Diving at Daedalus Reef, Red Sea

Owner-operated liveaboard · Hurghada, Egypt

The Red Sea's most unique adventures.No compromises.

Itineraries only we run. A professional crew of 12 with guides for every level — from relaxed reef safaris to deep tec expeditions. Luxury interiors. Uncompromising standards. This is Red Sea diving done right.

About Celesta Liveaboards

Celesta Liveaboards is an owner-operated Red Sea diving company based in Hurghada, Egypt. We operate M/Y Celesta, a 40-metre hand-built wooden liveaboard carrying 24 guests with a crew of 12. We run expeditions covering Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, Elphinstone, Tiran, Dahab, and the Northern Wrecks, with full recreational and technical diving support.

Expeditions range from €1,290 to €1,600 per person for 7 nights, including all meals, up to 4 guided dives per day, Nitrox, marine park fees, and airport transfers. The Red Sea season runs year-round, with peak hammerhead season from March to May and oceanic whitetip encounters from October to December.

5 expeditions24 guests maxRec + Tec diving2026 new buildOwner-operated

Why Celesta

Owner-operated. One boat. One crew. Every expedition.

M/Y Celesta is owner-operated. The same crew sails every expedition — captain, dive guides, chef, deck crew. We know the boat because we built it, and we run every trip ourselves.

The Boat

Built by hand, maintained with pride

Hand-built wooden hull with light steel reinforcements. Dual engines. Swedish-designed interiors. 12 cabins across four decks, each with individual AC. We built her ourselves — and we maintain every detail.

The Diving

Sites others cannot reach

From BDE to Abu Talha and Dahab — sites most operators never run. Recreational and technical divers on every trip. Dedicated guides, separate dive plans, Nitrox and Trimix blending, CCR support.

The Experience

24 guests, crew of 12

Crew of 12 for 24 guests. We tell you what to expect — the depths, the currents, the conditions. Freshly prepared meals between dives. No overselling. We deliver what we describe.

The Celestial

Guided by stars

Far from shore, far from light pollution. Nights on the open Red Sea under a sky dense with stars — something most people have never seen. Named for the stars that have guided sailors across open water for millennia.

Safety

Safety is not a feature — it is the foundation

M/Y Celesta is a 2026 new build with dual main engines, SOLAS-rated life rafts with EPIRB, hardwired fire detection on all four decks, satellite communication, emergency oxygen, AED, and two dual-engine speedboat tenders. We own the boat, maintain it ourselves, and the same certified crew sails every expedition.

Hull

Hand-built wood with steel reinforcements, proper bulkheads on all decks

Engines

Dual main engines (full redundancy)

Tenders

2 speedboats, each with dual engines

Life rafts

SOLAS-rated with EPIRB, emergency supplies, functional lighting

Fire detection

Hardwired on all 4 decks (not battery-operated)

Communication

VHF radio, satellite phone, AIS transponder

Medical

Emergency oxygen (demand + free flow), AED, first aid

Crew

12 crew for 24 guests, all with current maritime certifications

Captain

Licensed with valid Master Mariner certification

Maintenance

Owner-maintained with planned maintenance system and documentation

Stability

Designed and built for open water operation with proper stability documentation

Safety briefing

Mandatory comprehensive briefing + emergency drill before every departure

We built M/Y Celesta because we would not trust anyone else to build it the way we wanted. The same captain and crew sail every expedition — no charter swaps, no borrowed boats. We maintain a planned maintenance system, carry stability documentation, and run mandatory safety briefings with emergency drills before every departure. Every emergency exit is marked, lit, and unlocked. Every life jacket has a working emergency light. Every life raft carries emergency food, water, and signaling devices. We know every beam, every system, every exit on this boat — because we built it ourselves.

2026

New build. Hand-built wood and steel hull.

24

Guests maximum. No overcrowding, ever.

12

Professional crew. 1:2 crew-to-guest ratio.

2+2

Dual main engines. Dual-engine tenders.

6

Red Sea routes. Rec and tec itineraries.

The vessel

40 metres. Hand-built. Purpose-built.

Celesta is a 2026 wooden safari liveaboard with light steel reinforcements, dual engines, and Swedish-designed interiors. 12 cabins across four decks — including two suites. Full dive deck with tech zone, rinse tanks, and camera setup area.

We built her. We maintain her. We know every beam and every system on board. Professional crew of 12 — captain, dive guides, chef, and deck crew. SOLAS-rated safety equipment throughout.

  • Hand-built wood and steel hull
  • Dual engines for redundancy
  • Nitrox and Trimix blending
  • CCR support and Sofnolime
  • SOLAS life rafts and EPIRB
  • Crew of 12 for 24 guests
Explore the vessel
M/Y Celesta at golden hour — 40m hand-built wooden liveaboard on the Red Sea

Private charter

Your group. Your route. Your boat.

Charter M/Y Celesta for a private expedition. Choose one of our six routes or work with us to design a custom itinerary. Dive clubs, photography groups, corporate teams, or friends who want the boat to themselves — we handle the logistics, you bring the divers.

Common questions

Safety depends on the operator, not the destination. M/Y Celesta is a 2026 new build with a hand-built wood and steel hull, dual main engines, two dual-engine speedboats, SOLAS-rated life rafts with EPIRB, hardwired fire detection on all decks, emergency oxygen and AED on board, and satellite communication. We own our boat — no charter swaps, no surprises. Our professional crew of 12 hold current maritime certifications, and every voyage begins with a full safety briefing. Dive insurance is mandatory for all guests.

