Egypt

Diving in Red Sea (Egypt)

50 sites85 species21–30 °C20–40 m vis

Photo: Unknown / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY)

The Egyptian Red Sea is one of the world's premier scuba diving destinations, offering over 1,200 fish species, 250+ coral species, legendary wrecks, dramatic wall dives, and reliable year-round dive conditions along 1,200km of pristine coastline. From the world-famous SS Thistlegorm wreck to hammerhead schools at Daedalus Reef, oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone, and the iconic Blue Hole at Dahab, every dive region delivers encounters that rival anywhere on the planet. With hyperbaric chambers in every major dive hub, strict CDWS safety regulations, and the Mediterranean's best budget-for-value ratio, Egypt's Red Sea is the most accessible world-class diving on earth.

The SS Thistlegorm carries two fully intact steam locomotives in its cargo hold — one of the few places in the world where divers can see locomotives underwater.Daedalus Reef hosts schools of 20+ scalloped hammerheads in peak season (May–August) — one of the most reliable hammerhead aggregation sites on earth.The Red Sea is the world's northernmost tropical sea — coral reefs thrive here at the limits of their latitudinal range, with 10% of fish species found nowhere else on earth.Abu Nuhas means 'Father of Misfortune' — this single reef has claimed four ships (Carnatic 1869, Kimon M 1978, Chrisoula K 1981, Giannis D 1983), making it the Red Sea's Ship Graveyard.The Red Sea has one of the best hyperbaric chamber networks in the world — chambers in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Dahab, Safaga, and El Gouna have treated over 1,800 diving injuries since 1993.The Blue Hole in Dahab is over 100m deep — a submarine sinkhole that could swallow a 30-story building. The Arch at 56m has tragically claimed over 200 lives, making it the world's most famous and dangerous dive site.Elphinstone Reef is the world's most reliable spot for oceanic whitetip sharks (September–November) — a species Jacques Cousteau called 'the most dangerous of all sharks.'The resident dugong 'Dennis' at Abu Dabbab has been visiting the same seagrass beds for over a decade — one of the world's last reliable dugong populations.

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Places on this map (69)

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Conditions

Water temp

21–30 °C

Visibility

20–40 m

Depth

5–40 m

Current

Moderate

Best season

March–May and September–November offer the best combination of comfortable air temperatures, excellent visibility (25–40m), and manageable crowds. Summer (June–August) is peak for hammerheads and mantas but hot topside. Winter (December–February) offers clearest visibility and fewest crowds.

Month	Summary
Jan	January brings the Red Sea's coolest water (21–24°C) and clearest visibility (25–40m). Perfect for wreck diving with minimal crowds. A 5–7mm wetsuit is recommended.
Feb	February continues winter conditions with 21–24°C water and excellent 25–35m visibility. Wreck diving is at its best. Fewer divers mean uncrowded sites.
Mar	March marks the start of spring with warming water (22–24°C) and good visibility (20–30m). Pleasant topside temperatures and the first hammerhead sightings begin. A great all-around month.
Apr	April delivers 23–25°C water and 20–30m visibility. Peak Easter crowds at resort areas — book early. Hammerhead season begins in earnest at Daedalus and Brothers.
May	May is the sweet spot — 24–26°C water, warming to summer, with hammerhead schools building at offshore sites. Whale sharks begin appearing. Visibility 20–30m.
Jun	June brings summer heat (26–28°C water) and peak hammerhead season at Daedalus Reef. Manta rays arrive at offshore sites. Visibility 25–30m. Hot topside (35°C+).
Jul	July is peak summer with the warmest water (27–29°C). Hammerhead action continues at offshore sites. Manta encounters reliable. Excellent visibility (25–30m). Rash guard or 3mm sufficient.
Aug	August maintains peak summer warmth (28–30°C) with 25–35m visibility. Last month of prime hammerhead season. Manta rays and thresher sharks still present. Hot but rewarding.
Sep	September is the golden month — water 27–29°C, peak visibility returns (30–40m), oceanic whitetip season begins at Elphinstone. Pleasant air temperatures and manageable crowds. Arguably the best month overall.
Oct	October delivers stellar conditions — 26–28°C water, 30–40m visibility, oceanic whitetips in full display at Elphinstone, and thresher sharks active at Brothers. Ideal autumn diving.
Nov	November sees cooling water (24–26°C) but maintains excellent 25–35m visibility. Oceanic whitetips still present. Fewer crowds after autumn peak. A 5mm wetsuit recommended.
Dec	December transitions to winter with 22–24°C water and 25–35m visibility. Wreck diving enters prime season. Quietest month for crowds. Festive season brings holiday divers. 5–7mm wetsuit needed.

