Situated between the desert of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea and known as one of Egypt’s most popular resort towns, Sharm El-Sheikh’s diving sites attract divers and travellers from all over. The town experiences dry weather most of the year, with the best months for diving with good visibility and weather being in April, early May and mid-October to mid-November. Sheltered sandy bays, crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs and fascinating wreck sites make scuba diving in Sharm El-Sheikh an absolute dream for divers of all abilities. With 23 reef dives, 16 drift dives and 14 wall dives, there’s something for everyone.
Naama Bay
Difficulty: Beginner | Depth: 0-30 metres
The main hub for tourists in the city, Naama Bay is famous for its cafes, bazaars, restaurants and most importantly, its stunning reefs suitable for beginners wanting to learn how to dive in Sharm El-Sheikh. The bay has three main dive sites that are well-protected from the weather; Near, Middle and Far Gardens. All three dive sites can be accessed by boat or via resort pontoons.
Near Garden is perfect for newbies to take a training course and check out the vibrant coral reefs whilst swimming amongst colourful fish and fauna. Further east, Middle Garden’s sandy bank drops to depths of 25 metres and divers may be lucky enough to see manta rays and turtles. Lastly, Far Garden is the furthest and deepest dive site from Naama Bay and a true underwater haven attracting glassfish, lionfish, mantas and even grey reef sharks to its abundant coral reefs.
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Straits of Tiran
Difficulty: Intermediate | Depth: 0-90 metres
The 16-km-wide Straits of Tiran separate the Gulf of Aqaba from the Red Sea and boast four spectacular reefs; Jackson Reef, Woodhouse Reef, Thomas Reef and Gordon Reef. With an impressive amount of hard and soft corals as well as marine life, there’s plenty to feast your eyes on in this well-known divers’ paradise. Just keep in mind that due to the deep canyons, vertical walls and strong currents, this site is only suitable for experienced or technical divers.
Jackson Reef, the most northern reef in Tiran, is also the most famous of the four reefs. Its soft corals are teeming with schools of fish, whilst whitetip reef sharks and pods of spinner dolphins are also commonly spotted in this area. You can even explore the Lara shipwreck, a top Sharm El-Sheikh diving wreck site. The other reefs in this area are just as magnificent; rich in anemones, rare corals, flora and fauna, and plenty of wildlife.
SS Thistlegorm Wreck
Difficulty: Advanced | Depth: 0-32 metres
Last but not least, this famous shipwreck is definitely worth a visit if you have the time. Now the most visited wreck site in the Red Sea, the SS Thistlegorm was an armed British cargo ship built in 1940, transporting military equipment during the Second World War. The wreck sits in shallow waters, however, strong currents and exposure to weather require divers to be experienced.
Divers flock here every year to see the blast area off the port side of the old ship and to witness the sheer amount of cargo still in the ship’s holds, such as boots, motorcycles, armoured vehicles, rifles and much more.
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Ras Mohammed
Difficulty: Intermediate | Depth: 0-35 metres
Ras Mohammed National Park sits at the southern end of Sharm El-Sheikh and was named a protected area in 1983. It’s one of the most famous diving locations worldwide, containing 9 dive sites. The most well-known are Shark & Yolanda Reefs, with Jackfish Alley, Eel Garden, Shark Observatory and Anemone City closely following behind.
Characterised by its deep vertical walls, hard and soft corals and diverse marine life, this is hands down the best place for scuba diving in Sharm El-Sheikh. The world-renowned Shark & Yolanda Reef is a beautiful diving landscape with Shark Reef’s wall dropping away to a 700-metre depth, whilst Yolanda Reef offers a stunning coral garden on its plateau where you’ll see snappers, batfish and glassfish. Plus, you can even swim to Yolanda’s shipwreck!
Our special mention goes to the Shark Observatory, where divers can test their limits diving amongst sea predators such as whale sharks, jackfish and barracuda.
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*Recommended diving centres in Sharm El-Sheikh: Red Sea Diving College and Camel Dive Club and Hotel.
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Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced diver, choosing Sharm El-Sheikh for your diving trip is a stellar idea.
For a hassle-free arrival, you can pre-book your Sharm El-Sheikh Airport transfer with Welcome Pickups and make the most of our trained English-speaking driver, fully personalised door-to-door transfers and 24/7 customer service. Your local driver will meet you at the gate and even give you a mini tour, so you can get your holiday off to a smooth start.
