Grand Sea Explorer Liveaboard Overview

diver with an underwater camera rig facing a manta rayDIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
By
Sally Lockman
diver with an underwater camera rig facing a manta ray
Contributor at DIVEIN.com
Born and raised on a tiny island in the Middle East, Sally has always been passionate about the ocean. After finally leaving the corporate and banking...
Rebecca Strauss
DIVEIN contributor Rebecca Strauss taking a selfie near a city canal
Editor at DIVEIN.com
Rebecca has been an avid traveler and scuba diver for many years. She began her editorial career by updating travel guides, which took her all over...
Grand Sea Explorer liveaboard cruising past a rocky coastline
Designed for divers, this 142-foot (43.3 m) yacht was custom-built to ensure maximum comfort, safety, and enjoyment above and below the water.
Grey and yellow lounge seating around wooden tables on the aft deck
Grab a book and some shade in this quiet spot on the upper deck.
Fresh water shower fittings mounted on the yacht's exterior hull
Rinse off with fresh water after every dive.
Grand Sea Explorer liveaboard yacht anchored on calm blue water
There's lots of room to get ready at the back of the ship.
Light blue cushioned lounge seating on the yacht's bow deck
During surface internals, guests can also relax, read a book, take a nap, tan on the sundeck or relax in one of the open-air shady spots.
Spacious lounge with cream sofas and teal cushions aboard the yacht
The air conditioned lounge features the latest entertainment systems and a movie collection.
Scuba tanks and gear crates arranged along the covered dive deck
The spacious dive deck offers plenty of room to prepare before dives.
Two dolphins swimming together near the surface
Dolphins do a fly by during a dive.
Anemone and clownfish colonizing a wreck as a diver shines a light in the background
Wreck dives are a highlight on northern itineraries.
Oceanic whitetip shark passing schooling bannerfish over the reef
If you've come to the Red Sea to see oceanic whitetips, you've come to the right place.
Dense school of glassfish swirling around an encrusted wreck structure
Schooling fish and wreck superstructure make for a gorgeous shot.
Cabin bed facing a wall mounted television and wardrobe
Fourteen en-suite cabins accommodate up to 28 guests.

The Red Sea has firmly gained its place as one of the world’s top diving destinations over the years—and rightly so. With incredible underwater sights including healthy corals, historical shipwrecks, tons of colorful fish, sharks, dolphins, whale sharks, and even dugongs at some sites, the Red Sea is a dream for divers of all levels.

The Grand Sea Explorer, operated by Explorer Ventures and co-branded as the Sea Serpent Grand when operated by the Sea Serpent fleet, is known as one of the best boats in the Red Sea.

Fully outfitted to explore the Red Sea, this yacht offers year-round, week-long liveaboard trips as well as private charters to explore the various dive sites in the Red Sea. With a recently added new hull, designed for improved speed and stability, the Grand Sea Explorer continues to stand out as one of the Red Sea’s top-rated boats.

Keep reading as we dive into our review of the Grand Sea Explorer.

About this overview

To help you decide whether this liveaboard fits your dive style, budget, and comfort needs, we’ve researched the boat, itinerary, onboard experience, diving setup, and overall value.
We review liveaboards based on the details that matter most during a multi-day dive trip, including cabins, food, crew support, dive operations, safety, route quality, and how the boat compares with similar options in the destination.

Recommended in: Liveaboards in Bahamas

Things we like:

  • Spacious interior and exterior areas
  • Great amenities
  • Dedicated, hospitable, and friendly crew
  • Good food variety

Things we don't like:

  • Scheduled dive sites may change without notice

Diving on the Grand Sea Explorer

Scuba diver hovering beside a coral bommie thick with orange anthias fish
Diver photographing a colorful coral reef with an underwater camera rig
Oceanic whitetip shark cruising through open blue water
Two divers hovering above the bow of a sunken wreck
Coral reef bursting with orange anthias fish in the Red Sea

Divers from around the world flock to the Red Sea each year to enjoy abundant marine life and healthy coral reefs, all with incredible visibility. When it comes to liveaboard diving in the Red Sea, divers should be reasonably fit and have some dive experience, with at least 50 logged dives, as open water conditions can sometimes be tricky with strong currents, swell, and negative entries required in certain areas.

