Quick Shadow dive boat review
Photographs: Bluewater Safaris — Quick Shadow gallery.
Quick Shadow: a familiar boat from Egypt’s safari years
With ten cabins, a shaded outdoor lounge and a sociable dining salon, Quick Shadow built a following among divers who returned for the crew as much as the reefs. Its recorded voyages range from northern wrecks to the offshore Brothers and the southern islands.
Quick Shadow left the Bluewater Safaris operation in 2021. No current departure or successor operator has been verified as of 23 October 2026. This profile describes the documented boat and its past trips; it should not be read as an offer to book a 2026 sailing.
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The vessel and its cabin choices
Completed in September 2006, the steel-hulled Quick Shadow measures 32 metres long and 7.5 metres wide. Its documented accommodation is for 20 guests in ten cabins. Seven lower-deck rooms have twin beds, while three double-bed cabins are divided between the main deck and first upper deck.
| Cabin | Number / location | Layout |
|---|---|---|
| Standard twin | 7 / lower deck | Two separate beds, private bathroom and individual air-conditioning. |
| Deluxe double | 1 / main deck | Double bed, private bathroom and individual air-conditioning. |
| Deluxe double | 2 / first upper deck | Double bed, private bathroom and individual air-conditioning. |
The photographed double cabin has broad windows beside the bed and dark wooden cupboards. The twin room has two portholes and a bedside cabinet between the beds. Those differences give a much better idea of the accommodation than a single luxury label: friends sharing had a different room choice from a couple wanting one bed.
Earlier descriptions mentioned a four-berth room, but the later documented layout is seven twins and three doubles, totalling 20 guest beds. There is no verified present-day cabin inventory, private-occupancy supplement or refurbishment specification to attach to a new reservation.
Life between dives
The main deck is home to a spacious area used as both a salon and a dining room. Its restaurant-like booth seating, television and music system made it a natural gathering place after diving. Large windows run along the room, keeping the sea in view even when guests preferred the air-conditioned interior.
The outdoor spaces continue that relaxed arrangement. On the first upper deck, a covered lounge has cushioned benches, tables and room to sit together in the shade. The photographs show beanbags near the central tables and a small bar area. Above it, the open sun deck provides mattresses and additional seating for a different view of the same reef.
Food and the safari routine
The historical catering description combines Egyptian and international dishes, served buffet-style, with snacks and hot and cold drinks. A guest writing about a June 2017 southern trip remembered cheesecake, Kaiserschmarrn and a birthday cake among the treats, as well as a barbecue. Those are memories of one cruise rather than a promised menu, but they help explain why the kitchen features so often in older accounts.
Meals and time on deck filled the spaces between briefings and dives. The appeal was a small, social safari rather than an extensive resort-style activity programme. Specific dietary arrangements, drinks inclusions and meal schedules would all need fresh confirmation if a future operator offered the vessel again.
The dive deck
The preparation area has benches, cylinder stations, storage crates and a camera table in the centre. The original review rightly focused on the practical space for equipment rather than just the size of the boat. Two diving tenders supported the operation, with Nitrox produced aboard.
The former operator documented overhead filling lines, 12- and 15-litre cylinders and a membrane Nitrox system. These describe the previous installation, not an inspection of what is aboard today. Likewise, historical reports of sidemount or rebreather arrangements do not establish a present technical-diving service.
Travelling with a non-diver?
No current Quick Shadow policy on non-diver acceptance, fares or activities has been verified.
Quick Shadow’s documented past routes
Guest reports provide a useful picture of the variety offered during the Bluewater years. They establish particular voyages, not a current schedule. A northern wreck week, an offshore marine-park trip and a ten-day southern expedition were different holidays, with different passages and opportunities to dive.
