double bed. The catalogue's “baby bed” wording is not enough to promise a cot, guardrail, child service or third berth. Families must obtain approval, minimum-age rules, child equipment and the final occupancy in writing. Scuba programmes and open deck areas are not automatically suitable for young children.

No reliable operator source publishes measured cabin floor areas, exact bathroom dimensions, safe, hairdryer, minibar, bathrobes, USB inventory, soundproofing or individual refrigerator for every category. Generic booking icons should not be converted into guarantees. Current retail listings include cabin towels and complimentary toiletries, but quantity, brand and replacement schedule remain operational details.

Single occupancy is not a separate cabin category. A solo traveller normally shares a lower twin or requests sole use subject to availability and supplement. The public plans show stairs rather than a lift and no adapted cabin is published. Guests with reduced mobility should request a written review of cabin access, bathroom thresholds, tender boarding and emergency evacuation before payment.

Diving

Hammerhead II supports a wide range of Egyptian Red Sea diving, from short reef samplers and northern wreck weeks to Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone, St John's, Rocky and Zabargad expeditions. The large dive deck has up to 36 preparation positions, while the two tenders allow split-group entries and pickups. The maximum guest count remains 32.

Two Bauer K15 compressors and a dedicated Nitrox system are published. A normal package uses standard 12-litre cylinders and weights. Nitrox is technically available but not universally included: a current sales channel prices a weekly package separately, and certification and capacity still apply. Fifteen-litre cylinders, rental gear, private guides, courses and non-standard gas require advance confirmation.

On a seven-night departure, six diving days and around 18 dives are common, including night dives where permitted. Hammerhead II also appears on current three- and four-night mini-safaris, which naturally carry fewer dives. No dive total is guaranteed: arrival and departure logistics, check dive, current, weather, navigation, park rules and the no-fly interval control the final schedule.

Current route guidance places wreck-and-reef weeks around a 30-dive Open Water threshold, while Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone generally requires at least 50 logged dives plus Advanced Open Water or equivalent. The operator or retailer may set a higher standard. Recent experience in current, walls, negative entries and open-water ascents can matter more than an old logbook total.

Night diving can be offered at protected reefs but is prohibited or operationally unsuitable at several offshore marine parks. “Night dives included” means no separate dive charge where one is scheduled; it does not guarantee a night dive at Brothers, Daedalus or every evening.

The tenders are important on exposed sites. Divers may need to enter together, descend without delay, deploy an SMB and complete a blue-water pickup. The briefing's maximum depth, gas rule, current direction and separation procedure are mandatory. Larger guest capacity makes disciplined group allocation particularly important.

Training, rental and private-guide services are available by arrangement, but not every course can be delivered on every itinerary. Technical diving, rebreathers, helium-based mixes, decompression cylinders and sidemount should not be inferred from the presence of Nitrox. Guests must bring appropriate certification, medical documents and insurance and should reserve specialised equipment well before departure.

Suitable dive insurance should cover recompression treatment, offshore evacuation and repatriation. One channel mentions short-term DAN cover on request, but its limits must be reviewed and it may not address trip cancellation, baggage or all medical needs. Personal travel cover remains advisable.

Northern reefs can produce turtles, rays, dolphins and dense reef fish, while central and southern offshore routes add the possibility of thresher, hammerhead, grey reef and oceanic whitetip sharks. Encounters are seasonal and never guaranteed. Divers should avoid chasing wildlife, touching coral or entering wreck overheads beyond their training.

Other Information

Hammerhead II has both shared scheduled departures and custom charter uses. Current booking pages show full weeks, short safaris and themed combinations such as diving with yoga or dolphin-focused programmes. Inclusion varies by product; the itemised confirmation takes precedence over a marketing title.

Commonly included in current standard dive packages when written in the quotation:

• Accommodation in the booked shared cabin category for the stated number of nights
• Full board, routine snacks, drinking water, soft drinks and tea/coffee
• Planned guided recreational dives and night dives where permitted
• Standard 12-litre air cylinder, air fills, weights and weight belt
• Cabin towels, deck towels, routine toiletries and onboard Wi-Fi on current listings
• VAT on itemised current retail offers

Mandatory or commonly separate charges on current sales pages:

• Environmental/marine-park fee — one major current listing displays approximately EUR 200 per trip, while another route-specific seller displays a lower figure; confirm the exact departure
• Port fee — currently around EUR 45 per trip
• Fuel fee — currently around EUR 45 per trip on several offers
• Mandatory service charge — currently around EUR 16.66 per person per day

The discrepancy in environmental fees demonstrates why amounts must not be copied from one route to another. All figures are current examples, not permanent promises; obtain the final total, currency and payment method before booking.

