Where to book
Diving on the Emperor Elite liveaboard
Emperor Elite offers exceptional Red Sea diving, with pristine waters, vibrant coral formations, and diverse marine life. Untouched by river inflows, there’s good visibility in the Red Sea year-round.
Depending on the itinerary, guests will explore Brothers Islands, Daedalus, and Elphinstone reefs home to hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, and occasional thresher sharks. In the north, you’ll find wrecks like the Thistlegorm and Rosalie Moeller, serving as captivating windows into history. No matter where and when you dive, two experienced guides are on every trip and water temperatures range from a comfortable 75 to 82 F (24 to 28 C) year-round.
The Emperor Elite offers plenty of amenities, including camera facilities with charging stations, rinse tanks, and a camera table. Divers can enhance their skills with onboard PADI courses including nitrox certification, and the multilingual crew makes communication easy. Nitrox is available for those already certified at no extra charge, and technical diving can be arranged upon request.
If you haven’t brought your own, you can rent dive equipment onboard—note that dive computers and SMBs are mandatory. Diving takes place either directly from the dive platform or from two zodiacs. Emperor Elite primarily departs from Port Ghalib. Each dive day can feature up to four dives, including a night dive that’s typically conducted from a zodiac.
Because dive conditions in the Red Sea can be challenging, divers must meet specific requirements to join a trip on Emperor Elite. These include either holding an open water and deep special certifications or—even better—and advanced open water certification. Divers should also have at least 30 logged dives. Within marine national parks, Egyptian law mandates a minimum of 50 logged dives.
Highlights:
- Crystal-clear, sediment-free water
- Iconic dive sites
- Free nitrox
- Potential shark encounters with hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, and threshers
Onboard the Emperor Elite
There are 13 cabins on the Emperor Elite, all featuring air-conditioning and private bathrooms. Eight standard cabins with twin beds are on the lower deck, and single travelers can share same-sex cabins.
For more luxury, there are three premium twin cabins, an Executive Suite, and a Junior Suite on the upper deck. Emperor Elite uniquely offers minibar fridges and LCD TVs in junior and executive suites. Two air-conditioned salons feature a bar, TV, and free internet, and limited onboard shopping is available for souvenirs and essentials.
Outside, you’ll find both sunny and shady decks for lounging, panoramic views, and a dedicated premium coffee bar on the upper deck. Guests can relax on deckchairs, sunbeds, and comfy bean bags between dives.
One of the highlights of Emperor Elite is its spacious dive deck and platform. The dive deck offers lots of room to get ready before and after dives, freshwater showers, gear bins, and rinse tanks. Divers have the use of 12-liter aluminum tanks as standard or 15-liter steel tanks up on request.
Return guests on Emperor cruises can also take advantage of a “Friends of Emperor” loyalty program, which offers 5% off on subsequent Emperor bookings, along with a free upgraded cabin (if available), and free 15L aluminum tanks.
Highlights:
- Premium coffee bar
- Onboard entertainment amenities like LCD TVs and a bar
- Spacious sundecks with deckchairs, sunbeds, and bean bags
Dining on the Emperor Elite
Dining onboard Emperor Elite means enjoying a diverse and delicious menu. The meals are one of the vacation highlights, catering to various tastes and preferences. Guests can enjoy delicious desserts and complimentary red wine during dinner.
Throughout the day, guests can indulge in free snacks, cakes, biscuits, and fresh fruit. Additionally, 24/7 access to water, soft drinks, tea, and coffee keep everyone energized.
Highlights:
- Highly skilled chefs and beautifully presented desserts
- Free red wine or beer with dinner
Things we like:
- Experienced guides familiar with dive sites
- A delicious, wide variety of food
- Helpful and friendly crew
- Free nitrox
- Spacious, comfortable cabins and onboard facilities
Things we don't like:
- Hidden costs: drinks and mandatory tips
- Crowded dive sites
- Potential delays waiting for zodiacs at busy sites
Key Facts
| Year Built | 2006 |
| Max Divers | 26 |
| Price Range | Mid-range |
| Trip Length | 5-7 Nights |
| Internet | No |
| Nitrox | Yes (free) |
| Equipment Rental | Yes ($) |
| Camera Station | Yes |
| Air Conditioning | Yes |
| Min. Logged Dives | No minimum |
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