The Grand Sea Explorer’s different itinerary options give divers the choice between iconic dive sites such as Daedalus, Fury Shoals, Brothers Islands, Abu Nuhas wrecks, and more. In any case, divers can board the Grand Sea Explorer with their minds at ease, as this yacht and crew are professionally prepared to handle all diver levels, including technical and rebreather diving. Free nitrox is also available to those certified.

Marine life highlights include dolphins, turtles, oceanic whitetip sharks, barracudas and, in certain places, dugongs. Sightings of course will vary depending on the season or time of year. Guests can also enjoy various types of dives such as drift, wall, and reef dives.

While the Red Sea is a year-round dive destination, weather and sea conditions vary, with high season running from April to November. Land temperatures range from 64 to 104 F (18 to 40 C) and water temperatures range from 62 to 84 F (17 to 29 C), depending on the season.

Highlights:

  • Marine life encounters such as dolphins, oceanic whitetips, hammerheads, and more
  • Outstanding visibility up to 100 feet (30 m)
  • Multiple itineraries for various trip options
  • Free nitrox
  • Accommodates technical and rebreather divers
  • Up to five dives a day (depending on sea and weather conditions)

Onboard the Grand Sea Explorer

Twin cabin aboard the Grand Sea Explorer with yellow accent pillows
Cabin bed with folded towels beside an open ensuite bathroom door
Spacious lounge with cream sofas and teal cushions aboard the yacht
Rows of scuba tanks lined up on the yacht's dive deck
Cabin bed with yellow pillows and a colorful abstract painting on the wall
Upper deck lounge with white sofas overlooking the sea

Designed for divers, this 142-foot (43.3 m) yacht was custom-built to ensure maximum comfort, safety, and enjoyment above and below the water. Fourteen en-suite cabins accommodate up to 28 guests, and each is equipped with individually controlled air conditioners, a music system, a safe, and mini bar.

The rooms are divided into eight double cabins on the lower deck, four ocean-view double cabins on the sun deck, and two suites with panoramic views on the main and sun deck. During surface internals, guests can also relax, read a book, take a nap, tan on the sundeck or relax in one of the open-air shady spots. The air-conditioned lounge features the latest entertainment systems and a movie collection.

The spacious dive deck offers plenty of room to prepare before dives. As well as camera and charging stations, it also features freshwater showers for divers to rinse themselves and their equipment.

Highlights:

  • Free internet when there’s a signal
  • Flat-screen TVs in each room
  • Camera and charging stations
  • Multilingual crew

Dining on the Grand Sea Explorer

Upper deck lounge with white sofas overlooking the sea
Grey and yellow lounge seating around wooden tables on the aft deck

We all know how tiring a liveaboard can be, especially with up to five dives a day. So, in order to keep up with busy dive days, guests are provided with top-notch food and drinks throughout the trip to stay happy and full.

A variety of local and international cuisines are offered buffet-style, for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, as well as complimentary snacks, assorted drinks, and local beer. Vegetarian and vegan meals are available with advance notice.

  • Vegetarian and vegan meals (with prior notice)
  • Complimentary assorted drinks and snacks
  • Beer available after the dive day is complete

Things we like:

  • Spacious interior and exterior areas
  • Great amenities
  • Dedicated, hospitable, and friendly crew
  • Good food variety

Things we don't like:

  • Scheduled dive sites may change without notice
Key facts
Year built: 2014
Max divers: 24
Rental equip: Yes ($)
Camera station: Yes
Internet: Yes (free)
Min logged dives: No minimum
Nitrox: Yes (free)
Aircon: Yes
Trip length: < 5 Nights
Price range: Mid-range
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