Red Sea

The Red Sea has been drawing divers since the pioneering expeditions of Hans Hass and Jacques Cousteau in the 1950s and 1960s. Today it remains one of the most visited diving destinations on the planet, offering an exceptional combination of year-round warm water, high visibility, affordable liveaboards, and extraordinary marine diversity.

The northern Red Sea — accessible from Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh — offers the most developed dive tourism infrastructure. Hurghada is the gateway to the famous Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef, and Elphinstone Reef, while Sharm el-Sheikh provides access to the Straits of Tiran, Ras Mohammed National Park, and the legendary SS Thistlegorm wreck.

The Red Sea is one of the saltiest seas in the world, which contributes to its remarkable clarity. Visibility of 30 metres or more is routine on most sites. Water temperatures range from a comfortable 22°C in winter to 30°C in summer, making the Red Sea a year-round destination with slightly different marine life highlights depending on season.

The reef systems here show remarkable resilience compared to many global reef systems, partly due to the Red Sea's natural isolation and partly due to Egypt's expanding network of marine protected areas. Our Conservation Guide covers the importance of responsible reef diving in these well-used but well-managed sites.

Whether you are a complete beginner completing your first dives in the warm waters of Dahab or an experienced diver chasing oceanic whitetips at the Brothers Islands on a liveaboard, the Red Sea has a product perfectly suited to your level.

The Egyptian Red Sea contains hundreds of named dive sites. The following eight sites represent the highlights across the northern and central regions.

SS Thistlegorm

The SS Thistlegorm is one of the most famous wreck dives in the world. A British WWII cargo ship sunk by German bombers in 1941, the wreck lies at 16–30 metres in the northern Red Sea. Its holds are packed with motorcycles, trucks, aircraft fuselages, locomotives, and military equipment — an underwater museum of extraordinary historical significance.

The Brothers Islands

Big Brother and Little Brother are remote reef plateaus rising from deep water far offshore. Big Brother features two wrecks — the Numidia and the Aida — in addition to its dramatic reef walls patrolled by oceanic whitetip sharks, silky sharks, and thresher sharks. Accessible only by liveaboard; Advanced certification required.

Daedalus Reef

Daedalus Reef is a remote offshore plateau with a lighthouse, accessible by liveaboard. The reef is renowned for hammerhead aggregations in summer and consistent oceanic whitetip shark encounters. The walls are covered in pristine soft corals and attract large pelagic fish.

Elphinstone Reef

Elphinstone Reef is an elongated reef plateau accessed on day trips from Marsa Alam and liveaboards from Hurghada. The South Plateau is famous for oceanic whitetip shark encounters. The walls feature pristine soft corals, anthias clouds, and regular grey reef shark sightings.

Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula was Egypt's first marine protected area. The Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef sites offer dramatic wall diving with enormous schools of fish. The famous bathtub — a protected inlet — offers sheltered diving for less experienced divers.

Blue Hole, Dahab

Dahab's Blue Hole is one of the world's most famous — and most misrepresented — dive sites. For recreational divers, the rim and outer wall at 30–40 metres offer beautiful coral and good fish life. The deep interior of the hole itself is strictly for experienced technical divers with appropriate training and equipment. Read our Safety Guide for important context on diving within recreational limits at this site.

Carless Reef

Carless Reef in the Straits of Tiran offers stunning coral gardens at moderate depths. The reef is part of the Tiran island group and is accessible from Sharm el-Sheikh on day trips. Strong currents create an excellent drift dive experience on the eastern walls.

Marsa Alam Coral Gardens

The Marsa Alam area south of Hurghada offers some of the Red Sea's best dugong encounters and resident turtle populations. Marsa Abu Dabbab is the most reliable dugong site in Egypt, with encounters possible on most visits during the morning hours.

The Red Sea hosts over 1,000 fish species, 200 coral species, and a high concentration of endemic species found nowhere else on Earth. The marine life combines the diversity of the Indo-Pacific with the unique character of an enclosed sea.

Sharks

Oceanic whitetip sharks are the Red Sea's signature pelagic species. Once heavily depleted by fishing, they are making a cautious recovery in the protected offshore reef zones. The Brothers Islands and Daedalus Reef offer the most reliable encounters. Hammerheads aggregate at Daedalus in summer. Grey reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks are common throughout the reef system.

Dolphins

Spinner dolphins inhabit the Red Sea year-round and are frequently encountered on day trips from Hurghada. Dedicated dolphin watch dive boats visit known resting bays in the northern Red Sea. Delphin Reef in Eilat (Israel) — a short distance from Taba — hosts a resident pod that interacts with snorkellers.

Turtles

Green and hawksbill turtles are resident throughout the Red Sea. The Marsa Alam area has particularly high densities, especially in the protected bays with seagrass meadows that green turtles feed in. Nesting sites exist on several protected beaches.

Endemic Species

The Red Sea has a high rate of endemism. Notable endemic fish include the Red Sea bannerfish, the lyretail anthias, and the Picasso triggerfish. The Arabian blowfish and the sohal surgeonfish are iconic residents of shallow reef zones.

