Captain Sparrow dive boat review
Photos: Captain Sparrow / LiveAboard.com.
Captain Sparrow: dive days with room to unwind
Captain Sparrow brings together a 28-guest diving boat and some inviting leisure-cruise comforts: two sun decks, a Jacuzzi, indoor saloons and a choice of fourteen en-suite cabins. Her Egyptian programme ranges from northern wrecks to offshore reefs, with a separate short snorkelling cruise for a different kind of Red Sea holiday.
No online availability was displayed on the checked partner listings on 15 October 2026. A dated proposal naming Captain Sparrow, the country, cabin and route is needed before making travel arrangements; missing dates alone do not establish retirement.
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Getting to know the boat
Built in 2018 and listed as renovated in 2020, Captain Sparrow measures 44 metres long by 8.3 metres wide. She has a wooden hull and accommodation for 28 guests. This profile concerns the fourteen-cabin Captain Sparrow, not Jasmine or another vessel with a similar Sparrow name.
Fourteen cabins across three decks
You will find six cabins on the lower deck, six on the main deck and two on the upper deck. Each room features an en-suite bathroom and private air-conditioning. The useful choice is between a lower twin, a main-deck room and an upper suite, rather than treating every berth as the same product.
| Cabin location | Number and occupancy | Bed arrangement |
|---|---|---|
| Lower deck | 6 cabins · up to 2 guests each | Two separate single beds |
| Main deck | 6 cabins · up to 2 guests each | Double/twin arrangements; agree the actual room and setup |
| Upper deck suites | 2 cabins · up to 2 guests each | King-size double bed |
Friends sharing may prefer the certainty of a lower twin; couples looking for a double can compare a main-deck cabin with the larger upper suite. Not every listing describes main-deck conversion in the same way, so the room number and bed setup belong on the booking confirmation. Solo sharing and single-occupancy supplements have not been established for a current departure.
Life between dives
The boat features indoor saloons as well as a spacious dining room and bar. In the photographed dining space, wood panelling surrounds individual tables beside the windows, with a buffet area along one side. Air-conditioned indoor seating gives the group somewhere to gather away from the open decks.
Outside, two sun decks with bean chairs offer room to relax. The Jacuzzi, sauna and massage chairs make this a boat with more than diving on its mind. The photographed outdoor seating around the Jacuzzi gives a good sense of that leisure focus, without implying that every facility or activity runs throughout every sailing.
Camera facilities include a preparation table, charging and rinse facilities. The dive deck keeps cylinders and equipment baskets together, leaving the saloons for the quieter part of the day. Wi-Fi is advertised, but access depends on connectivity; an offshore itinerary is not a reliable setting for a video meeting.
Egyptian and international buffet meals
Meals follow an Egyptian and international buffet menu, with snacks available between meals and hot drinks and soft drinks in the main listed package. Vegetarian and vegan options are advertised; specific dietary needs are best agreed while the galley can still plan provisions. The buffet format lets the group eat together without turning every meal into a formal occasion.
How the diving works
Two tenders support the diving operation. Onboard benches, cylinder stations and baskets provide a place to prepare, while the separate boats help reach sites away from the mooring. The listed diving package includes standard 12-litre cylinders and weights; rental equipment and specialist arrangements need their own quotation.
Nitrox is available and included in the checked Egyptian partner package for suitably qualified divers. Daily dive numbers depend on the route: offshore park outlines describe up to three dives, while the northern programme may also allow a night dive. Park restrictions, weather and the group’s experience determine what is possible on the day.
The northern wreck route specifies at least 20 logged dives for Thistlegorm. That is not a universal acceptance standard for the whole programme: offshore Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone trips need their own confirmed experience and equipment requirements. Strong current, exposed entries and tender pickups can materially change a dive’s demands. A technical-diving label in a catalogue does not establish support for a particular gas, depth or overhead plan.
