MV Tala

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Photographs: Red Sea Explorers.

Choosing a cabin on Tala

Tala’s cabins have twin or double beds, private bathrooms and air-conditioning. The photographed twins have an aisle between the beds; the double shown above has shelving and hanging space beside the bed. These are practical rooms for a diving week, with the communal decks providing most of the room to spread out.

Three cabins are listed on the upper deck and two have double beds. Cabin-category names vary between booking channels, so a room number and bed arrangement are more useful than the word “suite” alone. For a solo booking, the quote should state whether the fare assumes a shared room or includes private occupancy.

Life aboard: a sociable saloon and shaded decks

The main-deck saloon is a large room with booth-style seating around tables. Its broad windows and open centre keep the space bright, while the bar provides another place to sit after diving. This is where the group can eat, talk through photographs and exchange stories from the day.

Upstairs, the open-air lounge has cushioned benches, tables and shade. It offers a comfortable alternative to staying indoors during a surface interval. There is also an exposed sunbathing area, so finding a sunny spot does not mean giving up the option of shelter later.

Three freshly prepared buffet meals anchor the day, with local and international dishes, snacks and soft drinks. Vegetarian and vegan options are advertised; specific dietary needs are best agreed before departure so the kitchen can plan supplies.

The aft dive deck has cylinder stations, benches, hanging rails and storage crates. Giving each diver a regular preparation space helps keep the diving routine organised, particularly when different cylinder configurations are being used.

Tala’s itineraries and departure ports

Most dated Tala cruises run for seven nights. Hurghada (HRG) and Port Ghaleb (PGB) are not interchangeable transfer points: some voyages finish at a different port from the one where they start. The northern calendar also contains a nine-night North & Brothers departure, showing why the actual dates matter more than a standard “one-week safari” label.

The northern wrecks and the southern offshore reefs ask different things of a diver. A wreck-focused trip gives more time to appreciate ship structure and history; BDE and the southern circuits involve exposed sites and longer stretches at sea. If motion affects your comfort, discuss the particular crossings as well as the dive list.

Summer heat and cooler, windier winter deck conditions change the feel of the week. The route also changes what you may encounter: a Dahab extension is not a substitute for Daedalus, and a southern itinerary does not imply the same conditions at every reef. Weather, access and the group’s experience can alter the sequence.

Tala itinerary locations

These layers locate the published highlights of each Tala route. They are partial, unordered references, not sailing tracks: the operator does not publish a fixed daily sequence. Dahab, Gubal and the northern “Dolphin House” stops remain unpinned here. The mini-safari layer refers to a previously listed departure whose availability needs reconfirmation.

Daedalus marker: southern reef reference from Red Sea Diving, checked 4 November 2026. This is a geographic reference, not a dive-entry point.

• North: Abu Nuhas, Thistlegorm, Rosalie Moller and Ras Mohammed; Gubal and Dolphin House are additional unmapped highlights.
• North & Dahab: northern wrecks, Ras Mohammed and the Tiran reefs, continuing to Dahab’s Blue Hole/Bells and Canyon. The Dahab stops are not mapped here.
• North & Brothers: northern wreck and reef highlights plus Big and Small Brother.
• BDE: the Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone, with Abu Dabab reefs and Wadi el Gemal in the route description.
• DRZ: Daedalus, Rocky and Zabargad, with Elphinstone, Fury Shoals and Marsa Shouna also described.
• RZS: Rocky, Zabargad and St John’s, with Abu Dabab reefs, Marsa Shouna and Wadi el Gemal.
• Mini Safari: Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas; Gubal and Dolphin House remain unpinned. A short northern option whose dated departure needs reconfirmation.

The table above gives departure and arrival ports. No berth is assigned on these maps. The references at Habili Ali, Claudia and Dahar Wady el Gemal indicate their wider reef groups, not a promised dive on those exact reefs.

