Contessa Mia is part of the Sea Serpent Fleet. Launched in 2006, this vessel was built specifically for dive cruises. Contessa Mia operates 7 night trips from Marsa Alam or Hurghada, and travels to some of the best dive sites in the southern Red Sea like Brother Islands, Daedalus, Rocky Island, Zabargad, Elphinstone and St. John's reefs. The wrecks of Abu Nuhas, the Dunraven, the Thistlegorm and the legendary dive sites in the Tiran straights are visited as part of the northern tour.
The large dive deck is very spaciously laid out and offers plenty room for each diver. The Contessa Mia has 2 dinghies (Zodiacs) for diving, 2 emergency rafts, first aid equipment and oxygen as well as the necessary electronic equipment, dual radar, radio, satellite phone, navigation, and GPS.
Dive Service
Four dives daily are being offered and conducted mostly by the dinghies. Diving is done in buddy teams. Divers should be experienced to participate in those safaris.
Nitrox is available free via Overstream Manifold system for certified divers. Each diver has to provide a valid certification card and log book. 12L aluminium tanks with INT and also DIN connection are available. For an additional charge 15L tanks can be pre-booked.
Dive areas
The off shore Marine Park islands, The Brothers, Daedalus, Rocky Islands and Zabargad Islands, are the highlights of the Red Sea. The Brother Islands, two outer reefs rising from great depths, are one of the world's best dive sites. Steep walls, covered by stunning soft corals of all colours, black and fan corals, two wrecks, pelagic fish and schools of fish will excite any diver. With some luck you'll meet thresher sharks, grey reef sharks, hammer head, oceanic white tip sharks and mantas. The trip in stormy weather may be somewhat rough, but the diving makes up for the effort.
Another sure winner for world-class diving is close to the Daedalus Islands, where especially in summer you are very likely to encounter pelagics, and be prepared to meet schools of hammer head sharks!
Excellent and almost unspoilt dive sites are in the areas of Rocky Island and Zabargad Island. All those sites are teaming with schools of tropical fish and promise lots of big fish action. Much further south, St John is a collection of small reefs offering all the beauty of the Red Sea with breathtaking reefs covered with hard corals and soft corals in all colours. Add the possibility to spot a wide variety of pelagics, big fish, Dolphins and diving through a labyrinth of caves.
The North offers very good to spectacular wreck diving. The Thistlegorm is a must dive, you cannot miss this one! She holds plenty cargo like motorcycles, locomotives and war goods - a really unique dive. The wrecks of Abu Shaab Nuhas are also worth a visit. Dives in the Tiran Strait complete the tours in the north.
We think...
Contessa Mia is comparable with other upper middle class liveaboard vessels in Egypt. She offers excellent value for money.