| Historical family | Dated evidence | What distinguishes it |
|---|---|---|
| North / wrecks / Strait of Tiran | 4–11 October 2018 and another October 2018 account | Wreck interest and northern reefs; Thistlegorm, Giannis D, El Mina and Dunraven feature in a guest report. |
| Brothers | August 2016 voyage, reviewed in 2018 | An island-focused safari, separate from the longer BDE combination. |
| Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone | November 2021 voyage | Offshore reef walls and open-sea crossings. |
| St John’s | 7–14 June 2018 and 2017–2018 repeat trips | Southern reef diving; exact reef selections varied. |
| Daedalus, Rocky, Zabargad, Fury Shoal, Elphinstone | Ten-day itinerary reported for 2017 | A broader southern circuit, with more time and distance between highlights. |
| Daedalus, Zabargad, Rocky, St John’s | 12–22 June 2017, departing Port Ghalib | Another ten-day southern variant, retaining St John’s in its reported programme. |
| Fury Shoal, Daedalus, Elphinstone | 8–15 September 2016 | A shorter combination of southern reef scenery and offshore sites. |
Some returning guests booked consecutive safaris or two-week stays. Those accounts do not supply a single universal fourteen-night route. Sea conditions and the boat’s schedule affected what was visited, and a sighting described by one guest cannot be promised to the next.
Historical itinerary references
These seven layers locate documented past programmes, not current sailings. They are unordered because the accounts do not establish every day’s sailing sequence. Tiran is represented at Gordon Reef, St John’s at Habili Ali and Fury Shoal at Claudia; these regional references do not claim those exact reefs were visited on every trip. Port Ghalib is identified only for the June 2017 departure, not as a universal port.
Daedalus marker: southern reef reference from Red Sea Diving, checked 4 November 2026. This is a geographic reference, not a dive-entry point.
- Northern wrecks / Tiran: Thistlegorm, Giannis D at Abu Nuhas, El Mina and Dunraven are named in the October 2018 account; exact Tiran reefs and visit order remain unconfirmed.
- Brothers: Big and Small Brother represent the island safari recorded in August 2016.
- BDE: Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone, recorded in November 2021.
- St John’s: southern reef safaris recorded in 2017 and 2018; the group reference does not establish an individual reef sequence.
- Ten-day southern combination, 2017: Daedalus, Rocky, Zabargad, Fury Shoal and Elphinstone were advertised together.
- 12–22 June 2017: departure from Port Ghalib, with Daedalus, Zabargad, Rocky and St John’s in the reported programme.
- 8–15 September 2016: Fury Shoal, Daedalus and Elphinstone.
Dive-site geography
Thistlegorm, Dunraven and El Mina are wreck references; Abu Nuhas marks the reef containing Giannis D, not that wreck’s exact position. The Brothers, Daedalus, Rocky and Elphinstone locate offshore reef areas, while Zabargad adds island reef scenery. Dive entries, depths and profiles depend on conditions and the local briefing.
Geographic references: CDWS dive-site directory. Historical voyage context: Quick Shadow guest trip reports, reviewed 23 October 2026.
A glimpse of Red Sea diving
This destination film shows Red Sea underwater scenery. It is not footage identifying Quick Shadow or a tour of its cabins.
SCUBA Diving Egypt Red Sea — Underwater Video HD.
Current status, prices and travel arrangements
There is no verified Quick Shadow fare, departure calendar or compulsory-fee schedule for 2026. Bluewater’s current fleet and dated sailings are for Independence II and Independence III. The operator’s history records its separation from Quick Shadow in 2021, while booking and review directories now label the vessel inactive or not operating.
That establishes the end of the former operation, not the vessel’s final fate. A sale, new name, new operator or permanent retirement has not been independently established here. Any newly advertised Quick Shadow trip needs a verifiable operator, exact vessel identity and written departure confirmation before it can be compared with current offers.
| Booking component | Current position |
|---|---|
| Fare and cabin | No dated 2026 offer verified; historical accommodation is described above. |
| Compulsory charges | No current park, port, fuel or service-fee total available. |
| Nitrox and equipment | Historically available; present inclusions and supplements unconfirmed. |
| Transfers and flights | No current embarkation port, pickup timetable or final-dive schedule established. |
| Experience and insurance | No current operator requirements verified; past arrangements cannot establish new booking eligibility. |
For a trip now, the actual sailing, cabin and complete cost matter more than matching an old boat name. Independence II remains a relevant starting point for readers interested in Bluewater’s current operation; its own itinerary and conditions should be compared separately.
What guests loved — and what could be better
The accessible reviews describe the former Bluewater period. They repeatedly return to the crew, guiding, meals and a friendly atmosphere. Their dates matter: they preserve a useful record of those cruises, but cannot establish the service or condition of a future operation.
What guests loved
N. Jill’s Divebooker review of 19 October 2019 describes being the only English guest among a German-speaking group. She appreciated separate briefings, guide Oliver’s support and the welcome from the other passengers. A birthday cake added a personal touch to a trip she felt ran smoothly.