A glimpse of Egypt’s southern reefs
This Marsa Alam film by Mark Heinis gives a view of the regional underwater setting. It is not a Captain Sparrow boat tour or a record of one of her departures.
Film: Marsa Alam — Coral reefs, Mark Heinis.
Choosing among the Egyptian itineraries
Eight Egyptian programme families are named for Captain Sparrow. Four have accessible day outlines; the remaining names should not be mistaken for fully confirmed sailing plans. The six-day diving outlines do not by themselves establish the number of nights sold. No future departure was verified for these programmes.
The main choice is between northern wreck-and-reef variety, offshore islands with overnight passages, southern reef regions and the three-day leisure cruise. Stops and diving order remain subject to weather, permissions and the actual departure. Wildlife is part of the appeal, never a booking guarantee.
| Egyptian route family | Documented timing and port |
|---|---|
| Northern wrecks and reefs | Six diving days outlined · Hurghada return |
| Strait of Tiran / Dahab | Duration and embarkation port to confirm |
| North and Brother Islands | Duration and embarkation port to confirm |
| Brothers, Safaga & Elphinstone | Six diving days outlined · boarding port to confirm |
| Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone | Six diving days outlined · Hurghada or Port Ghalib |
| Rocky, Zabargad & St John’s | Duration and embarkation port to confirm |
| Hurghada mini-cruise | 3 days / 2 nights · Hurghada |
| Deep South | Duration and port unconfirmed |
Northern wrecks and reefs
Six diving days outlined · Hurghada return
The outline begins with local check dives, spends the middle days among northern wrecks and reefs, and finishes with two morning dives near Hurghada. Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Giannis D, Carnatic, Ras Mohammed, Shag Rock, Shaab El Erg and Gubal are possibilities rather than an ordered checklist. This is the clearest choice for a mixture of shipwrecks and reef scenery. The operator specifies at least 20 logged dives for Thistlegorm; conditions and the planned dive still matter.
Strait of Tiran / Dahab
Duration and embarkation port to confirm
This northern family is named in the boat’s programme, but its detailed schedule could not be verified. It extends the choice towards Tiran and Dahab; neither a particular Dahab site nor a fixed sequence can be promised. The map identifies Tiran only, with no inferred Dahab dive stops.
North and Brother Islands
Duration and embarkation port to confirm
This family combines the northern region with Brothers. It may appeal when both wreck country and offshore islands are priorities, but the named northern stops and crossing schedule remain unconfirmed. Only the Brothers references are mapped; they do not describe the full voyage.
Brothers, Safaga & Elphinstone
Six diving days outlined · boarding port to confirm
The middle days combine Brothers and Elphinstone with Safaga options such as Panorama, Abu Kafan and Salem Express. Several overnight passages are described. A Port Ghalib departure allows only one day at Brothers in the published outline. This offers more Safaga variety than the Daedalus circuit, but the actual wreck selection is not fixed.
Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone
Six diving days outlined · Hurghada or Port Ghalib
An offshore-focused circuit around Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone, with local check dives and a coastal finish. Several overnight passages and up to three dives a day are described; there are no night dives in the marine parks. Hurghada and Port Ghalib appear as possible start/end ports, so the booked combination determines airport transfers. The reef order is flexible.
Rocky, Zabargad & St John’s
Duration and embarkation port to confirm
The named southern islands and reef region are documented, but the detailed daily plan was not accessible. They are shown as geographic references only. A proposal needs to establish the number of nights, boarding port and time allocated to each area before this can be compared fairly with Deep South.
Hurghada mini-cruise
3 days / 2 nights · Hurghada
A leisure programme with Gubal on the first day, time to relax on the second and a final dolphin-reef outing before the stated 14:00 marina return. The last reef is not identified and dolphin sightings are not assured. Full board, snorkelling and water sports are described; this is not a confirmed scuba-diving package. The map shows Hurghada and a Gubal island reference without inventing the remaining stops.
