Sea Serpent Contessa 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...
The Sea Serpent Contessa liveaboard yacht cruising open water
The Sea Serpent Contessa is a 112-foot (34 m) luxury dive yacht with 12 ensuite cabins.
Stern sun deck with red beanbags and a staircase on the Sea Serpent Contessa
The partially shaded sundeck on the top deck provides the perfect spot to soak up some rays from the bean bags or sun loungers.
Aluminum scuba tanks racked along the dive deck of the Sea Serpent Contessa
Divers can move around freely and safely on the spacious dive deck, which offers plenty of room to assemble equipment.
Upper deck salon with curved sofas and wood columns on the Sea Serpent Contessa
The indoor lounge is located on the upper deck, providing 360-degree views of the Red Sea.
Twin cabin with an open ensuite bathroom aboard the Sea Serpent Contessa
The boat can comfortably accommodate up to 24 divers in 12 individually air-conditioned ensuite twin cabins.
Dining room with rows of tables set for guests aboard the Sea Serpent Contessa
Meals are served in a bright, skylit dining room built to seat the whole group comfortably between dives.
A hawksbill turtle feeding on soft coral near a shipwreck
From Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh to Hurghada and Marsa Alam, thousands of divers visit from around the world to enjoy the many shore and boat dives the Red Sea has to offer.
A scorpionfish camouflaged on a shipwreck surrounded by small fish
The Egyptian Red Sea offers endless dive sites, incredible marine life encounters, and historic shipwrecks.
A dense school of glassfish swarming over a coral reef
From diving with sharks at Brothers Islands and Elphinstone to exploring the wreck of the Salem Express, divers can delight in the Red Sea’s underwater treasures.
Dolphins swimming close to the sandy seabed
The ship covers all the top dive spots in the area, with up to four dives a day.

The Egyptian Red Sea offers endless dive sites, incredible marine life encounters, and historic shipwrecks. These all combine to create a fascinating destination for divers from around the world.

From Dahab and Sharm El Sheikh to Hurghada and Marsa Alam, thousands of divers visit from around the world to enjoy the many shore and boat dives the Red Sea has to offer. Liveaboards are another great way to dedicate a week-long holiday to diving and immersing yourself in more than one location.

The Sea Serpent fleet is one of the largest liveaboard operators in the Red Sea with over 30 years of experience and six vessels. While all liveaboards in the fleet are spacious and equipped with modern motor yachts, here we’ll focus on the Sea Serpent Contessa, a 112-foot (34 m) luxury 5-star dive yacht with 12 ensuite cabins.

Keep reading as we dive into our review of the Sea Serpent Contessa.

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 Egypt

Things we like:

  • Highly trained captains, crew, and guides
  • Great hospitality
  • Exceptional food
  • The chance to encounter sharks, dolphins, mantas, dugongs, and more

Things we don't like:

  • Some dive sites require a little more experience due to strong currents
  • Popular dive sites can get very crowded

Diving on the Sea Serpent Contessa

A hammerhead shark cruising through open blue water
A dense school of glassfish swarming over a coral reef
A large school of barracuda swimming in tight formation

Diving in the Egyptian Red Sea means a variety of dive sites and wreck options to choose from. The Red Sea is suitable for divers of all levels, including rebreather and technical diving.

The Red Sea offers ideal diving weather conditions year-round, but temperatures are at the highest, ranging from 77 to 113 F (25 to 45 C) during the summer from June to September. Water temperatures range from 62 to 84 F (17 to 29 C) throughout the year.

From diving with sharks at Brothers Islands and Elphinstone to exploring the wreck of the Salem Express, divers can delight in the Red Sea’s underwater treasures with the Sea Serpent Contessa’s varied itineraries throughout the year. 

Covering all the top dive spots in the area, with up to four dives a day, the professionally trained captains, crew, and guides of the Sea Serpent Contessa ensure that guests have an outstanding experience above and below the water. Guests will explore coral reefs, venture inside old wrecks, and come face to face with sharks, dolphins, and sometimes even dugongs.

Designed for recreational divers, the Sea Serpent Contessa is also equipped for sidemount, rebreather, and technical diving. Free nitrox is available for certified divers.

Divers can move around freely and safely on the spacious dive deck, which offers plenty of room to assemble equipment, space for gear storage, charging stations, outdoor warm-water showers, and a separate rinse station for cameras.

In addition to year-round liveaboard itineraries, group discounts and private charters are also offered, making this the perfect getaway for a group of diver friends looking for a unique and private experience.

Highlights:

  • Pristine visibility up to 100 feet (30 m)
  • Dive historical wrecks
  • Free nitrox
  • Rebreather friendly
  • Group discounts and private charters

Onboard the Sea Serpent Contessa

Twin cabin with two single beds and a vanity mirror aboard the Sea Serpent Contessa
Spacious salon lounge with curved sofas and columns aboard the Sea Serpent Contessa
Sun deck with loungers and red beanbags overlooking a marina
Indoor lounge with a sofa and TV aboard the Sea Serpent Contessa, marina visible through the doors

This modern and spacious 112-foot (34 m) luxury yacht is custom-built for diving. It’s designed to comfortably accommodate up to 24 divers in 12 individually air-conditioned ensuite twin cabins.

The indoor lounge is located on the upper deck, providing 360-degree views of the Red Sea for guests to enjoy while they dine, along with a full entertainment system and comfortable seating. The partially shaded sundeck on the top deck provides the perfect spot to soak up some rays from the bean bags or sun loungers.

Free Wi-Fi is available onboard for guests looking to stay connected while on the trip.

Highlights:

  • 12 ensuite cabins
  • Free Wi-Fi
  • Multilingual local and international crew

Dining on the Sea Serpent Contessa

Dining table set with wine glasses beneath skylight windows on the Sea Serpent Contessa
Dining room with white chairs and tables lit by overhead skylights
Blue bar counter with red and gray beanbag seating on the Sea Serpent Contessa's deck

Delicious local and international cuisine, prepared and served by highly trained chefs and staff, provides just the right touch to complete the whole experience.

Served buffet-style, the three main meals offer plentiful seafood, chicken, meat, and vegetables as well as vegetarian options. Guests with special dietary requirements, such as religious or allergies, may request special meals at the time of booking.

While water, soft drinks, and snacks are available free of charge and served throughout the day, beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages are available at the bar at an additional cost.

Highlights:

  • Local and international cuisines
  • Complimentary water, soft drinks, and snacks
  • Alcoholic beverages available at an extra charge

Things we like:

  • Highly trained captains, crew, and guides
  • Great hospitality
  • Exceptional food
  • The chance to encounter sharks, dolphins, mantas, dugongs, and more

Things we don't like:

  • Some dive sites require a little more experience due to strong currents
  • Popular dive sites can get very crowded
Key facts
Year built: 2006
Max divers: 24
Rental equip: Yes ($)
Camera station: Yes
Internet: Yes (free)
Min logged dives: No minimum
Nitrox: Yes (free)
Aircon: Yes
Trip length: 5-7 Nights
Price range: Budget
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