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Red Sea (Egypt)

Red Sea (Egypt)

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A rift filling slowly with the sea, and reef building on both new shores.

The Red Sea occupies a young tectonic rift between Africa and Arabia, its high salinity and warmth supporting some of the healthiest coral cover left on Earth. Egypt's coast — Sinai, the Straits, Marsa Alam — carries the bulk of the world's Red Sea diving.

Conditions

Season
Year-round; mildest March–June and September–November
Temperature
About 21–29 °C across the year
Visibility
Often 20–40 m
Entry
Boat and shore entries; several signature sites carry real current

What this water asks

Buoyancy that stays off the reef and an honest read of current before committing to a wall.

The Blue Heart

Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus)

A huge, slow-moving reef fish with a bulging forehead, often curious enough to follow a group of divers for a while before drifting off on its own business.

Best dive areas in the Red Sea

From Sinai to Marsa Alam, Egypt's Red Sea combines reef, wrecks and blue-water encounters.

  • Ras Mohammed (Sharm el-Sheikh)

    approx. 5–40 m · Open Water / Advanced

    Coral walls, schools of barracuda and snapper in summer, turtles.

  • SS Thistlegorm

    approx. 16–32 m · Advanced

    A 1941 freighter with motorbikes, trucks and locomotives in its holds.

  • Blue Hole (Dahab)

    approx. 5–30 m recreational · Open Water

    Reef wall and the hole's rim; the arch at 55 m lies beyond recreational limits.

  • Brothers (El Akhawein)

    approx. 5–40 m · Advanced

    Offshore islets, oceanic whitetips and hammerheads, the Numidia and Aida wrecks; liveaboard only.

  • Elphinstone (Marsa Alam)

    approx. 5–40 m · Advanced

    Long reef with current, oceanic whitetips in autumn.

  • Abu Dabbab (Marsa Alam)

    approx. 3–18 m · Open Water

    Sandy bay with grazing green turtles and, at times, dugongs.

Depths are approximate: always confirm them at the local briefing.

When to go and what to expect

Diving runs all year. Summer brings a marked thermocline; in winter the northerly wind can cancel offshore trips.

PeriodWaterVisibilityWhat to expect
Dec–Feb21–23 °C20–30 mCoolest water; northerly wind
Mar–Jun22–26 °C25–40 mMild weather, great visibility
Jul–Aug27–29 °C20–40 mThermocline, schooling fish at Ras Mohammed
Sep–Nov26–28 °C25–40 mOceanic whitetips at Brothers and Elphinstone

Getting there and where to dive from

Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam airports have direct flights from many European cities. Dahab is 1 h by road from Sharm.

Bases: Sharm for Ras Mohammed and the Thistlegorm, Dahab for the Blue Hole, Marsa Alam for Elphinstone and Abu Dabbab. Brothers is dived by liveaboard.

Indicative price
Two-tank boat day: around €50–90 (indicative); week-long liveaboards are priced separately.
Fees and permits
Ras Mohammed National Park and other protected areas charge a daily per-diver fee; the Thistlegorm trip usually carries its own supplement.
Certification
A recognised card and logbook; Brothers and Elphinstone usually require an advanced level and minimum logged dives.

A presence dive in the Red Sea

A four-phase plan for Ras Mohammed, inside your agency standards and dive plan.

  1. Before

    As the boat nears Shark Reef, we review the current with the guide and take three slow breaths watching the colour of the water.

  2. Below

    With the wall on one side and the blue on the other, we let the current carry us. Nothing to reach: just fine buoyancy and continuous breathing.

  3. Between

    During the interval, we write down three colours we remember, and where we saw them.

  4. Beyond

    Back home, when we feel hurried, we recall drifting without losing control.

The breathing in this plan is practised in Breathwork for divers. New to this? Read what Mindful Diving™ is.

Frequently asked questions

When is the best time to dive the Red Sea?

All year, but March–June and September–November bring the mildest weather and best visibility.

What level do I need for the Thistlegorm?

An advanced level is recommended, as the bottom is around 30 m and current is common. Penetration requires specific training.

Is the Blue Hole in Dahab safe?

The recreational part, along the wall and within your limits, yes. The arch at 55 m is beyond recreational diving and has caused accidents.

Where can I see turtles and dugongs in Egypt?

In Abu Dabbab and other Marsa Alam bays, in shallow water and without chasing them.

Nearby waters

Atlas sites here

  • Blue Hole, Dahab

    Egypt · Red Sea

    Read the guide

  • SS Thistlegorm, Red Sea

    Egypt · Strait of Gubal

  • Ras Mohammed

    Egypt · Sinai

  • Elphinstone Reef

    Egypt · Marsa Alam

Find a center near here

Presence here

Presence notes appear here once enough divers have logged this water — the same house number the Tide holds everywhere.

Safety first

On scuba, breathe naturally and continuously as trained; never hold, skip or deliberately restrict your breathing. Keep attention on your buddy, buoyancy, gas and surroundings. Leave optional exercises out of descents, ascents and any demanding task.

Dive this water with a trained practice

MD-1 Mindful Diver™ is studied online and practised on the dives you already make — including this one.

Begin MD-1See all Waters of the World