Emperor Echo

Destination: Red Sea

Simply the Best, The Famous Five, Red Sea Sharks, South & St Johns, Safaga, Brothers & Elphinstone, Reefs & Wrecks, and Get Wrecked! (7 Nights) | From $130/night

IMPORTANT NOTE:

On Saturday, October 28th 2023; Emperor Echo was moored at Fury Shoals when unfortunately a lightning storm with strong winds forced the vessel to snag its mooring and get blown onto the reef resulting in irreversible damage to the ship's hull. Emperor Divers are grateful to our dedicated and effective crew who, along with the guests onboard, smoothly executed evacuation procedures which ensured all got off the vessel unharmed.

Therefore we are currently not taking bookings for Emperor Echo. For similar alternative liveaboards check out or list of Red Sea Liveaboard, or contact us.

Emperor Echo Quick Pitch

Emperor Echo is the latest addition to the Emperor Red Sea Fleet offering exceptional value for money for the 'eat-sleep-dive-repeat diver'.  Emperor Echo sails the popular Famous Five, Red Sea Sharks and Simply the Best routes when the weather and sightings are at their peak, giving the diver more variety and chances to explore the Red Sea at a more affordable price.

Why You'll Like Emperor Echo

• Fully refurbished in 2018
• Great value liveaboard; ideal for groups
• Itineraries dependent on the season for the best diving options
• FREE Nitrox
• Free WiFi 
• Free red wine at dinner

Location

Sailing from Hurghada and Marsa Ghalib Port. Transfers are included as follows: For departures from Marsa Ghalib Port - from Hurghada or Marsa Alam airports and hotels. For departures from Hurghada - from Hurghada airport and hotels.

Dive Overview

The Red Sea offers exquisite dive options as the "Egyptian Riviera," where you will find stunning wrecks and reefs in close vicinity to historic above-water heritage sites.

[See: Red Sea Dive Travel Guide] 

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Accommodations

Types of Cabins, Amenities and Photos

Emperor Echo Cabin Overview

Accommodation on-board offers a total of 13 cabins: 6 x twin-berth and 1 x single bed cabins on the lower deck, 3 x twin-berth cabins on the main deck, and 2 x twin alongside the gorgeous Panorama Double on the upper deck. All cabins are ensuite with individual air conditioning, two cabin towels, 1 deck towel and bathrobe per guest.

Standard Lower Deck Twin Cabin (LEFT) & Main Deck Twin Cabin (RIGHT)

Double Panorama Cabin (LEFT) & Single Cabin (RIGHT)

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General Facilities

Emperor Echo's Restaurant (LEFT) & Saloon (RIGHT)

Emperor Echo's Sundeck (LEFT) & Dive Deck (RIGHT)

Emperor Echo Boat Features

• Contemporary saloon and restaurant
• Spacious lounging area
• Bar on the upper deck
• Sundeck
• Limited free WiFi (for internet browsing and connecting with communication applications only when in signal)

Emperor Superior Dive Facilities

• Air compressors: 2 x 260 L / hour, 1 x 200 L / hour
• Nitrox diving: 2 x membrane (750 L / Min)
• Technical diving: On request
• Dive deck: Equipped with 12 litre Aluminium tanks as standard and 15 litre Steel or Aluminium tanks on request
• Dive equipment rental: Full equipment with SMB and dive computer 160 Euros per week
• Medical Oxygen and comprehensive First Aid available: Oxygen/Medic First Aid Kit
• Re-breather friendly

Food & Drinks Aboard Emperor Superior

Fantastic food is served as standard, along with free red wine with dinner and a bar on the upper deck. Local beer and wine are available on board on request (at extra charge).

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SchedulE, Rates & Availability

IMPORTANT NOTE:

On Saturday, October 28th 2023; Emperor Echo was moored at Fury Shoals when unfortunately a lightning storm with strong winds forced the vessel to snag its mooring and get blown onto the reef resulting in irreversible damage to the ship's hull. Emperor Divers are grateful to our dedicated and effective crew who, along with the guests onboard, smoothly executed evacuation procedures which ensured all got off the vessel unharmed.

Therefore we are currently not taking bookings for Emperor Echo. For similar alternative liveaboards check out or list of Red Sea Liveaboard, or contact us.

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Dive Information & Itineraries

Simply the Best (from Hurghada or Marsa Ghalib)

Dive the Best Top 3 sites in this area: Big and Little Brothers, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone.