Usually excluded, optional or rate-dependent unless expressly bundled:

• Flights, excess baggage, Egyptian visa, hotels and independent transport
• Airport, hotel, marina and inter-port transfers
• Nitrox, Nitrox course, 15-litre cylinder, rental equipment and replacement of lost gear
• Private guide, dive courses, speciality training and extra dives
• Alcohol, premium beverages and personal bar purchases
• Excursions, yoga teacher or themed-programme activities unless named in that departure
• Personal laundry and pressing despite the vessel having a laundry room
• Crew/guide gratuities and personal expenses
• Comprehensive travel, cancellation, medical evacuation and dive-accident insurance

Hammerhead II operates the same broad Red Sea geography as the fleet but offers a wider mix of durations. Current schedules include three- and four-night mini-safaris, standard seven-night programmes, themed dive departures and longer charter possibilities. The plans below explain the route styles without claiming a fixed daily sequence.

Port clearance, weather, current, marine-park rules, group experience and captain/guide judgement control the actual programme. A reef may be replaced, route direction reversed or dive cancelled. Wildlife and the advertised number of dives are never guaranteed.

Mini Safari — Brothers Light or Northern Sampler

Short three- or four-night departures give guests a concentrated liveaboard experience, but they cannot reproduce a full seven-night route. Depending on the published date and ports, a mini safari may focus on the Brothers area or accessible northern reefs and wrecks.

Day 1 — Boarding and briefing: guests join at the confirmed marina, complete documents, receive cabins and prepare equipment. Sailing and any check dive depend on arrival and authority clearance.

Day 2 — Core diving area: an early dive begins the active programme. On a Brothers Light route, Hammerhead II may reach Big or Little Brother for walls and pelagic potential. On a northern sampler, check reefs, Gubal or nearby wreck sites are more realistic.

Day 3 — Repeat or secondary sites: the team uses the best conditions for two or three dives. Offshore park rules may eliminate a night dive; a sheltered northern anchorage can allow one.

Day 4/5 — Closing dives and return: the final sessions finish early enough for the port passage and no-fly interval. A short itinerary is sensitive to weather: losing one crossing window can change its emphasis substantially.

Mini safaris suit experienced divers with limited time only when flights and transfers leave a safe margin. The contract must name the route, nights, approximate dives, ports and minimum experience.

Wrecks & Reefs — Abu Nuhas, Thistlegorm and Ras Mohammed

The week-long Wrecks & Reefs programme combines the northern Gulf of Suez wreck corridor with coral diving around Ras Mohammed. Current listings commonly ask for Open Water or equivalent and approximately 30 logged dives, although penetration requires suitable training beyond that basic threshold.

After a protected check dive, Hammerhead II can move toward Abu Nuhas, where Giannis D, Carnatic and other wrecks offer different orientations and depths. The chosen sites depend on waves, moorings and the group's ability.

At SS Thistlegorm, exterior routes reveal locomotives, anti-aircraft equipment and deck structures; trained teams may visit selected holds. Current, depth, congestion and overhead hazards make it inappropriate to promise unrestricted access or a fixed number of dives.

Ras Mohammed brings walls, coral plateaus and schooling fish at Shark and Yolanda reefs. Gubal, Shaab Mahmoud, Shag Rock or Small Crack can supply intermediate and night-dive options. The sequence is planned around navigation, not a rigid day-by-day checklist.

A representative week provides check dives on day two, two to three days around northern wrecks, a day at Ras Mohammed and closing reefs during the return. The first and final days are shorter.

Exploring North — Tiran, Ras Mohammed and Historic Wrecks

Exploring North extends the wreck programme toward the Strait of Tiran. Abu Nuhas and Thistlegorm deliver maritime history; Ras Mohammed and the Tiran reefs add drift diving, walls, gorgonians and blue-water edges.

At Tiran, Jackson Reef is known for steep walls and fan corals, Woodhouse for a long current-swept profile, Thomas for a compact reef and deep canyon area, and Gordon for a broad plateau. Conditions determine which reefs can be dived and from which direction.

Hammerhead II's tenders support moving pickups, but the group must enter together and follow the stated depth and gas limits. The route may be reversed if wind makes the long crossing preferable earlier or later in the week.

Night dives are most likely at sheltered northern moorings, not current-exposed walls. A guest interested in a specific wreck or Tiran reef should verify that the named departure includes that route family rather than assume every “North” week has identical coverage.

Sharks Obsession — Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone

This is Hammerhead II's main offshore circuit and is commonly sold as Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone. It is designed for advanced divers with at least 50 logged dives and current recent experience. Negative entries, waves, drop-offs and blue-water safety stops are routine possibilities.

The voyage usually begins with one or more check dives before crossing to Big and Little Brother. Big Brother includes the Numidia and Aida wrecks on a steep reef; Little Brother offers dramatic walls, fans and pelagic potential. Repeated dives depend on wind and current.

At Daedalus, the group may make early entries on the current-facing side to look into the blue for hammerheads. The reef's lighthouse is an unmistakable landmark, but the underwater terrain drops rapidly and animal sightings cannot be guaranteed.

Elphinstone adds colourful north and south plateaus and possible oceanic whitetip encounters. The dive team may schedule it before or after Daedalus depending on route direction and port. Shark-safety briefings and conservative separation procedures apply.

