Best Diving in The Red Sea

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The Red Sea is undoubtedly one of the best diving destinations on the planet and divers are spoilt for choice in terms of underwater landscape with everything from drift dives, caves, wrecks, walls and coral gardens at their disposal.

In fact, there is so much choice when it comes to diving locations that settling on one specific area might seem like an impossible task, but rest assured that each location is unlikely to disappoint and you can always revisit this unique North African country to experience more of the unbelievable diving it has to offer.

Popular choices for diving starting points include the Sinai Peninsula areas of the north as well as the southern coastal regions nearby Marsa Alam and Hurghada.

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Explore below more details about scuba diving in The Red Sea.

Table of Content

Underwater Pictures of the Red Sea

 

Best Dive Spots in the Red Sea

Whether you choose to explore the popular sites of Sharm el-Sheikh in the north or the lesser explored sites further south, diving in Egypt is a one-of-a-kind experience not to be missed.

Not only is the sheer variety of marine life very impressive, but around 20% of the fish species are endemic to the Red Sea, meaning that you won’t be able to see these species anywhere else in the world.

Near Sharm el-Sheikh, other dive sites worth exploring are Pharaoh’s Island and the Straits of Tiran.

In the South, other dive sites worth exploring are Sha’ab El Erg and the spectacular sites surrounding Giftun Islands.

Shark and Yolanda Reefs

Set in the spectacular Ras Mohamed national park just 20 kilometers south of Sharm el-Sheikh, these sites offer a magnificent drift diving experience in the Sinai Peninsula. Manifesting as two mountain-like peaks set on a sandy sea bed, these popular reefs offer divers the chance to see every species of fish in the Red Sea not to mention the colourful soft corals.

Drifting over Yolanda Reef gives divers the chance to see a wreck unlike any other – a 1980s merchant ship carrying sinks, toilets and bath tubs makes for an unusual underwater sighting.

The SS Thistlegorm

Another interesting wreck and a “must-dive” destination is that of the SS Thistlegorm, an impressive 120 meter long cargo ship carrying torpedoes, ammunition, trucks and motorbikes from World War Two. The Thistlegorm went down in 1941 after being bombed by German forces.

Swimming through the wreck is like going back in time with an array of diverse marine life to keep you company. Batfish, snappers and schools of jackfish are in abundance and there’s even a resident sea turtle.

The Brother Islands

These islands are world famous as they offer some of the best diving in Egypt, especially for those wanting to spot a number of different shark types. Divers can expect to encounter grey reef sharks, oceanic white tips, silver tips and intimidating hammerheads. On the rare occasion divers have been lucky enough to spot the long-tailed thresher shark in these waters.

Many of the dive locations are impressive walls accompanied by strong currents and should only be attempted with a guide who is familiar with the area.

Abu Dabbab (Marsa Alam)

With a maximum depth of only 16 metres and excellent visibility, Abu Dabbab is an ideal dive for beginners looking to get their first taste of diving in the Red Sea. The site is one of the only locations in the world where divers can catch a glimpse of the endangered Dugong, a large marine mammal somewhat similar to a manatee. In fact, Abu Dabbab has two resident Dugongs, also known as sea cows which enjoy feeding on the abundance of sea grass in the area.

The sandy dive site is also home to the odd-looking guitar shark as well as hammerheadws, white tip sharks and fun-loving dolphins.

Dive Types Overviews

Critter Diving
Wreck Diving

Best Season to Dive the Red Sea

April to October
November to March

Temperature and visibility

The warm climate, temperate waters and impressive visibility are just a few reasons that millions of divers flock to these sites just off the shores of one of the world’s most ancient civilizations.

Dive Centre or Liveaboard?

Dive centres are plentiful in the popular tourist areas of Sharm El Sheikh, El Gouna, Marsa Alam, Hamata, Hurghada and Dahab making it easy to organize a dive.

As it is a major scuba diving hub, expect nothing but the best from the numerous dive centres in Egypt, many of which have won multiple awards from industry giants such as Diver’s Magazine. Dive centres offer day trips, gear rental and liveaboard packages.

Red Sea Liveaboards

Joining a Liveaboards is very popular option to dive the best spots of the Northern Red Sea and Tiran along with the Southern Red Sea and even Sudan.

Travel tips

Feeling inspired and ready to go? Check out our Red Sea travel guide and start planning your next diving trip!

Dive Sites Reviews in The Red Sea

The Abu Nuhas Reef found close to the north coast of Shadwan Island, is a submerged reef that is now ...

Blue Hole divesite article goes here.

This fantastic Red Sea Wreck allows divers to complete some very deep dives. The Rosalie Moller Wreck was a coal ...

Elphinstone Reef is one of the most popular dive sites in the Red Sea. The reef is an easily accessible, ...

The most visited wreck dive site in the world is situated on Egypt’s Sinai Peninsula and is home to the ...

The world renowned Big Brother islands offer some of the best diving in Egypt, especially for shark sightings. Divers can ...

Fury Shoals is a very good dive site in the southern part of the Red Sea in the Marsa Alam ...

Daedalus Reef, sometimes called Abu Kizan, is one of the most well preserved dive sites in the Red Sea. It ...

This dive site in the Marsa Alam reason is one of the most popular dive spots in the Red Sea ...

Kingston Wreck is a fantastic wreck dive in the Red Sea, offering divers the chance to explore this large boat ...

Liveaboard Reviews in The Red Sea

Been diving here with a liveaboard? Please share your experience using the comment section!
Fabienne August 17, 2017

Hi 🙂
We are interested in the Dolphin Watching Tour. Is the Dolphin Watching and Sea Safari the same tour? And is it also possible to combine it with snorkeling? How much would that cost? What time is the departure?
We are from the Swiss Airline Crew and we are at least 2 persons, maybe there will be more from our crew who likes to join. We stay in the Radisson Blu Hotel in Muscat, is there a possibility to get picket up at our hotel this sunday for the tour?

Thank you for your informations!

Kind regards,
Fabienne

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