• The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silvertips, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can be found here. Sightings of the grey reef shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.
• For the wreck diver, the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon wrasse and grey reef sharks.
• Daedalus Reef, also part of the Marine Park, is a large, oval reef with a lighthouse and is the furthest offshore reef in the Egyptian Red Sea. Its deep walls and drop-offs offer some of the most spectacular diving to be found. Daedalus has mountainous, pristine, hard coral formations. There is also a strong chance of spotting schooling hammerheads and grey reef sharks.
• Elphinstone, with its sheer walls covered in soft corals, offers a likely encounter with oceanic white tip sharks.

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Famous Five Cruise (From Hurghada)

• Starting from Hurghada, we sail north towards Gubal Island and on to Abu Nuhas and its four well-known wrecks: Giannis D, Carnatic, the 'Lentil Wreck' and the 'Tile Wreck', all offering spectacular dives and plenty of fish life. Explore the Rosalie Moller (the sister ship of the slightly more famous Thistlegorm), which lies from 30 to 50 metres deep and is in excellent condition. Although the visibility is not always good the wreck is covered in glassfish from bow to stern and hunting them are masses of lionfish. Around the wreck are the usual pelagics such as tuna, trevallies, Emperor fish and many more.
• A short ride across the Straits of Gubal and you visit the most famous wreck of the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm! An awe-inspiring World War II British vessel with a cargo full of armaments, Bedford trucks and BSA motorbikes, which were all destined for the British troops in North Africa. She was sunk by the German Luftwaffe and now lies in 30 metres of water. Depending on divers' experience, along with weather and current conditions, we try to offer a night dive here. Nearby is the Ras Mohamed National Park, offering a morning dive at the renowned 'Shark and Yolanda' reefs. Ras Mohamed National Park is the furthest Sinai destination before heading south towards the Brothers.
• The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore from El Quseir. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Big tuna, barracudas, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can sometimes be found there. Sightings of the grey reef shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.
• For the wreck diver, the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon wrasse and grey reef sharks.
• The boat will then sail back to Hurghada via Safaga where you can dive at Panorama Reef or the famous wreck of Salem Express for a memorable finale!

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Red Sea Sharks (from Marsa Ghalib)

• Looking for some shark action? We know the best time to have the best chance to see those sharks in action! Explore the majestic Red Sea during the warm summer months of May to August with our much anticipated Red Sea Sharks itinerary offering flexibility and focus for 'action' dives. These months are best-known for the variety of sharks visiting some of the remote offshore reefs. But be prepared to change diving plans at the last minute because we go where the action is.
• The  guides select the best possible action sites to visit based on their immense local knowledge and on insider-data on recent activity including a variety of Red Sea sharks, dolphins and anything else that chooses to join the party.
• Some of the sites we might visit are St John's, Rocky, Daedalus and Elphinstone. However, please remember that the focus of this trip is not about where we go but about what we want to see...sharks! To that end, if we've had better shark sightings at, say, The Brother's Islands, then we'll head off there to catch the action! As always reefs we can visit may be restricted by weather conditions.
• As you may be visiting some of the remote offshore Red Sea reef systems many of these may have deep drop offs and be exposed to strong currents so be prepared to spend some time waiting 'in the blue' or in the shallows looking for those unmistakable shapes and shadows.
• There are no guarantees in life but one thing is for sure, this itinerary will give you the best chance of close encounters of the 'sharky' kind.

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South & St. Johns (from Marsa Ghalib Port)

• This trip takes you to some of the best diving the Red Sea has to offer. Here the diving is less arduous so it's a trip for those who want to see the best but have a more relaxed time while doing so. Sailing to the southernmost reefs, you'll depart from Marsa Ghalib Port and dive some sites to the South before sailing overnight to your southernmost point in the St. John's area. Depending on weather, government approval and marine life sightings in recent weeks, we may sail to the southernmost islands of Rocky and Zabargad, or we'll moor instead in the vast reef system of St John's to begin the adventure in the South.
• When leaving Marsa Ghalib the route can sometimes take in a dive at Abu Dabab on the first or last day. Often spoilt for choice, your guides will pick sites that they know to be the best for the time of the year and can find excellent alternatives should the weather affect the normal route. Although the distances are long, where possible we travel overnight so, as a 21 plus route, our aim is to get as many dives in as possible at some of the most impressive reefs. Below are some of the highlights.
• On the way to Fury shoals, dive Sha'ab Sharm with its wall dives and white tip reef sharks. Oceanic white tips and silky sharks can sometimes be found in the blue and turtles often visit the south side before heading further south. At Fury Shoals, dive Sha'ab Claude with its famous swim-throughs and huge porite corals. White tip reef sharks and an anemone and clownfish settlement can be seen a little off the reef to the South. Abu Galawa Soraya has a fantastic coral garden and a wreck of a private sailing boat populated with glass fish.
• St Johns is a vast collection of small reefs offering some of the most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea. This incredibly beautiful reef lies a short distance north of the Sudanese border. The reef covers a huge area and many dives would be needed to explore the numerous coral heads and islands. Habili Ali offers giant gorgonians and black corals whilst grey reef, silvertip and schools of hammerhead sharks might be found on the west side. Habili Gafaar is a mass of soft corals teaming with shoals of snappers, butterfly fish and barracudas. Mantas, grey reef and silvertip sharks can often be seen in the blue.
• Gota Kebir is a massive reef, famous for its tunnels and south plateau, where jacks and barracudas can be seen and the occasional manta. The tunnels are ideal for novice cave divers.
• Gota Soraya is rated as possibly one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with overhangs and cracks in the reef wall full of glass fish and sweepers and an abundance of corals, Grey Reef, Silvertips and Hammerhead sharks.
• On the last day as we head back to port, we will try to take in a dive or two on the world famous Elphinstone Reef if weather and diver experience permits us, or we will finish in the Abu Dabab area perhaps with another dive or two closer to Port Ghalib to relax and unwind before your final night in port.

