Egypt is a diver's paradise, where the rich waters of the Red Sea meet the desert, creating one of the world’s most vibrant underwater ecosystems. With its warm, crystal-clear waters, breathtaking coral reefs, and an abundance of marine life, Egypt offers some of the most spectacular scuba diving experiences on the planet.
Egypt’s Red Sea is a destination that should be on every diver’s bucket list. With its diverse range of marine life, world-class dive sites, and a variety of liveaboard options, Egypt offers an underwater adventure that is hard to match. It is renowned for its exceptional visibility, often exceeding 30 meters, making it an ideal destination for both photography and exploration.
Whether you’re a seasoned diver or a beginner, Egypt has something to offer every level of underwater adventurer. Here, you can navigating the legendary wrecks of the North or exploring the remote reefs of the South, you’ll find that Egypt’s waters are as rich in history as they are in natural beauty. Dive in and discover why Egypt is considered one of the top diving destinations in the world.
With over 1,000 species of fish, including 20% that are endemic, and an incredible variety of coral species, Egypt's underwater world is teeming with life. Divers can encounter everything from playful dolphins and majestic sharks to vibrant coral gardens and mysterious shipwrecks.
Diving Seasons
The water temperatures range from 22°C (72°F) in the winter to 29°C (84°F) in the summer, ensuring comfortable diving conditions year-round. The best time to dive depends on what you’re hoping to see :
March to May & September to October are the peak seasons, offering the most pleasant weather, warm water temperatures, and the best visibility. These months are ideal for encountering a wide variety of marine life, including large pelagics like hammerhead sharks and manta rays.
June to August sees warmer water temperatures, making it perfect for diving in just a thin wetsuit. This is also the best time for encountering whale sharks, particularly in the southern Red Sea.
November to February is the cooler season, but still very diveable with fewer crowds and excellent visibility. This period is ideal for spotting species like oceanic whitetip sharks.
Liveaboard Diving Regions :
Northern Red Sea Area : Wrecks and Reefs
The Northern Red Sea area is perfect for divers interested in a mix of historic wreck dives and vibrant coral reefs. It’s often the starting point for many divers new to the Red Sea, offering a variety of dive sites that cater to different skill levels. This route typically includes famous wrecks, colorful coral gardens, and the thriving marine life of Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran.
Key Dive Sites:
Thistlegorm Wreck : is one of the most famous wreck dives in the world. This British WWII cargo ship was sunk in 1941 and now rests at 30 meters deep, with its holds still filled with trucks, motorcycles, and ammunition. The site is teeming with marine life, including batfish, barracudas, and occasionally, reef sharks.
Ras Mohammed National Park : Located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Ras Mohammed is a protected marine reserve known for its spectacular coral reefs and abundant marine life. Shark and Yolanda Reef are among the most popular dive sites here, offering a mix of steep walls, coral gardens, and diverse fish species.
The Straits of Tiran : are a series of four reefs (Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse, and Jackson) that are famous for their strong currents and dramatic drop-offs. This area is a magnet for large pelagics, including barracudas, jacks, and reef sharks. The reefs are also home to vibrant corals and a variety of reef fish.
Best Time to Dive : April to June and September to November, when water temperatures are ideal, and visibility is at its best.
Southern Red Sea Area: Deep South and St. John’s
The Southern Red Sea offers a more remote and adventurous diving experience, often appealing to more experienced divers. The area is known for its pristine reefs, strong currents, and the chance to encounter larger pelagic species, including oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerheads, and whale sharks. The Deep South and St. John’s route takes you close to the Sudanese border, where fewer boats venture, ensuring more exclusive dive experiences.
Key Dive Sites:
Elphinstone Reef : is one of the most iconic dive sites in the Red Sea. This long, narrow reef is famous for its sheer walls that drop to over 70 meters and its strong currents, which attract pelagic species like oceanic whitetip sharks and hammerheads. The reef is also home to beautiful soft corals, making it a vibrant dive site.
