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Red Sea dive trips & liveaboards

100+ dive sites, liveaboards from Hurghada to Marsa Alam, and vetted PADI & SSI centres. Book with a refundable deposit.

Coral Playground

Every Red Sea dive site, every liveaboard and every vetted dive centre, mapped and bookable in one place. From your first giant stride to your five-hundredth dive.

Two divers checking each other's gear on a liveaboard dive platform
For divers

Find the boat, the reef and the week.

Compare liveaboards and day trips side by side, with real itineraries, cabins and certification requirements.

Browse liveaboards
A liveaboard crew welcoming a full group of guests aboard
For operators

Fill your cabins without the spreadsheets.

Listings, trips and bookings from one dashboard, with real-time availability your guests can book.

List your business

We believe in

Honest conditions over glossy brochures.

Reefs that are still there next season.

Guides who check your gear twice.

Your first dive mattering as much as your five-hundredth.

Booking in minutes, not emails.

About Coral Playground

Five towns, five very different weeks underwater. Each one has its own boats, reefs and season.

Open the dive map

Days at sea, three or four dives a day, and the far reefs only boats reach. A refundable deposit holds your cabin.

All liveaboards

Depth, current, season and what lives there, for every site on the Egyptian Red Sea.

All dive sites

From first giant strides to a divemaster's fiftieth wreck: how their Red Sea trips went.

Find your trip
  • Brothers Islands, July 2024
    London, UK

    Sarah Mitchell

    Brothers Islands, July 2024

    Brothers Islands, July 2024
    “Booking through Coral Playground took ten minutes. The liveaboard to the Brothers was world-class — already booking my next trip.”
    Advanced Open Water Diver
  • Hurghada Reefs, August 2024
    Madrid, Spain

    Emma Rodriguez

    Hurghada Reefs, August 2024

    Hurghada Reefs, August 2024
    “First time diving the Red Sea and it was magical! The guides were patient and knowledgeable. The refundable deposit gave me peace of mind when booking.”
    Open Water Diver
  • SS Thistlegorm, September 2024
    Munich, Germany

    Marcus Weber

    SS Thistlegorm, September 2024

    SS Thistlegorm, September 2024
    “As a divemaster, I'm picky about operators. Coral Playground connected me with a fantastic crew. The Thistlegorm dive was unforgettable - crystal clear conditions!”
    PADI Divemaster
  • Elphinstone Reef, October 2024
    Singapore

    James Chen

    Elphinstone Reef, October 2024

    Elphinstone Reef, October 2024
    “Saw oceanic whitetips on my first dive! The liveaboard was comfortable, food was excellent, and the dive briefings were thorough. Highly recommend!”
    Rescue Diver

Depths, currents, seasons and marine life for every site, so you know what you're booking before you book it.

Coverage
116+Dive sites mapped
Marine life
140+Species catalogued
Experience
15+Years on the water
Community
1,000+Happy divers
  • PADI & SSI partner network
  • Secure Stripe checkout
  • Refund if operator cancels
  • Real-time availability
  • Thistlegorm
  • Elphinstone
  • The Brothers
  • Daedalus
  • Ras Mohammed
  • Blue Hole
  • Abu Dabbab

How it works

  1. A diver planning a trip on a phone, on a balcony over the Red Sea
    01

    Find

    Search by site, town, month or marine life, and read each site the way a guide would brief it.

  2. A diver on the quay choosing between two liveaboards
    02

    Compare

    Real itineraries, cabins and certification requirements, side by side.

  3. A crew member welcoming a guest aboard a liveaboard
    03

    Book

    Pay a refundable deposit online and settle the balance on arrival. If the operator cancels, it all comes back.

PADI and SSI are the two big training agencies. Either card is recognised worldwide, and every course here runs with a certified instructor.

Explore courses
  1. Level 01Discover ScubaTry diving for the first time
  2. Level 02Open Water DiverYour passport to dive worldwide
  3. Level 03Advanced Open WaterGo deeper, explore more
  4. Level 04Specialty coursesWrecks, night, photography & more

Free download

25 dive sites mapped, the best month for each, and what to pack. Written by guides with 20+ years on the water.

  • 25 Hurghada-area dive sites with depth, current and difficulty
  • The best month to dive each site
  • Packing checklist for Red Sea diving
  • Local notes from guides with 20+ seasons on the water
  • Safety guidelines and emergency contacts

Join 3,000+ divers who've downloaded this guide

Questions

Still unsure? Write to support@coralplayground.com and a diver will answer.

Do I need to be certified to dive?

No! We offer Discover Scuba experiences for complete beginners. You can try diving for the first time under the supervision of a certified instructor. If you want to continue, you can get certified through our partner operators during your trip or before you arrive.

How does the deposit system work?

Pay a small refundable deposit (typically 20-30%) to secure your spot on a liveaboard. The remaining balance is paid directly to the dive operator upon arrival. This protects you if plans change while giving operators certainty about bookings.

What's included in a liveaboard trip?

Most liveaboard trips include: accommodation in your chosen cabin, all meals and non-alcoholic drinks, typically 3-4 dives per day, tanks, weights, and a dive guide. Some trips include equipment rental; others charge extra. Each listing clearly shows what's included.

What if my trip gets cancelled?

If a trip is cancelled by the operator within 30 days of departure, you'll receive a full refund of your deposit. We'll also help you find and rebook an alternative trip if available. For cancellations you initiate, our flexible policy allows changes up to certain dates.

What's the best time to dive the Red Sea?

The Red Sea offers year-round diving! Water temperatures range from 21°C (winter) to 28°C (summer). Winter (Nov-Feb) brings hammerhead sharks and manta rays. Summer (Jun-Aug) has the warmest waters and best visibility. Spring and autumn offer comfortable conditions and diverse marine life.

Do you work with certified operators?

Yes, all our partner operators are internationally certified (PADI, SSI, or equivalent) and undergo regular quality checks. We personally vet each operator and their vessels to ensure they meet our safety and service standards.

What should I bring on a liveaboard trip?

Bring your certification card and logbook, personal dive gear if you have it (many rent equipment), reef-safe sunscreen, motion sickness medication if needed, comfortable clothing for the boat, and a waterproof bag for electronics. Check our free Hurghada diving guide for a complete packing list!

Can non-divers join a liveaboard trip?

Many liveaboards welcome non-divers! They can snorkel at dive sites, enjoy the beautiful scenery, and relax on board. Some vessels even offer Discover Scuba courses so non-divers can try diving during the trip. Check individual listings for non-diver policies and pricing.

Pick a town, a month or a boat. We'll show you every option, with a refundable deposit to hold your place.

Find your diveExplore dive sites