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Safaga, Brothers & Elphinstone (from Hurghada to Marsa Ghalib or Marsa Ghalib to Hurghada)

• The area around Safaga has some great diving, the best being the offshore reefs of Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan. Some divers say this area equals the great sites of Ras Mohamed. The diving offers a combination of shallow reef dives and drop-offs, as well as the famous wreck of the Salem Express.
• The Salem Express is a dramatic dive. Around 500 people perished in one of the worst marine tragedies of all times. The 100-metre ferryboat was on its way back from Mecca to Safaga after the annual Muslim pilgrimage in December 1991 when it hit the reef during a stormy night and sunk rapidly without giving the crew and passengers the chance to board the lifeboats. It is now home to a thriving underwater life, including a famous resident frogfish, blue-spotted stingrays, angel and butterfly fish. The ship itself is covered in a large quantity of hard and soft corals. It is one of the largest wrecks in the Egyptian Red Sea, roughly the same size as the Thistlegorm.
• There is superb wall diving at Panorama, on the south-east of the plateau is a gorgonian and glassfish corner with the whole plateau covered in soft corals and on the south side is an anemone city.
• Hal Hal (Middle Reef) is a rarely chosen dive site due to its distance from the coast, which makes it a virgin spot. The north side is a drop off going down to 80 metres and is a perfect location to spot tunas, barracudas, turtles and sharks. The southern side has colourful coral gardens along with some caves and canyons.
• Abu Kafan is a 300-metre long, narrow reef offering a plateau at both north and south tips. We normally jump in the water on the north plateau and glide with the frequent strong current southwards along the impressive walls covered with soft and black coral, giant fans and gorgonians.
• The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, jacks and snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional hammerheads, silvertips, silky and oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. Even the rare thresher shark can be found here. Sightings of the grey reef shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.
• Abu Dabab is six reefs commonly known as "Fathers Steps" or "Fathers Stepping Stones" and as the name suggests a set of fairly shallow reefs ranging from depths of 25 metres to the seafloor. In between Abu Dabab II and III at approximately 15 metres is the wreckage of a small ship sunk after a fire in 2004. The reefs themselves offer colourful coral gardens and an underwater cave system to explore. Pods of dolphins have been known to frequent the area as well as blue spotted rays, Napoleons, giant puffers, box fish, sweetlips, batfish, nudibranchs and more.
• Elphinstone is approximately 30km from Port Ghalib; Elphinstone reef is 300 metres long with sheer walls richly covered in colourful pink and red soft corals and elegant red gorgonians descending to around 40 metres. Other areas of the reef have near vertical cliffs, overhangs, small caves and drop offs of up to 100 metres. Elphinstone is known to experience some strong currents attracting many diverse species such as barracuda, angel fish, groupers, Napoleons, morays, reef sharks and great shoals of dogtooth tuna and jacks. Occasional sightings include dolphins, turtles, oceanic white tip and hammerheads sharks.

