Ensuite cabins
Ten cabins, each with its own private bathroom, individual air conditioning, bathrobes and fresh linen.
Luxury Liveaboard · Egyptian Red Sea
Luxury yacht safaris for diving, snorkelling & kitesurfing A private world beneath the Red Sea
SY Mermaid… Sail the Sea.
An exclusive sail-motor yacht safari for snorkelling, diving and kitesurfing: chartered for just 20 guests at a time, sailing from Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Hamata to the legendary reefs of Elphinstone, Fury Shoal and Sataya.
- 29 m
- Turkish sailing yacht
- 10
- Ensuite cabins
- 20
- Guests at most
- 3
- Home ports
- 2026
- Full rebuild, Safaga
- 7
- Days per safari
Welcome Aboard
A yacht built for the open reef
SY Mermaid is a purpose-built sail-motor yacht chartered exclusively for the Egyptian Red Sea, welcoming a maximum of 20 guests so that every cabin, every meal and every reef entry feels considered rather than crowded. A shaded sundeck, an air-conditioned saloon and a handpicked crew and guiding team accompany you for a week spent moving unhurried between the region's finest reefs, wrecks and dolphin grounds.
Every safari is run at an unhurried, all-inclusive pace: full board, fine dining and an extensive selection of soft drinks throughout.
Enquire for Rates & Availability
SY Mermaid is a 29-metre Turkish sailing yacht, designed and built in Bodrum and rebuilt from the keel up at the Safaga shipyard in 2026. Ten cabins, each with its own bathroom; a dive deck with two service stations and its own compressor; two 40 hp Yamaha tenders; and a star deck laid with mattresses for the nights at anchor. See the full specification
The Mermaid Standard
Quiet luxury, measured in space and time
Luxury at sea is not gold taps. It is a cabin of your own, a guide who knows the reef by name, a table that is never rushed and a deck with room to breathe. SY Mermaid is built around exactly that.
The chef's table
Full board cooked aboard by our chef, three meals a day, with a 24-hour bar of pastries, soft drinks, water, tea and coffee.
The star deck
An upper deck laid with mattresses under the open sky. On nights at anchor, far from any coastline, the Milky Way is bright enough to read the horizon by.
A serious dive deck
Two service stations, a 365 l/min compressor and a charging station for cameras and torches. Gear up once, dive all week.
Two private tenders
Two 40 hp Yamaha tenders take you to the edge of every reef, follow every kite session and bring you back aboard.
Safety, quietly handled
Three life rafts for 45 people, more than twice the guest maximum, oxygen, first-aid equipment and a full briefing before the first water entry.
Seven Days at Sea
A week aboard SY Mermaid
Every safari starts and ends in the same port, and follows the same unhurried rhythm.
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Day 1
Welcome aboard
Transfer from your designated airport, settle into your cabin, meet the crew and attend the safety briefing.
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Days 2 – 6
At sea
Reefs, walls, wrecks and dolphin grounds along your chosen route: guided dives and snorkels, with long, unhurried meals in between. Five nights at sea, one in the marina.
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Day 7
Farewell
A last breakfast aboard, goodbyes to the crew and your transfer back. The exact schedule is confirmed with your booking.
In the Water
Three ways to meet the Red Sea
Every route is shaped around the water: whichever way you like to be in it.
Snorkelling
Drift over shallow coral gardens, resident turtles and Sataya's spinner dolphins with a guide at every stop.
Diving
Wall dives at Elphinstone, wrecks north of Hurghada, and the reef systems of Fury Shoal: for certified divers of every level.
Kitesurfing
Dedicated kite safaris from Hurghada to the flat-water lagoons of Tawila, Geisum and Abu Mungar, April to October: with our tenders following every session.
See the Kite Safari
Weekly Safaris
Different routes: choose what suits you
Diving, snorkelling or kitesurfing: every safari departs and returns to the same port across seven days at sea.
Start & End: Hamata
Sataya & Fury Shoal
Dolphin reef mornings and the coral maze of Fury Shoal.
7 days · 6 nights
Start & End: Marsa Alam
Elphinstone & Sataya
A signature shark dive paired with an overnight at Sataya.
7 days · 6 nights
Start & End: Hurghada
Northern Wrecks
Historic wrecks and the reefs of the northern Red Sea.
7 days · 6 nights
Start & End: Marsa Alam
Deep South: St. John’s
Remote reefs near the Sudanese border, then Fury Shoal and Elphinstone.
7 days · 6 nights
Start & End: Hurghada
Kite Safari: Northern Islands
Flat-water lagoons and sandbanks around Tawila, Geisum and Abu Mungar.
7 days · 6 nights
Where We Dive
The legendary dive sites of the Egyptian Red Sea
From the shark walls of Elphinstone to the wreck of the Thistlegorm: the names that bring divers to the Red Sea, and the route that reaches each one.
Elphinstone
Sha'ab Abu Hamra: an isolated reef some 30 km north of Marsa Alam, its walls hung with soft coral and patrolled by grey reef sharks, with oceanic whitetips a regular sighting for much of the year.
Sataya
Dolphin Reef: a horseshoe reef in the deep south, home to a resident pod of spinner dolphins. Open-water mornings with them are a highlight of every southern safari.
Fury Shoal
A maze of lagoons and coral towers: the swim-throughs of Shaab Claude, the small wreck in the coral garden at Abu Galawa Soraya, and the reef mosaics of Malahi and Maskour.