Principal dive sites in Tala’s programme

Thistlegorm and Rosalie Moller are individual wreck references; Abu Nuhas represents a reef with several wrecks. The Tiran markers identify four separate reefs. The Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone and Rocky are exposed wall-diving locations, while Marsa Shouna is a coastal bay. Zabargad and the southern reef groups add coral formations and reef scenery. Currents and the chosen entry point change the character of each dive, and wildlife sightings remain possibilities.

Map references: CDWS dive-site directory and Red Sea Explorers programme, checked 23 October 2026.

Recreational and technical diving from Tala

Tala supports recreational diving alongside more specialised trips. Underwater scooters, twinsets, stage cylinders, oxygen and helium blending are part of the documented equipment provision. That makes the boat worth considering for divers who need a specific configuration, provided the equipment, gases, guide and qualification requirements are agreed for the departure.

Technical facilities do not make deep wrecks part of a standard recreational package. The deep wreck sites around Daedalus and Rocky require a separately planned technical dive; visiting the reef does not imply permission or preparation to descend to them.

Red Sea Explorers recommends at least 30 logged dives for southern routes and specifies Advanced certification with 50 logged dives for BDE, plus a dive within the preceding six months. Guides may restrict individual dives or adjust the itinerary to the group. These are operator conditions to confirm for your booking, not a single rule for every Egyptian cruise.

The assigned equipment station and tender operation are useful parts of the daily routine. Nitrox and larger cylinders cost extra. Agreeing rentals in advance is especially helpful for technical configurations, where a nominally available item may still need to be reserved.

Travelling with a non-diver?

Tala is advertised as non-diver and snorkeler friendly; confirm the fare and suitable activities for the exact route, as no departure-specific companion package has been verified.

Tala prices and the costs beyond the berth

The examples below are published cruise prices per person sharing a cabin, checked on 23 October 2026. They are not held reservations or complete holiday totals; the assigned cabin and final inclusions belong on the booking confirmation.

The route-fee subtotals exclude flights, entry formalities, insurance, rental gear, Nitrox, paid drinks and discretionary tips. The published seven-night package includes shared en-suite accommodation, meals, local transfers, guides, a 12-litre cylinder and weights. Route fees are listed as payable in cash aboard; confirm the amount and payment terms with your quote.

For a seven-day package, the onboard list gives single-cylinder Nitrox at €60, a 15-litre cylinder at €48 and a week’s scooter hire at €200, before the stated 10% sales tax. Those become €66, €52.80 and €220 respectively if that tax applies as published. Longer trips have a different tariff. Nitrox requires the appropriate qualification, and scooter use and availability must be agreed with the dive team.

A standard northern week carries a published €200 route charge; North & Dahab and North & Brothers list €250, while BDE, DRZ and RZS list €320. Mini-safari inclusions differ, with route fees described as included. Applying one fee automatically to every Tala trip would therefore give a misleading comparison.

Arrival, departure and the final diving day

Check-in is listed for 16:00 and check-out for 11:00. The first and last nights may be aboard in port or in a four-star hotel, so seven nights in the package does not necessarily mean seven nights at sea. The boat normally returns before sunset on the penultimate day.

The operator requests passport and flight information at least ten days in advance. Agree the transfer using the confirmed start and end ports before buying flights. Its planning guidance allows 24 hours between the final dive and flying; the final dive schedule and your individual diving profile still matter.

What Tala guests say

Tala’s LiveAboard.com rating was 9.3/10 from 29 verified reviews when checked. Crew assistance, food and the diving operation recur in the feedback; individual experiences still vary.

Tala at Ras Mohammed

▶ MV Tala in Ras Mohamed

Film: Red Sea Explorers, presented on the operator’s website. Cover photograph: Red Sea Explorers; it is not a frame from the film. Watch the Tala film.

Tala: practical questions

Have you travelled aboard Tala? Share your experience, including the date, route and cabin.

Information checked 23 October 2026. This is a researched update of the original profile, not a new onboard inspection.