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Get Wrecked! (From Hurghada)

• The Get Wrecked cruise combines the 'best of the best' of the most famous wrecks in the northern Red Sea along with some stunning reef diving.
• Leaving from Hurghada, we aim to dive all the wrecks in the area including:
• El Mina, an Egyptian mine sweeper lying just outside Hurghada's harbour; the Carnatic, the Chrisoula K ('tile wreck'), the Kimon M ('lentil wreck') and Giannis D at Abu Nuhas; at Gubal islands we dive the Barge, the Ulysses (sunk in 1887) and the Rosalie Moeller; next onto the Kingston (or Sarah H, sunk in 1881) lying at Shag Rock; and, of course, the Dunraven (sunk 1876) at Beacon Rock situated in the Ras Mohammed National Park, then finally the most famous wreck in the Red Sea, the Thistlegorm, which lies at Shaab Ali.
• These wrecks are spectacular and make fantastic material for the underwater photographer, being smothered in corals, especially the Carnatic, which sank in 1869. The famous SS Thistlegorm and the Rosalie Moller are World War II wrecks and one of the highlights of this cruise.
• The SS Thistlegorm was sunk in 1941 after being bombed by the German Luftwaffe while on a mission to deliver a cargo of ammunition and other war materials to the British troops in North Africa. The Rosalie Moeller, carrying a cargo of coal, suffered the same fate just two days later.
• In between wreck dives you will also visit the reefs of the Straits of Gubal, Gulf of Suez and those to the north of Hurghada. A variety of deep walls and hard coral gardens with an abundance of reef fish make them well worth a visit.
• All wrecks are subject to divers' experience and weather conditions.

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Reefs & Wrecks Itinerary (From Hurghada)

• This itinerary presents the best of both worlds, where you visit famous wrecks in the northern Red Sea along with some stunning reef diving.
• The famous horseshoe shaped reef of Shaab El Erg is a perfect example of the reefs on offer on this cruise with its beautiful hard coral garden and the chance to see dolphins.
• Abu Nuhas has four well-known wrecks: Giannis D, Carnatic, the Chrisoula K ('tile wreck') and the Kimon M ('lentil wreck'), all offering spectacular dives and plenty of fish life.
• In between wreck dives you will also visit the reefs of the Straits of Gubal, Gulf of Suez and those to the north of Hurghada. A variety of deep walls and hard coral gardens with an abundance of reef fish make them well worth a visit.
• Night dives can be superb as Gubal Island offers protected anchoring for the night. A small wreck at 8-10 metres makes for a spectacular night dive with lionfish, scorpion fish and its resident giant moray eel as well as the wreck of the Ulysses. Next onto the Kingston lying at Shag Rock, the Carina lying close to Sha'ab Ali and the Dunraven at Beacon Rock.
• Ras Mohamed lies on the southernmost tip of the Sinai and is one of the best kept National Parks in Egypt with waters full of nutrients, steep walls going down to a depth of 1000 metres attracting a large amount of big fish and earning itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world. Whilst here, you may have the chance to dive at Shark Reef; a sheer wall falling into the blue, as well as the wreck of the Yolanda.
• Jackson Reef, locally named the 'Aquarium', is Tiran's most popular dive with the 'Jackson Drift' being Sharm's' fastest and most exhilarating drift dive past a stunning wall bursting with prolific coral growth. Occasionally, in the summer months, a school of scalloped hammerheads can be seen. Thomas Reef gives you plunging walls covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colourful fish life. The west wall is darker with overhangs and caves full of glassfish and sweepers. A night dive at Gordon Reef promises various species of coral, small nudibranchs hidden in the crevices and the soft corals and a chance to see white tip reef sharks, eagle rays, octopus and different types of eel such as moray, peppered and gold edged morays.
• Finally the most famous wreck in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm, at Shaab Ali and including a night dive on Thistle. The Thistlegorm was sunk in 1941 after being bombed by the German Luftwaffe while on a mission to deliver a cargo of ammunition and other war materials to the British troops in North Africa.
• From here the boat heads back towards Hurghada.
• All dives sites are subject to divers' experience and weather conditions.

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Other Information

Boat Specifications

• Type: Wooden hull 
• Year built: 2002 
• Dry Dock: Annually
• Total refit: 2015
• Length: 31.0m 
• Beam: 7.75m 
• Draft: 2.2m
• Engines: 2 x Turbo 750 HP MAN
• Generators: 2 x 50 kW silent
• Navigation and Communication system: GPS/Echo Sounder/VHF Marina Radio/Satellite Phone
• Fresh water capacity: 2 Aquaset x 5,500 L / Day & storage
• Power sockets for battery chargers and flash: 220V 2 pin, 220V international multi, 2.5A USB
• Camera rinsing tank and camera preparation area: Dedicated rinsing tank and areas
• Tenders: 2 x Zodiac 35 HP
• Maximum guests: 25
• Number of cabins: 13
• Crew: 10 + 2 Dive guides

Practical Information

• Time Zone: UTC+2
• Local Currency: EGP (Egyptian Pounds)
• Language Spoken: Arabic, English, Italian, German, Dutch, French and Spanish
• Electricity: 220V
• Payment Onboard: Euros, US dollars, Egyptian pounds, Sterling pounds and credit cards (VISA and MasterCard)

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Underwater Gallery 

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