Long night passages connect the marine parks, and night diving is generally unavailable there. The route can produce fewer dives than a sheltered northern week while demanding considerably more skill.

Southern Charm — St John's, Sataya and Elphinstone

Southern Charm focuses on coral scenery and reef systems rather than a dense collection of metal wrecks. A representative week uses Port Ghalib-area logistics and travels toward Fury Shoal, Sataya and St John's, with Elphinstone scheduled when sea conditions allow.

The first day of diving establishes weighting and groups. Fury Shoal offers hard-coral gardens, channels and pinnacles, while Sataya is associated with spinner dolphins. Respectful encounters depend on animal presence and local rules; they are never part of the fare guarantee.

At St John's, shallow labyrinths and cave-like passages create striking light effects. Only appropriate recreational swim-throughs should be used, with the guide selecting routes for surge, visibility and group experience. Deeper walls and plateaus broaden the programme.

Elphinstone may close or open the circuit. Its exposed walls contrast with the sheltered southern gardens and can bring stronger current. Weather can replace it with a safer reef without making the entire southern programme invalid.

Roller Coaster — Daedalus, Rocky, Zabargad and Sataya

Roller Coaster is a long-range route linking exposed central and deep-southern sites. It is intended for experienced guests comfortable with repeated active diving and overnight navigation. The public fleet outline includes Daedalus, Rocky/Zabargad and Sataya.

Daedalus provides sheer walls and pelagic searches. Farther south, Rocky Island drops steeply into deep water and Zabargad combines island scenery, coral slopes, lagoons and wreck possibilities. Sataya then offers a different landscape of coral gardens and channels.

The captain may run the route in either direction and may omit the most exposed site if the sea window closes. A remote itinerary requires flexibility: protecting the group and vessel is more important than reaching every name on a marketing map.

Yoga, Diving & Dolphins — A Themed Departure

Current Hammerhead II schedules include selected themed weeks combining diving, yoga and dolphin-oriented southern reefs. This is a distinct product, not a permanent feature of every safari. The quotation must confirm the instructor, number and level of yoga sessions, equipment, suitable deck space and whether activities alter the dive schedule.

A representative week may use calm morning or sunset periods for yoga, with recreational dives around Fury Shoal, Sataya and nearby reefs. Dolphin searches remain subject to wildlife presence and responsible-interaction rules. Guests should not expect feeding, touching or a private encounter.

Themed departures can work well for mixed-interest travellers, but non-divers need their own included-activity list and supervision plan. “Yoga and dolphins” does not resolve certification, logged-dive thresholds, medical conditions or travel insurance.

Typical Seven-Night Rhythm and Choosing a Route

An active day commonly begins with a dawn briefing and first dive before breakfast. The second dive comes before lunch, followed by an afternoon session. A night dive may follow at a safe, permitted anchorage. Offshore crossings and marine-park rules can reduce the daily count.

Choose Wrecks & Reefs for Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas; Exploring North for wrecks plus Tiran; Sharks Obsession for exposed marine parks and pelagic potential; Southern Charm for coral gardens and St John's; Roller Coaster for the strongest expedition character. Choose a mini safari only if its reduced duration and weather sensitivity fit the trip.

The vessel's 32-guest capacity makes group planning relevant. Ask about guide-to-diver ratio, tender allocation and private-guide availability if a guest needs extra assistance. The route's numerical minimum is only a baseline, not proof that every diver is ready for every condition.

Embarkation and Preparation Checklist

Before joining, confirm passport, visa, certification cards, recent logbook, insurance and any required medical clearance. Rental equipment, Nitrox, 15-litre cylinder, private guide and themed activities should already appear on the booking; the boat cannot guarantee last-minute stock. Verify the actual marina, meeting time, transfer and emergency contact rather than relying on a city name.

The check dive is used to adjust weighting, find equipment problems, practise the required SMB procedure and organise compatible groups. Guests should disclose a long break, equalisation difficulty or concern about current. The guides can then choose a safer profile and tender group instead of discovering the issue at an exposed reef.

For offshore routes, bring a personal computer, SMB and reel, audible signal, appropriate thermal protection, torch where relevant, simple spares and authorised medication. After the last dive, observe the most conservative no-fly interval required by the operator, training agency and insurer, with extra time for the return passage and road transfer.

Essential Itinerary Notes

• Current products range from three- and four-night mini safaris to standard seven-night programmes and themed departures.
• Seven-night weeks commonly provide six diving days and around 18 dives, but no total is guaranteed.
• Wreck-and-reef routes may accept Open Water divers with around 30 logged dives; BDE commonly requires Advanced and at least 50.
• Night diving is possible only at suitable legal moorings and not at several offshore marine parks.
• Hurghada and Port Ghalib are common gateways; the specific start and end ports belong in the final confirmation.
• Nitrox, 15-litre cylinders, rental gear, private guide, courses and themed activities may cost extra.
• Routes and site order can change for weather, current, permits, group ability and safety.
• Wildlife descriptions are possibilities, never contractual promises.
• Leave a conservative surface interval and transfer margin before flying.