Abu Dabab
Sheltered bays known for green turtles grazing the seagrass, and among the best-known dugong grounds in the Red Sea.
SS Thistlegorm
A Second World War supply ship sunk by German bombers off Sinai in 1941: still one of the most famous wreck dives on earth.
Abu Nuhas
The "ships' graveyard": the Giannis D and the SS Carnatic, wrecked in 1869, her hull now draped in soft coral and home to moray eels and grouper.
Ras Mohammed
The southern tip of Sinai, where sheer walls drop into the blue where the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba meet.
Jackson & Thomas Reef
The island reefs of the Strait of Tiran: strong blue-water walls that round out the northern route for certified divers.
When to Sail
The Red Sea, season by season
The Egyptian Red Sea is a year-round destination. Water temperatures below are typical averages.
Spring
23 – 26 °CWarming water, calm seas and excellent visibility: an ideal all-round season for diving and snorkelling.
Summer
27 – 30 °CThe warmest water of the year, long days and the steady northerly wind that kitesurfers look for.
Autumn
26 – 29 °CStill-warm water and the classic season for oceanic whitetip sharks on the southern reefs.
Winter
22 – 24 °CCooler water, mild sunny days and fewer boats on the reefs. A 5–7 mm wetsuit is recommended.
All-Inclusive, Clearly
What your safari includes
Included
- Transfer between your designated airport or hotel and the yacht
- Full board: breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks
- Unlimited soft drinks, water, tea and coffee
- Daily guided diving or snorkelling
- Ensuite cabin, bed linen and daily housekeeping
- Weights and standard tanks for certified divers
Not included
- International and domestic flights
- Marine park, port and environmental fees, fuel surcharge (payable onboard)
- Dive, snorkel and kitesurf equipment rental
- Nitrox and technical gas fills
- Visa meet-and-assist, where required
- Crew gratuities
Full details, payment and cancellation terms are on our Rules & Terms.
How to Book
Reserve in three simple steps
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01
Enquire
Send your preferred route, dates and cabin type by WhatsApp, phone or email. We hold your cabin on option for seven days.
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02
Secure
Confirm and we issue your trip invoice. A 50% deposit secures the booking.
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03
Sail
The balance is due 30 days before departure. Your boarding time, meeting point and transfer are confirmed in writing.
Life Below
What's waiting under the surface
Live Conditions
Red Sea weather & wind
Current conditions across our three home ports, updated live.
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Weather data from Open-Meteo.
Good to Know
Frequently Asked Questions
How many guests does SY Mermaid carry?
A maximum of 20 guests across 10 ensuite cabins, so the yacht never feels crowded.
Which ports does SY Mermaid depart from?
Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Hamata: each tied to its own weekly route.
How long is each safari?
7 days in total: 5 nights at sea plus 1 night in the marina.
What activities are included?
Snorkelling, diving and kitesurfing, with certified guides and full board throughout.
Do you offer kite trips?
Yes. Our Kite Safari sails from Hurghada to the flat-water lagoons of Tawila, Geisum and Abu Mungar, from April to October, with up to three sessions a day when the wind allows. It is for independent riders who bring their own kit; beginners can join selected weeks with lessons arranged in advance.
What is the Deep South St. John's route?
Our most remote dive safari from Marsa Alam: the reefs of St. John's near the Sudanese border, with sharks, caves and giant gorgonians, then Fury Shoal, Sataya and Elphinstone. It is for certified divers.
Do I need to be a certified diver?
No. Snorkellers and non-divers are welcome on every route. Divers need a recognised certification suitable for the planned sites and must bring their certification card and logbook.
What are the cabins like?
Ten twin or double cabins, each with a private bathroom, individual air conditioning, towels, bathrobes and fresh bed linen.
What is included in the price?
Transfer between your designated airport or hotel and the yacht on boarding day, full board with snacks and unlimited soft drinks, daily guided diving or snorkelling, cabin accommodation with linen and housekeeping, and weights and standard tanks for certified divers.
What is not included?
Flights, visa assistance, marine park, port and environmental fees and the fuel surcharge (payable onboard), equipment rental, Nitrox and crew gratuities.
Is alcohol available onboard?
SY Mermaid does not sell or serve alcohol, though guests may bring their own for personal consumption.
How do I book?
Send us your route, dates and cabin type. We hold the cabin on option for seven days; a 50% deposit confirms the booking and the balance is due 30 days before departure.
What is the cancellation policy?
Fees are a percentage of the total booking cost: 25% at 91 days or more before departure, 50% from 90 to 29 days, and 100% at 28 days or less.
How can I pay for onboard extras?
In cash in euro, US dollars, British pounds or Egyptian pounds, or by credit card at our standard exchange rate plus a 2% service fee.
When is the best time to sail the Red Sea?
The Egyptian Red Sea can be sailed all year. Spring and autumn bring warm water and calm seas, summer has the warmest water and the steadiest wind for kitesurfing, and winter is cooler and quieter.
How do I contact SY Mermaid?
By WhatsApp or phone on +20 121 115 9536, or by email at mermaid@mermaidredsea.com. Our team answers daily from 8:00 to 17:30.
Another question? Our reservations team is happy to help. Contact us
Only 10 Cabins per Departure
Ready to reserve your week on the Red Sea?
Reach out by WhatsApp, phone or email and our team will confirm availability and pricing personally.