About Celesta
We wanted something better. So we built it.
Celesta is a diver-owned liveaboard operation based in Hurghada, Egypt. We own the boat, hire the crew, design every route, and maintain every system on board.
Our story
Built by divers, for divers
We started as divers. Not operators, not travel agents — divers. And like most divers who have spent time on liveaboards, we had a growing list of things we wished were different. Boats that looked great in brochures but were tired in person. Itineraries that prioritized convenience over the actual dive sites. Crew who meant well but lacked the experience to handle challenging conditions. Safety standards that varied from trip to trip.
So instead of chartering someone else’s boat and hoping for the best, we built our own. M/Y Celesta is a 2026 hand-built safari liveaboard designed around what divers actually need. Every detail — the dive deck layout, the cabin design, the engine configuration, the safety equipment — was chosen by people who understand what matters when you are 12 hours offshore.
We own the boat. We hire the crew. We plan the itineraries. We maintain every system ourselves. That ownership is not a marketing detail — it means every decision about your experience is ours to make, and ours to be held accountable for.
What defines Celesta
Four things that make this boat different
The boat
Built by hand, maintained with pride
Celesta is built from wood — not rolled off a production line. Hand-shaped hull with light steel reinforcements. Interiors designed by a Swedish designer. Individual AC in every cabin. Dual main engines for redundancy. Two speedboats, each twin-engined. A full dive deck with gear storage, rinse tanks, and a dedicated camera setup area. You can see the craft in the grain of the wood, feel it in the warmth of the cabins. This is a vessel with personality — not a mass-produced steel hull.
The diving
Sites others cannot reach
We run the classic Brothers-Daedalus-Elphinstone circuit. We also go further. Our Abu Talha expedition reaches deep walls with near-zero boat traffic. Our Dahab routes access technical diving sites that reward experience and proper training. Equipped for both recreational and technical diving — from Open Water to trimix. 3-4 dives per day on diving days, with experienced guides who know these sites.
The experience
Honest, warm, and genuine
Crew of 12 dedicated to 24 guests. Freshly prepared meals served communally. Dive briefings that cover site topology, expected currents, marine life, and recommended entry points. We tell you what to expect — including when conditions are challenging. No pretension. No overselling. Just good diving, good food, and honest communication from first inquiry through post-trip follow-up.
The celestial
Guided by stars
Celesta — from the Latin for “heavenly.” Named for the stars that have guided sailors across open water for millennia. Spending nights on the open Red Sea, far from shore and light pollution, under a sky dense with stars — that is something most people have never experienced. The night sky from the boat deck is not just a backdrop. It is a destination in itself.
Our crew
12 people who know this boat and these waters
We do not rotate through agency staff. Our crew knows M/Y Celesta, knows the routes, and knows what our guests expect. That consistency shows from the moment you step aboard.
Captain
Captain
Licensed captain with years of Red Sea navigation experience. Responsible for safe passage, weather assessment, and route decisions. Knows the offshore passages to Brothers, Daedalus, and the southern routes intimately.
Dive Guides
Lead Dive Guide
Experienced dive professionals who know these sites. Detailed briefings before every dive: site topology, current conditions, marine life to look for, entry and exit points. Includes a professional technical diver on every expedition for advanced and tec diving support.
Chef
Chef
Freshly prepared meals three times daily, plus snacks between dives. Locally sourced ingredients, served communally in the main deck lounge or on the open-air high deck. Dietary requirements accommodated with advance notice.
Deck and Engine Crew
Deck Crew
The people who keep everything running. Moorings, tender operations, engine maintenance, daily vessel checks. They manage the dive deck logistics — tanks filled, gear stored, rinse tanks ready — so you focus on diving.
Hospitality
Hospitality
Cabin service, the bar, and general guest comfort. Attentive without being intrusive. These are the crew members who make sure your cabin is ready, the high deck bar is stocked, and the common areas are clean and welcoming.
1:2
Crew-to-guest ratio
Crew of 12 for 24 guests. That is a 1:2 crew-to-guest ratio — among the best in the Red Sea.
Safety and standards
We built this boat. We maintain every system ourselves.
Safety is not a marketing claim — it is hull construction, engine redundancy, life raft ratings, and crew certification. When you own the boat, you control the maintenance. Every safety system, every engine, every piece of equipment is here because we chose it.
- 2026 new build
- Dual main engines
- SOLAS life rafts
- Hardwired fire detection
- Emergency O2 and AED
- Satellite communication
- Planned maintenance system
- Pre-departure safety drill
24
Guests maximum
12
Professional crew
4
Decks
2026
New build
Common questions
We own M/Y Celesta ourselves. We are not a booking agency, charter broker, or management company — we own the boat, hire the crew, plan every itinerary, and maintain every system on board.
Hurghada, Egypt — the gateway to the Red Sea’s offshore reefs. All expeditions depart from Hurghada’s marina, with easy transfers from Hurghada International Airport.
Because we wanted to control every detail. When you charter someone else’s boat, you inherit their maintenance decisions, their equipment choices, and their compromises. By building Celesta from the keel up, we chose the hull construction, the engines, the safety systems, the cabin layout, and the dive deck configuration.
M/Y Celesta is a 2026 new-build. Hand-built wooden hull with light steel reinforcements, dual engines, two speedboats with dual engines each, SOLAS-rated life rafts, hardwired fire detection, satellite communications, and Swedish-designed interiors.
Yes. Celesta offers full technical diving support: Nitrox, Trimix capability, and CCR-friendly operations. We have an experienced professional technical diver aboard every expedition.
It depends on the trip. Recreational expeditions like BDE require Advanced Open Water certification and a minimum of 50 logged dives. Technical expeditions have higher requirements. Every expedition listing specifies the exact certification and experience needed.
24 guests maximum, across 12 twin cabins on four decks. With a dedicated crew of 12, that is a 1:2 crew-to-guest ratio.
Accommodation, all meals, non-alcoholic beverages, all scheduled dives (typically 3-4 per day on diving days), tanks, weights, dive guide services, marine park fees, port fees, and airport-to-boat transfers in Hurghada. We publish what is and is not included clearly before you book.
Content last updated:
“Named for the stars that have guided sailors across open water for millennia.”
Questions? Talk to us.
Questions about the boat, the crew, our routes, safety equipment, cabin options, or anything else — ask us directly. We respond within hours, not days.