Most expeditions require AOWD (Advanced Open Water Diver) or equivalent from PADI, SSI, or any recognized agency, with a recommended minimum of 50 logged dives. Current experience matters — offshore sites like Brothers and Daedalus feature strong, unpredictable currents. Technical dive sites require valid Trimix or CCR certification. If you are unsure whether a trip suits your level, message us and we will advise honestly.

Expeditions start from around €1,290 per person for a shared cabin. The price covers 7 nights full-board on M/Y Celesta, all meals and non-alcoholic beverages, up to 4 guided dives per day, professional dive guides for recreational and technical groups, marine park fees, Hurghada airport transfers, Nitrox, weights and belts. Not included: flights, Trimix and specialty gas fills, equipment rental, visa fees, gratuities, and alcohol. Every price is published on our expedition pages — no hidden fees.

Yes. A professional technical diver sails on every expedition. We offer Nitrox, Trimix blending, CCR-friendly operations, and Sofnolime. Recreational and technical divers sail together but follow separate dive plans with dedicated guides.

Wake at dawn for the first dive. Up to 4 dives per day, with surface intervals for meals, rest, and briefings. Dive guides brief every site — depths, currents, marine life, entry and exit points. Meals are freshly prepared by our onboard chef: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks between dives. Evenings are relaxed — deck conversation, star gazing, and an early night before the next morning’s dive.

Message us on WhatsApp or email bookings@celestaliveaboards.com. We discuss your preferred expedition, cabin type, and any questions. Once confirmed, we send a booking form and invoice. A deposit secures your spot, with the balance due before departure. No call centres, no automated forms — you deal with divers who know the boat and the routes.

Celesta Liveaboards expeditions range from €1,290 to €1,600 per person for a shared cabin over 7 nights. This includes all meals, up to 4 guided dives per day, marine park fees, Nitrox, Hurghada airport transfers, and a professional crew of 12 for a maximum of 24 guests. Prices vary by expedition and cabin type.

The Red Sea is diveable year-round, but each season has distinct highlights. March to May is hammerhead season at Brothers and Daedalus, with the best visibility of the year (30-40 metres) and water temperatures of 24-26°C. Summer (June-September) brings calm seas, warm water (27-30°C), and manta ray encounters at Elphinstone. October to December is oceanic whitetip season, with whale shark sightings increasing as currents strengthen.

The Red Sea's premier liveaboard dive sites include Brothers Islands for hammerhead sharks and the Numidia wreck, Daedalus Reef for thresher sharks, Elphinstone Reef for oceanic whitetips, SS Thistlegorm for WWII wreck diving, Ras Mohamed National Park for pristine coral walls, and the Strait of Tiran for drift diving. Offshore sites like Brothers and Daedalus are only accessible by liveaboard.

It depends on the expedition. Some trips cover sheltered northern sites accessible to Open Water certified divers with 30 or more logged dives. Offshore expeditions to sites like Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone require Advanced Open Water certification and a minimum of 50 logged dives due to strong currents and deeper profiles.

The Red Sea is one of the world’s best destinations for shark diving. Hammerhead sharks school at Brothers Islands and Daedalus Reef from March to May. Oceanic whitetip sharks appear at Elphinstone Reef from October to December. Thresher sharks are seen at Daedalus year-round below 40 metres. Grey reef sharks, whitetip reef sharks, and blacktip reef sharks are common on most dive sites throughout the year.

Yes. A liveaboard is the only way to reach the Red Sea’s premier offshore dive sites — Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone are 60 to 120 nautical miles from shore, beyond the range of day boats. You get up to 4 dives per day compared to 2 from shore, you are on site at first light before other boats arrive, and all meals, accommodation, and transfers are included.

Essential items: dive certification card, logbook or digital log, valid dive insurance documents, reef-safe sunscreen, seasickness medication if needed, layers for surface intervals, a waterproof phone case, and a torch for night dives. A 3mm or 5mm wetsuit suits most seasons — 5mm recommended for winter (January to March).

Ask these questions before booking: Is the boat owner-operated or charter-swapped? Does the crew hold current maritime certifications? Are the life rafts SOLAS-rated? Does the boat have dual engines for propulsion redundancy? Is there a planned maintenance system? Will there be a safety briefing and emergency drill before departure?

M/Y Celesta carries dual main engines, two dual-engine speedboat tenders, SOLAS-rated life rafts with EPIRB, hardwired fire detection on all four decks, VHF radio, satellite phone, AIS transponder, emergency oxygen, two AEDs, comprehensive first aid, and marked and lit emergency exits throughout.

Yes. Dive insurance is mandatory for all Celesta guests. We recommend insurance that covers liveaboard operations, search and rescue costs, hyperbaric treatment, and air evacuation from remote locations. DAN (Divers Alert Network, diversalertnetwork.org) and similar providers offer suitable policies starting from around €50–100 per year.

Yes. We maintain a planned maintenance system, stability documentation, and safety management records. M/Y Celesta is a 2026 purpose-built vessel designed for open-water operation with proper bulkheads, balanced ballast, and a hull profile engineered for offshore conditions.

Talk to a diver, not a call centre

Routes, gas logistics, certification requirements, group bookings, cabin options, or anything else — ask us directly. We respond within hours, not days.