MY Blue Horizon dive boat review
Photos: Blue Horizon gallery supplied through LiveAboard.com.
Blue Horizon: a comfortable base for wrecks, reefs and offshore diving
The pleasure of a week on Blue Horizon is having somewhere inviting to return to after each dive. There is a separate sky lounge for a quiet afternoon, outdoor seating for a conversation in the sea breeze, and a dining room where the group comes together between dives.
Choose the itinerary first. A northern wreck week and a Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone trip have very different diving priorities, even though you sleep on the same boat.
Blue Horizon is a 41-metre wooden liveaboard built in 2006 and refitted in 2024, with a beam of 8.75 metres. Its thirteen cabins accommodate up to 26 guests. The current programme is marketed by Master Liveaboards; older reviews and photographs also use the Blue O Two name.
Choose your bed arrangement, then your deck
| Category | Layout | Who it suits |
|---|---|---|
| 4 Classic Twin | Lower deck; two single beds | Friends or solo travellers sharing |
| 5 Classic Twin/Double | Lower deck; small queen and single bed, maximum two guests | Couples or friends wanting flexible bedding |
| 4 Premium Double | Mid deck; king-size bed | Couples preferring a higher cabin position |
All cabins have private bathrooms and air-conditioning. Ask for the cabin number before paying for an upgrade: position relative to the galley and communal spaces matters as well as bed size.
Charging devices: the operator’s February 2026 notice says cabin sockets and USB ports have been removed. Confirm the communal charging arrangements for your camera, phone or any essential device.
Life between dives
The original Divezone review singled out Blue Horizon’s choice of places to relax: a dining room, a separate sky lounge, shaded outdoor seating and a sun deck. That separation is useful on a full boat, whether you want to compare photographs with friends or settle down with a book. The current gallery also shows the hot-tub area.
Meals are served buffet-style, with snacks between dives. Tell the booking team about dietary requirements before departure. Wi-Fi is advertised when available; do not plan around a dependable offshore connection.
Travelling with a non-diver? Confirm acceptance, pricing and the activities possible on your exact itinerary before booking.
Eight programmes, with different reasons to go
These route families appear in Blue Horizon’s own departure filters and listings checked on 24 October 2026. A programme appearing here does not mean every sailing has spaces. Most trips are seven nights; Ultimate Red Sea is ten.
Northern Red Sea Wrecks & Reefs
A northern week combining wrecks with reef dives. The published overview names Abu Nuhas, Gubal, Dunraven, Thistlegorm and Ras Mohammed; their daily order remains flexible.
7 nights · Hurghada round trip. Published entry requirement: Open Water + 10 logged dives; 20 for Thistlegorm.
Red Sea Wrecks
The sample heads north to Abu Nuhas and Thistlegorm, then south to the Safaga wrecks before local Hurghada dives. Salem Express is pinned; Al Kafain, El Minya and Mohamed Hassabella are named in the programme but not pinned here.
7 nights · Hurghada round trip. Published entry requirement: Open Water + 30 logged dives.
Strait of Tiran & North
Northern wrecks and Ras Mohammed combine with the four Tiran reefs. The exact daily order and selection depend on conditions. Listed November–December 2026 examples were full when checked.
7 nights · Hurghada round trip. Published entry requirement: Open Water + 10 logged dives; 20 for Thistlegorm.
Northern Red Sea & Brothers
A compromise between the northern wrecks and the exposed walls of the Brothers. This layer shows the named areas, not a fixed sailing sequence.
7 nights · Hurghada; confirm your sailing. Published entry requirement: Open Water + 30 logged dives.
Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone
Offshore walls and possible shark encounters. The 3–10 April 2027 example starts in Hurghada. Both possible port areas appear for orientation; they do not imply a one-way trip.
7 nights · Hurghada or Port Ghalib; check both ends. Published entry requirement: Open Water + 30 logged dives.
Daedalus & St Johns
Sample order: Port Ghalib check dive → St Johns → Cave Reef area → Fury Shoals → Daedalus → Elphinstone → Port Ghalib. Regional pins simplify the programme; unnamed coastal dives are omitted.
7 nights · Port Ghalib sample round trip. Published entry requirement: Open Water + 30 logged dives.
Rocky, Zabargad & St Johns
Three days around Rocky, Zabargad and St Johns are followed by Fury Shoals, then Elphinstone and local Port Ghalib diving. The order within the southern group is not fixed here.
7 nights · Port Ghalib sample round trip. Published entry requirement: Confirm the departure-specific certification and experience requirement.
Ultimate Red Sea
A longer programme connecting northern wrecks, Ras Mohammed and Tiran with Safaga and a day in each of the Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone areas. This is an area map: no complete daily order is established.
10 nights · Hurghada or Port Ghalib; confirm both ends. Published entry requirement: Open Water + 30 logged dives.
Compare the itineraries on the map
Select each programme independently. Dotted connections appear only for the published Daedalus & St Johns sample order; all other layers show areas without inventing a daily sequence. Pins represent reef, island or port areas, not moorings. The exact marina, stops and order must be checked against your departure. Weather, permits and the captain’s decisions can change any itinerary.
Reef and wreck references
The separate map locates the named diving areas. St Johns uses a Gota Kebiera reference and Fury Shoals a Claudia Reef reference, without promising those individual sites. The wreck-focused programme also names Al Kafain, El Minya and Mohamed Hassabella, which are not pinned.
Match the diving to your experience
The northern Wrecks & Reefs and Tiran routes have the lowest published entry threshold in this selection, although visiting Thistlegorm raises the minimum to twenty logged dives. The offshore, combined and wreck-focused programmes listed above generally require thirty. These are entry criteria, not a promise that every dive is easy or within your certification depth.