Dive Sites (50)

Abu Dabbab

2–20m · Beginner

Dugongs · Seagrass beds · Green turtles

Abu Ramada Island (Erg Abu Ramada)

3–25m · Intermediate

Coral towers · Caves · Soft corals

Aida II Wreck (Big Brothers)

20–35m · Advanced

Shipwreck · Artificial reef · WWII history

Anemone City

5–20m · Beginner

Anemone fields · Clownfish colony · Sandy seabed

Big Brothers Island

5–40m · Advanced

Thresher sharks · Hammerhead sharks · Manta rays

Blue Hole (Dahab)

6–30m · Intermediate

Submarine sinkhole · Coral garden rim · The Arch (tech-only)

Careless Reef

5–40m · Advanced

Wall · Strong currents · Pinnacle

Carnatic (Abu Nuhas)

15–27m · Intermediate

Historic wreck (1869) · Copper-clad hull · Coral-encrusted

+42more sites in the appGet the app →

Marine Life (85)

must-see

Spotted Eagle Ray

must-see

Green Sea Turtle

must-see

Hawksbill Turtle

must-see

Loggerhead Turtle

must-see

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin

must-see

Roving Coral Grouper

must-see

Hooded Butterflyfish

must-see

Indian Ocean Humpback Dolphin

Great Barracuda

Black-tailed Butterflyfish

Red Sea Sailfin Tang

Triton's Trumpet

+73more species in the app

Dive Shops (65)

Red Sea Star Diving Center

★ 4.7Moderate

Pro Master Diving Center - Hurghada

★ 4.4Moderate

Diving in Red Sea (Egypt)

Explore the map

Conditions

Dive Sites (50)

Abu Dabbab

Abu Ramada Island (Erg Abu Ramada)

Aida II Wreck (Big Brothers)

Anemone City

Big Brothers Island

Blue Hole (Dahab)

Careless Reef

Carnatic (Abu Nuhas)

Marine Life (85)

Dive Shops (65)

Red Sea Star Diving Center

Pro Master Diving Center - Hurghada

Hurghada Dive - Scuba Diving in Hurghada

Funnydivers Diving Center, Hurghada Egypt, Tuchen Hurghada, tauchkurs, diving course , padi 5 start dive center in Hurghada

Diving Around Hurghada

Atlantik Diving Center

Nemo - Dive Centre - Red Sea Diving

Aquarius Diving Club

Blue Sea Diving Center

White Whale Divers | Scuba Diving Center in Hurghada

Red Sea Master Scuba Diving Center

Sky Red Sea Diving & Aqua Center

Diving Hurghada Club - Scuba Diving Center In Hurghada

Tauchen Hurghada Dive | Scuba Diving Center in Hurghada, PADI Courses

Ilios Dive Club

Red Sea Diving Academy

Tauchen Hurghada - Deutsche Tauchschule In Hurghada, Tauchkurs

Diving Forever - Deutscher Tauchshop in Hurghada

Master Diving Center Makadi

Dive club

Blue Ocean Dive Centers & Resorts

Diving center & Liveaboards DUNE Red Sea

PADI Diving Club Planet A

Red sea scuba club

Dive Nemo Hurghada – PADI Diving Center

Dive Red Sea Makadi bay

Dive More diving center Sunny Beach

Blue Submarine Diving Center - Happy Life Beach Marsa Alam

Red Sea Marine Diving Center

White Dolphin Diving Center - Tauchen in Hurghada - PADI Dive Resort

Red sea scuba diving

JustDive MarsaAlam

Red Sea Diving

Scuba World Divers JAZ Neo Reef Marsa / Jaz Grand Marsa

Coraya Divers

Red Sea Blue Paradise Diving Center

Diamond Red Sea - Diving in Hurghada

Dive Base Academy

Scuba World Divers Makadi Bay

Wonderful Dive Port Ghalib Beach

Red Sea Life Diving Center

IDive Diving Center

Egypt Divers

Dive UK Hurghada

Red Sea Fun Dive

Extra Divers Makadi Bay

Hurghada Diving | Scuba Diving Center in Hurghada, PADI Courses ‏

Diving Star | Scuba Diving Hurghada Egypt - PADI 5 Star Dive Resort

Emperor Divers Port Ghalib

Scuba Hurghada

Marsa Nakari - Red Sea Diving Safari

Scuba World Divers - Marsa Mares

Dive Club diving center

Amelie Safari Liveaboard I Scuba Diving Egypt Hurghada I Diving School Hurghada I Diving School Egypt

Wadi Lahami Village Red Sea Diving Safari

Sea Waves Titanic Aqua & Diving Center

Dive Hurghada

Red Sea Diving College

Dive Academy Red Sea

Domina Coral Bay Resort, Diving, Spa & Casino

Chloe's Diving Center - Scuba Diving In Hurghada

Marsa Alam Diving Center | Deep south-divers PADI & SDI

Hurghadivers | Hurghada best diving in Red Sea - PADI

Seaworld diving center Marsa Alam

Dive in Red Sea | Liveaboards | Scuba diving courses PADI | Daily Dives

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