Dive trip with Alia Soul - 7 nights

Boat

Completely reworked for a new generation of Red Sea diving, Alia Soul combines the warm character of a wooden safari vessel with a bright, contemporary interior. The 36-metre liveaboard underwent a major renovation in 2024, including enlarged cabins and bathrooms, an extended hull, a generous dive platform and redesigned leisure decks. With a beam of 7.5 metres and a maximum of 20 guests, she provides plenty of room without losing the friendly atmosphere of a small dive group.

Four decks separate active diving areas from the places intended for rest. The air-conditioned salon is light and inviting, with comfortable seating for briefings, conversation and photo review. An elegant dining space hosts buffet meals, while extensive teak decks offer shaded lounges, sunbeds and open viewpoints over the Egyptian Red Sea. The upper sun deck is especially appealing after the final dive, when the desert coast and offshore reefs take on the colours of sunset.

Alia Soul is powered by two 540 hp Caterpillar engines and supported by two generators. Her range allows the crew to link classic northern wrecks with offshore marine parks or travel south from Port Ghalib to St. Johns, Fury Shoals and other remote reef systems. Routes vary from short three- or four-night escapes to longer seven- and nine-night expeditions.

Dining is arranged as full board, normally including three buffet-style meals and one snack each day. Water, tea, coffee and soft drinks are included under the operator's published policy, while beer, wine and other alcoholic beverages can be purchased. The kitchen serves a mix of Egyptian, Mediterranean and international dishes; dietary needs should be communicated well before departure.

Safety receives unusual attention aboard Alia Soul. In addition to standard navigation and emergency equipment, the vessel carries ENOS diver-location units, medical oxygen, a defibrillator and a dedicated treatment room. Together with a roomy dive deck and experienced multilingual team, these features make Alia Soul a compelling choice for divers seeking a comfortable, safety-conscious Red Sea liveaboard.

Cabin

Alia Soul accommodates 20 guests in 10 individually themed, air-conditioned cabins, all with private ensuite bathrooms. Natural wood, clean white finishes, large marine-inspired murals and thoughtful lighting give each room its own identity while keeping the overall style calm and modern.

The upper deck contains four cabins:

• Zen: queen-size bed and sea-facing window
• Blue Lagoon: queen-size bed and sea-facing window
• Romance: twin beds
• Egypt Lovers: twin beds

Six twin cabins are located on the lower deck:

• Starlight
• Hollywood
• Adventure
• Ocean Lovers
• Book Lovers
• Plant Lovers

Typical cabin features include:

• Individually controlled air conditioning
• Private bathroom with shower, toilet and washbasin
• Comfortable queen or twin beds according to category
• Reading lights and bedside storage
• Wardrobe or luggage space
• Towels and regular housekeeping

The operator advises that cabins do not contain general-use power sockets. Phones, cameras and other electronics should be charged in the designated area on the dive deck, where the electrical supply is 220V with European-style outlets. Guests who want a particular bed arrangement or upper-deck location should reserve early and obtain written confirmation.

Diving

Alia Soul was renovated around the needs of serious Red Sea divers. A broad platform and organised dive deck provide space to assemble equipment without crowding, while two Bauer compressors and a membrane system supply air and Nitrox 32%. Standard 12-litre aluminium cylinders are available, and 15-litre cylinders can be requested for an additional fee.

On a typical week-long cruise, guests can expect 3–4 dives on full diving days, with two dives on the final day. The exact total changes with route length, crossings, marine-park regulations and weather. Night dives are common on suitable coastal routes but are prohibited inside the offshore marine parks at Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone.

The ENOS system is one of Alia Soul's defining safety features. Each diver and guide receives a transmitter designed to help the vessel locate a separated diver at the surface. Divers must still carry the normal personal safety equipment required by the operator, including a dive computer, surface marker buoy and torch for night diving.

Main diving facilities include:

• Spacious dive deck and extended water-level platform
• Two Bauer air compressors
• Nitrox membrane system with complimentary Nitrox 32% for certified users
• 12-litre and optional 15-litre aluminium cylinders
• Dedicated charging area for underwater cameras and electronics
• ENOS diver-location units for divers and guides
• Rental equipment when ordered sufficiently in advance
• SSI courses, including Nitrox, deep and wreck specialties, by prior arrangement
• Private dive guide available on request

Some northern reef itineraries suit qualified Open Water divers, but offshore marine-park and southern routes are more demanding. Published guidance calls for advanced training and a meaningful number of logged dives; Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone is aimed at experienced divers, with 50 logged dives recommended. Strong current, swell, deep walls, negative entries and blue-water ascents may be part of the experience.

Other Information

• Destination: Egyptian Red Sea
• Main ports: Safaga/Soma Bay and Port Ghalib; ports may change with the route
• Nearest airports: Hurghada (HRG) for Safaga/Soma Bay; Marsa Alam (RMF) for Port Ghalib
• Renovation: Major refit completed in 2024
• Construction: Wooden hull with teak decking
• Dimensions: 36 m long × 7.5 m wide
• Guests / cabins: 20 guests in 10 ensuite cabins
• Decks: 4
• Engines: 2 × Caterpillar, 540 hp each
• Nitrox: Nitrox 32% is advertised as complimentary for certified divers
• Electricity: 220V, European-style sockets in the dedicated charging area; no general sockets in cabins
• Internet: Complimentary Wi-Fi is advertised, subject to offshore coverage
• Languages: English onboard; dive guides may also speak German, Italian and Arabic
• Meals: Full board with three meals and one snack daily
• Safety: ENOS, oxygen, defibrillator, treatment room, two 25-person life rafts, emergency exits, fire detection and suppression, GPS, VHF, AIS, radar transponder and satellite phones
• No-fly interval: The operator recommends at least 24 hours between the final dive and flying
• Insurance: Dedicated dive-accident insurance covering hyperbaric treatment is strongly recommended
• Payments: Current onboard cash and card policies should be confirmed before travel