Sea Serpent Excellence 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 Excellence liveaboard yacht at anchor, side view
Part of a six-vessel fleet, the recently renovated Sea Serpent Excellence is a 112-foot (34 m) dive yacht accommodating up to 24 guests.
Upper deck lounge with a staircase and colorful chairs aboard the Sea Serpent Excellence
Divers can expect to travel in style as they explore coral gardens, famous historic shipwrecks, caves, and more.
A green sea turtle gliding over a coral reef
Divers are free to move around safely, prepare, and store their gear with plenty of room on the spacious dive deck, which also features a rack to hang wetsuits.
A dugong swimming with a small school of yellow fish
Dugongs are a highlight of Red Sea liveaboard trips, grazing on seagrass beds that few other destinations can match.
Dining room with a green cabinet and yellow and teal chairs on the Sea Serpent Excellence
The large indoor lounge is the ideal place for guests to socialize, dine, and relax while enjoying a TV, DVD player, and a library.
Dining area with yellow and teal chairs around a round table aboard the Sea Serpent Excellence
Refurbished in 2020, the Sea Serpent Excellence features 12 spacious, individually air conditioned ensuite cabins.
Cabin with a teal accent wall and an open ensuite bathroom door on the Sea Serpent Excellence
Catering to different food preferences, the Sea Serpent Excellence’s dining experience offers local and international cuisines with various vegetarian and vegan options.
An oceanic whitetip shark trailed by a school of pilotfish
Oceanic whitetips are the undisputed star attraction of Red Sea diving.
A green sea turtle swimming over a coral reef
In addition to famous dive sites, divers can also look forward to encountering a wide array of mesmerizing underwater wildlife, including different species of sharks, dolphins, and turtles.
Clownfish sheltering among the tentacles of a sea anemone
Feisty clownfish are a fixture throughout Red Sea reefs.
A blue-spotted ribbontail ray resting camouflaged in the sand
A bluespotted ribbontail ray peeks out from the sand.

Considered one of the top diving destinations in the world, the Red Sea is an underwater wonderland for all ocean lovers. Egypt offers diverse diving options, with each region boasting its own amazing underwater attractions.

From the vibrant reefs of the Straits of Tiran to the caverns, caves, and tech diving in Dahab’s epic Blue Hole, you’ll find impressive marine life and coral reef ecosystems to rival anywhere in the world.

Thanks to remote, isolated locations and marine park protections, Egypt offers ideal liveaboard conditions. While there are dozens of liveaboard operators in the Red Sea, the Sea Serpent fleet has long upheld its place in the market with luxury 5-star dive yachts and varied itineraries throughout the year.

Part of a six-vessel fleet, the recently renovated Sea Serpent Excellence is a 112-foot (34 m) dive yacht accommodating up to 24 guests. Divers can expect to travel in style as they explore coral gardens, famous historic shipwrecks, caves, and more.

Let’s dive into our review of the Sea Serpent Excellence.

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
  • Boat was refurbished in 2020
  • Exceptional food
  • Encounter sharks, dolphins, mantas, dugongs and more

Things we don't like:

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

Diving on the Sea Serpent Excellence

An oceanic whitetip shark trailed by a school of pilotfish
Empty stern deck with stainless steel rails at sunset on the Sea Serpent Excellence
Scuba tanks racked on the dive deck, labeled for the Sea Serpent fleet
Clownfish sheltering among the tentacles of a sea anemone
A green sea turtle swimming over a coral reef
A blue-spotted ribbontail ray resting camouflaged in the sand

Spanning thousands of miles from north to south, the Egyptian Red Sea boasts incredibly diverse dive sites, in addition to ideal weather and water conditions all 12 months of the year. From shore diving to wreck penetration, technical diving, and cave exploration, diving in the Red Sea is a dream for divers of all levels.

Although climate conditions are ideal throughout the year, the temperature is highest, ranging from 77 to 113 F (25 to 45 C), during the summer from June to September. Though the air cools slightly in the winter, water temperatures range from 62 to 84 F (17 to 29 C) year-round.

The Sea Serpent Excellence offers week-long liveaboard trips year-round with varied itineraries. Whether it’s diving with sharks on the famous BDE route (Brothers Islands, Daedalus, Elphinstone) or exploring legendary historical shipwrecks like the SS Thistlegorm, guests will find something to delight them.

In addition to famous dive sites, divers can also look forward to encountering a wide array of mesmerizing underwater wildlife, including different species of sharks, dolphins, turtles, manta rays, whale sharks, and more.

The professionally trained crew and guides work around the clock to ensure they meet the requirements of each guest on board. Free nitrox is available to certified divers, and the boat is equipped for rebreather, sidemount, and technical diving.

Divers are free to move around safely, prepare, and store their gear with plenty of room on the spacious dive deck, which also features a rack to hang wetsuits.

Highlights:

  • Pristine visibility up to 100 feet (30 m)
  • Dive through caves and historical wrecks
  • Free nitrox
  • Rebreather friendly

Onboard the Sea Serpent Excellence

Upper deck dining lounge with yellow and teal chairs aboard the Sea Serpent Excellence
Circular white lounge seating on the open deck of the Sea Serpent Excellence
Stern deck with a round white sofa and views of the ship's bridge on the Sea Serpent Excellence
Scuba tanks lined along the dive deck aisle of the Sea Serpent Excellence

Refurbished in 2020, the Sea Serpent Excellence is a 112-foot (34 m) luxury dive yacht with 12 spacious, individually air conditioned ensuite cabins. The ship can comfortably accommodate up to 24 guests. Cabins include three double-bed cabins and one twin-bed cabin on the upper deck and eight twin-bed cabins on the lower deck.

The large indoor lounge is the ideal place for guests to socialize, dine, and relax, equipped with a TV, DVD player, and a library. The outdoor lounge on the shaded deck and the sundeck on top also provide a great area for guests and divers to delight in the warmth of the sun during the day and stargaze at night.

Free Wi-Fi is available but limited for those looking to stay connected

Highlights:

  • 12 ensuite cabins
  • Free limited Wi-Fi
  • Multilingual crew

Dining on the Sea Serpent Excellence

Aft deck lounge and bar area beneath the bridge on the Sea Serpent Excellence
Cabin with a teal accent wall and an open ensuite bathroom door on the Sea Serpent Excellence

Catering to different food preferences, the Sea Serpent Excellence’s dining experience offers local and international cuisines with various vegetarian and vegan options. The chef prepares three fresh meals a day to ensure guests stay energized throughout a week of diving.

Specific dietary requests can be made prior to booking, however, it is advised to limit the requests to food allergies or religious beliefs.

Complimentary water, soft drinks, tea, coffee, and snacks are provided and served throughout the day, while beer, wine, and other alcoholic beverages are available at the bar at an additional cost.

Highlights:

  • Local and international cuisines with vegan and vegetarian options
  • Complimentary water, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and snacks
  • Local alcoholic beverages available at extra cost

Things we like:

  • Highly trained captains, crew, and guides
  • Boat was refurbished in 2020
  • Exceptional food
  • Encounter sharks, dolphins, mantas, dugongs and more

Things we don't like:

  • Some sites require a little more experience due to strong currents
  • Some dive sites can get quite crowded
Key facts
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: Mid-range
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