Egypt

Diving in Sharm El Sheikh

50 sites95 species22–28 °C15–40 m vis

Photo: Janek Valdsalu / Unsplash

Sharm El Sheikh is the premier dive destination on Egypt's Red Sea coast, situated at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Gulf of Suez. This world-famous diving hub offers an extraordinary range of underwater experiences: the legendary drift walls of Ras Mohammed National Park, the pelagic-rich Straits of Tiran with four major reef systems, and some of the most celebrated wreck dives on Earth including the iconic SS Thistlegorm. With 365 days of sunshine, water temperatures never dropping below 22°C, visibility regularly exceeding 30m, and the best hyperbaric chamber infrastructure in any diving destination, Sharm El Sheikh delivers a complete, safe, and unforgettable Red Sea diving holiday for every experience level — from first-time Open Water students to advanced technical wreck divers.

The SS Thistlegorm sank on October 6, 1941 carrying BSA motorcycles, Bedford trucks, Bren carriers, and two intact railway locomotives — rediscovered by Jacques Cousteau in 1956, it is consistently ranked among the top 5 wreck dives in the world.The Red Sea has one of the highest rates of endemism on Earth — 10% of its 1,200+ fish species and 250+ coral species are found nowhere else, including the Masked Butterflyfish and Red Sea Anemonefish.Ras Mohammed was established as Egypt's first marine national park in 1983, protecting 1,575 km² of coral reef, seagrass beds, and mangrove ecosystems at the meeting point of the Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez.Sharm El Sheikh's Hyperbaric Medical Center has been operating since 1993 under Dr. Adel Taher, treating over 1,800 divers — it is one of the best hyperbaric chamber networks in any diving destination worldwide.The Straits of Tiran's four iconic reefs — Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, and Gordon — are named after 19th-century British cartographers who mapped the Red Sea during the era of imperial exploration.The Yolanda Reef is famous not for a ship hull but for its cargo: hundreds of toilets, bathtubs, sinks, and bathroom fixtures scattered across the reef from a 1980 Cypriot freighter, creating one of the most photographed underwater scenes in diving.The Dunraven, a British steamship that sank in 1876, has been submerged for nearly 150 years in Sha'ab Mahmoud — its coral-encrusted hull, boiler, and propeller are now a thriving artificial reef ecosystem.