For the offshore reefs, be comfortable with currents, blue-water ascents and boat pickups. Ask how groups are organised and how much individual guidance is available. The published programmes begin with check diving; technical and rebreather arrangements require advance agreement. Nitrox is an extra for appropriately qualified divers.
Dated fares and the extras to add
The following advertised starting fares were checked on 24 October 2026. They are per person in shared accommodation; the cabin category and final inclusions still need confirming.
| Departure | Programme / nights | Advertised fare |
|---|---|---|
| 23–30 January 2027 | Northern Wrecks & Reefs · 7 | US$833 promotional fare |
| 30 January–6 February 2027 | Red Sea Wrecks · 7 | US$897 promotional fare |
| 3–10 April 2027 | Brothers, Daedalus & Elphinstone · 7 | US$1,220 promotional fare |
Full-board shared accommodation, standard diving, air fills in a 12-litre cylinder, weights and scheduled local-airport transfers appear in the operator’s itinerary inclusions. Flights, private transfers, equipment rental, alcohol and gratuities are additional. Match the transfer airport and timing to the actual port.
| Extra | Planning allowance |
|---|---|
| Reef / park charges | US$90–200 per trip on the booking listing; the operator currently gives US$90 for seven nights, subject to change |
| Fuel surcharge | US$8 per charged day; confirm how many days are billed |
| Nitrox | US$90–135 per week, unless explicitly included in your offer |
| Onboard extras tax | The operator lists 14%; ask whether each quoted extra already includes it |
Working example: the US$833 fare becomes approximately US$979–1,097 after allowing US$90–200 for parks and seven to eight fuel-charge days. This is a provisional subtotal, not an all-inclusive quote: it excludes nitrox, any applicable tax on extras, flights, equipment and tips. Adding a quoted nitrox package gives US$1,069–1,232 before those other costs. Do not add both park figures together.
Compare the current fare and inclusions
Boarding and the final day
Check both ports on the booking confirmation before buying flights. Several northern programmes use Hurghada; the southern samples use Port Ghalib. Longer and offshore trips can vary.
The published Ultimate programme includes the first night in the marina and the final night aboard, with two morning dives before the last afternoon in port. Seven nights aboard therefore does not automatically mean seven full diving days. Ask for the actual final-dive and disembarkation times when arranging your onward travel.
A look aboard Blue Horizon
This guest boat tour was filmed on an August 2019 trip, before the 2024 refit. It gives an impression of the layout, while the current cabin table and gallery above are the better starting points for choosing accommodation.
Guest feedback: space, meals and the style of guiding
What guests loved
Alexey S, in an October 2026 review, valued the room to relax, helpful team and varied wreck diving. Maria K’s September 2026 account praised clear briefings and comfortable accommodation.
These recent experiences fit the appeal of a boat with several communal areas: a busy diving schedule can still leave room for downtime.
What could be better
Bharat S, in February 2026, wanted more guidance and was disappointed by the early finish to diving before the final night aboard. Ask about group support and the actual diving days.
Older feedback includes galley noise beside Kathleen S’s cabin in August 2022 and wear noted by Gordon H in January 2023. Both predate the announced 2024 refit and should not be treated as a current condition report.
Is Blue Horizon the right boat for you?
It is worth considering if you want a sociable boat with several places to relax and a broad choice of Red Sea itineraries. If your priority is a smaller group, compare guest capacities as carefully as cabin photographs. If you need close individual guidance, establish that arrangement before choosing an offshore route.
Blue Horizon: booking questions
How many guests does Blue Horizon carry?
Up to 26 guests in thirteen two-person cabins. Check the cabin category and bed arrangement on your quote.
Which cabin should a couple choose?
Compare a lower-deck Classic Twin/Double with a mid-deck Premium Double. The latter has a king-size bed; ask for the exact cabin position as well as the supplement.
Can I charge devices in my cabin?
The operator’s 2026 notice says cabin sockets and USB ports have been removed. Ask about the shared charging facilities before travelling.
Which itinerary is best for wreck diving?
Red Sea Wrecks gives wrecks the main role and includes northern and Safaga areas. Northern Wrecks & Reefs offers a broader reef-and-wreck mix with a lower published minimum dive count.
Does every route require thirty logged dives?
No. Northern Wrecks & Reefs and Tiran & North list ten, rising to twenty for Thistlegorm. Several other programmes list thirty. Confirm your selected departure and any site-specific conditions.
Is nitrox included?
It is normally an extra. Promotional group terms can differ, so check whether your own written quote includes it.
Are the displayed prices the complete trip cost?
No. Allow for the mandatory charges, any applicable taxes on extras and your travel costs. The budget example is provisional and explains its assumptions.
Are sharks guaranteed on the offshore routes?
No. Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone offer offshore diving where encounters are possible; the wildlife, conditions and accessible sites vary.
Information checked 24 October 2026. Offers, inclusions, cabin arrangements and route access can change.
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
Excellent Scuba Diving with great chances of spotting Dolphins, Dugongs, Oceanic Whitetip Sharks and Hammerhead Sharks. Access to famous dive sites of Elphinstone Reef and Abu Dabbab! Very Good Visibility.
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 Egypt & Hurghada & 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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5 stars for sure!!! Our 8 days spent on-board the Horizon were magical! I don’t know if we were just lucky or if it was always that way but we were often the only divers on a site and that is priceless. Really! The crew is amazing, they are so confident and they know what they’re doing, you can’t be anything but confident too by being around them if you see what I mean.
It’s my first liveaboard testimonial so I am sorry if I am not thorough but I can only say great things. The food, the cabins, the few lounges and the sundeck were amazing, every body could be spread out somewhere and each couple could have some privacy at times… that was great. Good thing there’s so much space. We slept very well, we had a king suite.
We sure will be back with this one or any Blue O two boat!