Seasonal Highlights

• April–June: Hammerheads at Daedalus. Oceanic whitetips at Brothers. Excellent visibility. Peak liveaboard season.
• July–September: Warm water (28–30°C). Hammerheads active. Some surface chop. Whale sharks occasionally sighted.
• October–November: Excellent conditions. Shark activity high. Thistlegorm diving optimal (less crowded).
• December–March: Cooler water (22–24°C). Fewer tourists. Mola mola (sunfish) occasionally sighted at depth. Excellent reef photography conditions.

The Egyptian Red Sea has one of the world's largest concentrations of dive operators. Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh together host hundreds of dive centres and dozens of liveaboard vessels. Quality varies — choosing a reputable operator with certified instructors and properly maintained equipment is important.

Hurghada Operators

Hurghada is the liveaboard capital of the Red Sea, with daily departures to offshore reefs year-round. Day trip operators run to inshore sites and overnight trips to the Thistlegorm. Reputable centres include Extra Divers Hurghada and Red Sea Diving Safari, which operate multiple Red Sea camps and day boats.

Sharm el-Sheikh Operators

Sharm el-Sheikh is the gateway to Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran. The Naama Bay area is lined with dive centres. Camel Dive Club is one of the longest- established operators, with a strong training programme and well-maintained equipment.

Dahab Operators

Dahab is a laid-back town on the Gulf of Aqaba side of the Sinai and is particularly popular for freediving and technical diving. Blue Hole Divers Dahab and Nesima Dive Centre offer both recreational and technical programmes. The sheltered shore entry sites around Dahab are ideal for student divers and for perfecting buoyancy skills before advancing to deeper sites.

Liveaboards

Red Sea liveaboards depart from Hurghada, Port Ghalib, and Sharm el-Sheikh. Itineraries range from 3-night Thistlegorm trips to 12-night Southern Red Sea expeditions reaching Sudan. Seek out operators with PADI-certified guides and Egyptian tourism authority accreditation. Vessel quality ranges from basic budget boats to luxury superyachts.

Egypt is one of the most accessible dive destinations globally. Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh both have international airports with direct flights from Europe, making the Red Sea reachable in 4–5 hours from most European cities.

Getting There

Hurghada International Airport (HRG) receives charter and scheduled flights from the UK, Germany, France, Russia, and throughout the Middle East. Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH) similarly handles high volumes of European charter flights. Connecting through Cairo (CAI) provides access from most global hubs.

Visa Requirements

Egypt offers visa-on-arrival or e-Visa to citizens of most countries. The e-Visa, available through the Egyptian government portal, is recommended as it avoids queues on arrival. Citizens of some Gulf states have specific arrangements. Sinai-only entry (covering Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab) is available on arrival for many nationalities without a full Egypt visa — but this restricts travel beyond the Sinai border checkpoint.

Currency and Costs

Egypt uses the Egyptian Pound (EGP). Dive costs are very competitive by global standards. Day trip dives from shore or boat typically cost USD 40–80 per person including equipment. Liveaboards range from USD 800 to USD 3,000+ per person for 7–10 nights. Hotel accommodation in Hurghada starts from USD 30 per night for dive-friendly guesthouses.

Health Considerations

No mandatory vaccinations for Egypt, though Hepatitis A, Typhoid, and Tetanus are commonly recommended. Comprehensive travel insurance with dive medical cover is essential. Recompression chambers are available in Hurghada, Sharm el-Sheikh, and the hyperbaric facility at El Gouna. Operators are required to log diver information for chamber emergency access.

Safety Context

Always check your government's current travel advisory for Egypt before departure. The Red Sea resort areas of Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh have a strong track record of safety for tourists, but broader regional advisories may apply to other parts of the country. Use reputable transport, stay at established resorts, and follow operator advice on site conditions.

The Red Sea is a genuine year-round destination with no single “off season” for diving. Different months bring different marine life highlights and slightly different conditions.

Month-by-Month Breakdown

• January–March: Cooler water (22–24°C). Excellent visibility. Fewer crowds. Mola mola (ocean sunfish) occasionally sighted at depth. Some surface chop on exposed sites.
• April–June: Peak liveaboard season. Excellent conditions at offshore sites. Hammerheads at Daedalus from April. Water warming to 25–27°C.
• July–September: Hot and calm. Water 28–30°C. Hammerhead aggregations peak. Some areas see tourist crowds. Best time for Elphinstone and Brothers for shark encounters.
• October–December: Excellent diving. Thistlegorm season — fewer boats competing for the buoys. Oceanic whitetips reliable at Brothers. Water 24–26°C.

Water Temperatures

Water temperature ranges from 22°C in winter (January–February) to 30°C in late summer (August–September). A 3mm wetsuit suits most divers year-round. In winter, a 5mm suit or semi-dry is recommended for multiple daily dives. Read our Equipment Guide for wetsuit selection by temperature.

Visibility

The Red Sea routinely offers 20–40 metres of visibility at offshore reef sites. Inshore sites and enclosed bays may offer 10–20m. Sandstorms (khamsin) from the desert can briefly reduce visibility when winds kick up loose sand on shallow sites. These events are usually short-lived.

Recommendations

For first-time visitors, April to June offers the best combination of conditions, marine life variety, and manageable crowds. For dedicated shark diving, July to October at offshore sites. For budget-conscious divers, January to March delivers excellent diving at lower prices and fewer tourists.