Royal Evolution

Royal Evolution is a 39-metre steel vessel built in Hurghada in 2006 and used for diving ever since. Hull and superstructure are marine-grade steel throughout; the ship holds a full Bureau Veritas survey as a passenger vessel and a load line certificate — the one that allows short international voyages between two countries. Four decks, twelve cabins, 24 guests and a crew of 17.

Cabins sit on two decks: eight standard cabins below and four on the main deck — two suites with a wide double bed and two with separate beds. Every cabin has its own bathroom, individually controlled air conditioning, a bar fridge, a safety box, a TV with DVD player and a satellite channel receiver. Towels and bathrobes are in the cabin, a hairdryer in the bathroom. One pair of main-deck bathrooms is fitted with grab rails and step-free access for guests with reduced mobility.

The dive deck carries 28 individual gear lockers, with a camera station alongside — three racks and two air guns for drying. The charging station stands at the entrance to the lounge: each guest gets a lockable compartment with 220 V and 110 V sockets, available around the clock. The dive platform sits at water level with four handheld showers and two stainless rinse tanks. Dives are run from two 5.5-metre RIBs and one 4.2-metre RIB, guided by three permanent instructors.

There is a full technical set-up on board: a booster pump with a trimix and oxygen panel, an oxygen bank for rebreathers, helium on advance request for certified divers, and two membrane nitrox systems reaching 36 and 40 per cent. Nitrox is charged for on this vessel — the operator’s position is that it will not fold the cost of the membrane plant into the cruise price for guests who dive air.

The saloon has air conditioning, a bar, a Blu-ray player with a 65-inch screen, a video library, a book library, cards, backgammon and chess. The dining room seats all 24 at once. Above are a shaded deck with teak furniture, an open sun deck, a bar and a hot tub aft.

Through summer and autumn the vessel runs Egyptian itineraries out of Hurghada and Port Ghalib — the northern wrecks, the Brothers–Daedalus–Elphinstone golden triangle, and the deep south with the Elba reefs on the Sudanese border. Royal Evolution is also the only Red Sea liveaboard permitted to run two-week expeditions into Sudanese waters departing from and returning to Port Ghalib. The published 2026–2027 schedule contains no Sudan departures: every announced date is Egyptian. Ask us separately about the Sudan expeditions.