Deep South
Duration, port and named reef sequence unconfirmed. Deep South appears as a separate programme family. Its detailed description could not be verified, so it is not treated as a synonym for Rocky–Zabargad–St John’s or drawn as a guessed route. The operator’s dated plan is needed to explain the practical difference.
Itinerary reference map
Seven Egyptian programme layers show the places that could be established. These are reference markers, not an ordered sailing track: the published outlines do not fix the reef sequence. Tiran/Dahab and North/Brothers are only partly represented. Deep South and the Saudi programme below remain unmapped because their full geography was not verified.
Daedalus marker: southern reef reference from Red Sea Diving, checked 4 November 2026. This is a geographic reference, not a dive-entry point.
Geographic references: CDWS. Programme research checked 15–16 October 2026. Exact boarding piers and unspecified dive sites are not mapped.
Read mapped places as text
Northern wrecks and reefs
Hurghada — embarkation area, exact marina to confirm · Thistlegorm · Dunraven / Beacon Rock · Giannis D · Carnatic · Ras Mohammed — reference at Shark & Yolanda Reef · Kingston / Shag Rock · Shaab El Erg · Small Gubal — island reference
Strait of Tiran / Dahab
Tiran — strait reference at Jackson Reef, exact reef not fixed
North and Brother Islands
Big Brother · Small Brother
Brothers, Safaga & Elphinstone
Big Brother · Small Brother · Panorama Reef · Abu Kafan · Salem Express · Elphinstone
Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone
Big Brother · Small Brother · Daedalus Reef · Elphinstone
Rocky, Zabargad & St John’s
Rocky Island — reef reference · Zabargad — island reference · St John’s — regional reference at Habili Ali, exact reef not fixed
Hurghada mini-cruise
Hurghada — embarkation area, exact marina to confirm · Small Gubal — island reference
Farasan Banks: a separate Saudi Arabian programme
Captain Sparrow has also been advertised for Farasan Banks, with an Al Lith round trip and access via Jeddah. The published outline starts around Mar Mar, lists groups of reefs including Dohra, Jadir and Malathu, then Shaab Ammar, a further group including Danak and Jabbara, and Canyon Reef. These are Saudi waters, not an extension of an Egyptian booking.
A dated 22–29 March 2026 offer described six nights aboard and a final night in Jeddah, while another programme describes seven nights with an unclear hotel/boat split. Both are insufficient to establish a current departure or accommodation package. Kite-safari advertisements also exist for Captain Sparrow; those are not evidence of scuba diving on the same dates.
Saudi travel advice checked 16 October 2026: the UK FCDO advises against all but essential travel to Jeddah and all Saudi airports except Medina, among other regional restrictions. This directly affects the advertised Jeddah access route. Read the current Saudi Arabia travel advice and your own government’s guidance before considering a trip. Egyptian entry conditions, transfers and packages do not apply to Saudi Arabia.
What to include in a Captain Sparrow quotation
A current fare was not available from the checked online calendar. The main Egyptian listing includes full board, snacks, hot and soft drinks, the diving package, Nitrox and Wi-Fi access. Its published extras below are useful questions for a quotation, not a confirmed total for an available sailing.
| Main Egyptian partner package · checked 15 October 2026 | Published amount per person |
|---|---|
| Mandatory fuel surcharge | €75 per week |
| National park fees | €50–75 per trip |
| Crew tips | Amount not specified |
| Transfers, rental equipment, private guide, extra dives or courses | Quoted separately |
A second Egyptian listing includes some taxes, port/park charges and transfers within its package. Those inclusions should not be combined with the first listing’s fare assumptions. The seller’s written breakdown should settle fuel, taxes, park and port fees, cabin occupancy, transfers and cancellation terms for the actual trip.
Saudi offers use different packages and Nitrox charges. Their past advertised prices do not establish a present fare. Flights, entry requirements, insurance and any hotel nights must match the country and itinerary actually booked.