St. John’s Reef : Located at the southernmost point of Egypt’s Red Sea, St. John’s is a collection of small reefs known for their dramatic topography, including caves, tunnels, and overhangs. The reefs are covered in colorful hard and soft corals and are frequented by large schools of fish, turtles, and occasionally, manta rays.
Fury Shoals : is a vast reef system featuring stunning coral gardens, pinnacles, and a labyrinth of swim-throughs. The area is less crowded and offers the chance to see a variety of marine life, including dolphins, reef sharks, and eagle rays.
Best Time to Dive : June to September, when water temperatures are warm, and the chance to see larger pelagics, especially oceanic whitetip sharks, is highest.
Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone Route
Known as the "Shark Triangle," this route is a favorite among experienced divers due to its thrilling shark encounters and challenging dive conditions. The route covers some of the Red Sea’s most famous offshore reefs, known for their remote locations, strong currents, and abundant marine life. This is the route to take if you’re looking for adrenaline-pumping dives with a high chance of encountering hammerhead sharks, thresher sharks, and oceanic whitetips.
Key Dive Sites:
Big Brother (Brothers Islands): is a small island surrounded by steep walls that drop off to deep water. The island is known for its two wrecks, the Numidia and the Aida, which are covered in soft corals and home to a variety of marine life. The strong currents around Big Brother attract pelagic species like hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, and thresher sharks.
Little Brother (Brothers Islands): is smaller but offers equally impressive diving. The walls are adorned with soft corals, and the currents bring in large schools of fish and pelagics. Thresher sharks are often seen here, especially early in the morning.
Daedalus Reef : Located halfway between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, Daedalus is a large, isolated reef famous for its schooling hammerhead sharks. The reef is surrounded by steep walls and covered in hard and soft corals, providing a beautiful backdrop for encounters with manta rays and other pelagics.
Best Time to Dive : October to January, when shark activity is at its peak and water conditions are optimal for diving.
Zabargad and Rocky Island Route
The Zabargad and Rocky Island route takes divers to some of the most remote and less frequently visited sites in the Southern Red Sea. These islands offer an adventurous diving experience with stunning coral formations, unique underwater topography, and the chance to see a variety of large pelagics.
Key Dive Sites:
Zabargad Island : is known for its unique topography, including large pinnacles, swim-throughs, and a wreck that lies at a depth of 24 meters. The island is surrounded by vibrant coral gardens that attract a wide variety of marine life, including turtles, moray eels, and reef sharks.
Rocky Island : is a small, barren outcrop surrounded by steep walls that drop into the abyss. The island’s location and strong currents make it a magnet for pelagics, including hammerhead sharks, barracudas, and jacks. The walls are covered in colorful corals, sponges, and gorgonians, creating a stunning underwater landscape.
Best Time to Dive : June to September, when conditions are calm, and pelagic sightings are frequent.
Fury Shoals and Elphinstone Route
This route is perfect for divers looking for a mix of relaxed and thrilling dives. Fury Shoals offers some of the best coral gardens in the Red Sea, with easy dives that are perfect for all levels. Elphinstone adds an element of excitement with its strong currents and the chance to see large pelagics.
Key Dive Sites:
Sha’ab Sataya (Dolphin Reef) : One of the highlights of Fury Shoals, Sha’ab Sataya is famous for its resident pod of spinner dolphins. Divers and snorkelers often have the chance to interact with these playful creatures in the shallow waters of the reef.
Sha’ab Claudia : Known for its beautiful coral formations and large swim-throughs, Sha’ab Claudia is a visually stunning dive site. The coral gardens are home to a variety of reef fish, making it a great spot for underwater photography.
Elphinstone Reef : As mentioned earlier, Elphinstone is the star of this route, offering a more challenging dive with the potential for exciting encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerheads, and other large species.
Best Time to Dive: April to November, with the summer months offering the warmest waters and the best chances for dolphin encounters at Sha’ab Sataya.