In an April 2018 Taucher.net report, returning guest dwwo praised guides Carmen and Oliver across several southern safaris. Briefings, help with equipment and meals stood out, and a dive guide became the guest’s buddy after their usual companion could not travel. The account also noted some improvements after time in dry dock, without providing a detailed refit specification.
What could be better
Fotohaie’s December 2021 review of a November BDE trip described the boat as showing its age, while still praising cleanliness, maintenance efforts and the crew. The route had unforeseen changes, and the writer only learned aboard that extra arrangements such as rebreather support might have been possible with advance notice. These are dated observations from the former operation, not present-day technical findings.
Dwwo’s southern account also reported no hammerheads at Daedalus on that trip. The enjoyment came from the whole safari rather than a guaranteed encounter.
When another boat might suit you better
Anyone planning travel now needs a boat with confirmed departures and current conditions. Quick Shadow’s old reviews can help you recognise the kind of holiday you enjoy—a modest-sized group, a shaded social deck and varied diving—but they cannot substitute for a current offer. Travellers prioritising a luxurious cabin should also look beyond the old luxury label and compare the actual room photographs and layout.
Quick Shadow: useful questions
Is Quick Shadow still with Bluewater Safaris?
No. Bluewater records the end of that relationship in 2021. Its current fleet comprises Independence II and Independence III.
Can I book Quick Shadow for 2026?
No dated 2026 departure or current operator has been verified. This page describes the documented vessel and historical trips, not a current booking offer.
How many cabins did Quick Shadow have?
The later documented layout has ten guest cabins for 20 people: seven lower-deck twins, one main-deck double and two upper-deck doubles.
Was Quick Shadow renamed Independence III?
No evidence establishes that identity. Bluewater describes leaving Quick Shadow in 2021 and the first voyage of Independence III in April 2022 as separate events.
What was distinctive about the onboard spaces?
A booth-style dining salon and a covered outdoor lounge provided sociable spaces, with a separate open sun deck and a central equipment table on the dive deck.
Which routes are represented here?
Dated accounts cover northern wrecks and Tiran, Brothers, BDE, St John’s and several southern combinations. They are historical programmes; exact daily tracks and some port details remain unconfirmed.
Was Nitrox available?
Yes, the former operator documented a membrane system. No current Nitrox inclusion or price has been established.
Do the old reviews describe today’s boat?
They describe the trips and service experienced at those dates, mostly before the end of the Bluewater operation. They are not a current condition report.
Did you sail on Quick Shadow? Add your experience, including the date, route, cabin and operator.
Information checked 23 October 2026. This researched update retains useful descriptions from the original article and distinguishes historical voyages from current availability; it is not a new onboard inspection.
Where does this liveaboard dive boat go?
Check out the fabulous places where this dive boat travels to.
Note: some destinations may not be listed below, please enquire for more details.
Hamata
Hamata gives land-based divers access to Fury Shoals: coral gardens, small wrecks and exposed outer reefs, with outings matched to experience and sea conditions.
Eilat
Eilat offers mainly shore-based Red Sea diving, with coral gardens, the Satil wreck and sites for different experience levels. Check recent-dive and insurance requirements before arrival.
Aqaba
Aqaba combines coral gardens and shore diving with the Cedar Pride, aircraft wrecks and underwater military displays. A land-based stay can also include Petra and Wadi Rum.
Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam combines shore-access bays such as Abu Dabbab with boat trips to offshore reefs including Elphinstone. Choose the base and dive profile to suit your experience; wildlife sightings vary.
Nuweiba
Nuweiba suits unhurried shore diving and underwater photography, with coral gardens and small marine life to explore with a local guide.
Dahab
Dahab combines shore-access reefs and training sites with advanced profiles at the Canyon and Blue Hole. Choose the dive to match your experience.
Hurghada
Hurghada combines day-boat reefs, beginner training and longer wreck excursions. Match the site, transfer and dive profile to your experience.
Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm combines local reef diving with Ras Mohammed, Tiran and separately planned wreck excursions. Match the route and dive profile to your experience.
Red Sea
Red Sea diving ranges from shore reefs and northern wrecks to exposed offshore walls. Choose the base and route around your experience and travel plans.
- If you have been diving on board this liveaboard dive boat in Red Sea, please share your review and let us know what you thought. Please post your comments in the review section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next diving trip
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