Arrival and departure days
The northern outline returns to Hurghada; the offshore BDE programme allows Hurghada or Port Ghalib arrangements. These ports lead to different airport-transfer choices, and an airport name alone does not identify the boarding marina. The final diving day also matters when planning onward flights: base the flight schedule on the agreed last dive and applicable no-fly guidance, not simply the advertised checkout time.
Travelling with a non-diver?
The three-day Hurghada mini-cruise specifically includes snorkelling and water sports, making it a more clearly documented leisure option than an offshore dive week. The boat also advertises inflatables and other water activities, but their availability on a diving departure is not established. Non-diver acceptance, supervision and fares for the chosen programme need confirmation; no verified discount was found.
What guests loved — and what could be better
The checked main partner listing contains one verified guest review, scoring Captain Sparrow 10/10. It is dated 5 August 2022: useful as an account of that trip, but too small and old a sample to establish a current consensus.
What guests loved
Roman H., 5 August 2022: on his second Red Sea safari, he praised the boat’s facilities, service, food and entertainment. His feedback supports the appeal of combining diving with onboard leisure. It does not identify a cabin category or establish how a future crew or itinerary will perform.
What could be better
The verified account does not report a specific negative experience. It would be misleading to manufacture a complaint for balance, or to infer that every trip is problem-free. More recent, boat-specific guest reports would be valuable, particularly about cabin condition and the current diving operation.
When another boat might suit you better
Captain Sparrow’s leisure facilities may appeal to a group wanting more than a dive–eat–sleep routine. If a smaller passenger count is the priority, the 20-guest Hammerhead I offers a different scale, though its current dates also need confirmation. For fixed holiday dates, an actually confirmed sailing and a clear package should carry more weight than the number of amenities in either brochure.
Captain Sparrow booking questions
Is Captain Sparrow currently bookable?
The operator still presents the boat, but the checked partner listings display no online availability. A written, dated proposal naming this vessel is needed; that absence of dates is not evidence of retirement.
How large is the boat and when was she built?
Captain Sparrow is listed as 44 metres by 8.3 metres, built in 2018 and renovated in 2020, with fourteen guest cabins for up to 28 people.
Which cabin should two friends choose?
The six lower-deck cabins have twin beds. Main-deck arrangements vary by room and listing, so agree the exact bed setup. The two upper suites have king-size doubles.
Can I book a solo berth?
Current sharing rules and single-use supplements have not been confirmed. The quotation needs to specify whether the booking is a shared berth or a private cabin.
Is Nitrox included?
It is included in the checked main Egyptian partner package for qualified users. Saudi offers have used separate Nitrox charges, so the country and package matter.
Is twenty logged dives enough for every itinerary?
No. Twenty is the published Thistlegorm requirement in the northern outline. Offshore routes and specialist dives need their own experience, qualification and equipment assessment.
Are all eight Egyptian programmes seven-night trips?
No such conclusion is supported. Several outlines cover six diving days without fixing the sold nights, and the mini-cruise explicitly lasts three days and two nights. The remaining durations need confirmation.
Does the mini-cruise include scuba diving?
The verified description includes full board, snorkelling and water sports. A scuba package was not established, so it should not be purchased on that assumption.
Can I use the Egyptian package for Farasan Banks?
No. Farasan Banks is in Saudi Arabia, with Al Lith/Jeddah logistics, different travel conditions and separately advertised packages. No current departure was confirmed.
Are the Jacuzzi and water sports available on every trip?
The boat advertises a Jacuzzi and leisure equipment, while the mini-cruise specifically includes water sports. The operating programme for a particular dive week needs confirmation; the equipment list is not a daily activity schedule.
Have you sailed on Captain Sparrow? Write your review with your trip date, country, route and cabin, including what you enjoyed and what could have been better.
Editorial information checked 15–16 October 2026. This is a source-based guide, not a new firsthand inspection. Existing Divezone ratings and comments are preserved.
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 Egypt & 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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