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Conditions

Water temp

22–28 °C

Visibility

15–40 m

Depth

3–40 m

Current

Moderate

Best season

March to May and September to November

Month	Summary
Jan	January brings cooler air (22-24°C) but water stays a comfortable 23°C with visibility around 15-25m. Fewer crowds and lower prices make this an excellent month for divers wanting quiet reefs, though winter winds can bring surface chop on exposed sites.
Feb	February has the coolest water at 22°C but remains perfectly diveable in a 5mm wetsuit. Visibility holds at 15-25m with gentle to moderate currents. The quietest month of the year — book with flexibility as rough sea days are possible.
Mar	March marks the beginning of prime season with water warming to 23°C and visibility improving to 20-30m. Moderate currents bring pelagic action to Ras Mohammed and Tiran. Comfortable air temperatures (28-32°C) make surface intervals pleasant.
Apr	April delivers peak visibility of 25-35m and water at 24°C. This is one of the best months for Shark & Yolanda Reef drift dives and Tiran shark encounters. Moderate currents, excellent conditions, and manageable crowds before the European summer rush.
May	May continues the prime spring window with 25°C water, 25-35m visibility, and moderate currents fueling rich pelagic life. Hammerhead sightings at Jackson Reef are most reliable during spring months. Air temperatures climb to 32°C — hydrate well between dives.
Jun	June brings summer warmth with water at 26°C and air temperatures reaching 38°C. Visibility holds at 20-30m with gentle to moderate currents. Peak tourist season begins — book dive trips and accommodation in advance. Morning dives avoid the midday heat.
Jul	July is the hottest month with 27°C water and 35-38°C air. Visibility at 20-30m with gentle currents — ideal for relaxed reef dives and training. The shallow local sites are perfect for beginners escaping the heat. Summer brings the liveliest atmosphere to Naama Bay after diving.
Aug	August peaks at 28°C water temperature — the warmest of the year. Visibility remains solid at 20-30m with gentle currents. Peak tourist month with high demand; book well ahead. Shore diving and night dives are especially pleasant in the warm water. Shorties are sufficient for most divers.
Sep	September maintains 28°C water while visibility improves to 25-35m as autumn clarity sets in. Moderate currents return, bringing better pelagic action. Air temperatures remain high (35°C+) but crowds thin after the European school holidays end. An excellent crossover month — summer warmth, autumn visibility.
Oct	October is the golden month — water at 27°C, visibility peaking at 25-40m (best of the year), and moderate currents delivering exceptional diving at all sites. Peak tourism month with perfect conditions. The Thistlegorm, Ras Mohammed, and Tiran are all at their very best. Book everything well in advance.
Nov	November cools slightly to 25°C water and 20-35m visibility with moderate currents. Still excellent diving as the autumn window continues. Crowds moderate after the October peak. A sweet spot month for divers wanting prime conditions without the October crowds and prices.
Dec	December brings winter conditions with 24°C water and 15-25m visibility. Gentle to moderate currents, fewer boats on the water, and a peaceful atmosphere on the reefs. The holiday period (Christmas/New Year) sees a spike in visitors — book early for festive-season diving. A 5mm wetsuit recommended.

Dive Sites (50)

Amphoras

5–30m · Intermediate

Artifact · Swim-throughs · Overhang

Anemone City

3–15m · Beginner

Coral garden · Macro life · Photography

Carnatic Wreck

15–27m · Intermediate

Wreck · High Biodiversity · Photography

Dunraven

15–30m · Intermediate

Wreck · Historical · Photography

Eel Garden

5–20m · Beginner

Sandy bottom · Macro life · Photography

Far Garden

3–30m · Beginner

Coral garden · Wall · High Biodiversity

Fiddle Garden

3–20m · Beginner

Coral garden

Gordon Reef

5–30m · Intermediate

Coral garden · Turtle · Wall

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Marine Life (95)

must-see

Loggerhead Turtle

must-see

Spotted Eagle Ray

must-see

Green Sea Turtle

must-see

Hawksbill Turtle

must-see

Atlantic Bottlenose Dolphin

Great Barracuda

Hilarious Nudibranch

Red Sea Garden Eel

Spotted Snake Eel

Anemone Hermit Crab

Masked Puffer

Moorish idol

+83more species in the app

Dive Shops (46)

Apnetica freediving

★ 5Moderate

Diving in Sharm El Sheikh

Explore the map

Conditions

Dive Sites (50)

Amphoras

Anemone City

Carnatic Wreck

Dunraven

Eel Garden

Far Garden

Fiddle Garden

Gordon Reef

Marine Life (95)

Dive Shops (46)

Apnetica freediving

Gold Stars Diving Center baron resort and baron palm

Reef Oasis Dive Club - Beach Resort

Sunshine Divers Club Sharks Bay

Diving & Discovery

Millennium Divers Sharm

SINAI MARINE Diving Center

Pirates Dive Club

Scorpion Dive Club

Eagle Divers Egypt

Seamax Sharm Dive Center

Sea Life Sharm Diving Center

Story Divers - Diving Center Sharm el Sheikh

Reef Oasis Dive Club - Blue Bay

Shamandura Diving

Cinderella Eldawley Diving Center

The Wave Diving Center

Hero diving Center

Dive In Sharm El Sheikh - Centro Diving e Crociere subacquee

Sheikh Coast Diving Center

sea college dive club

Umbi Sharks Bay Diving Village

Coral Diving Club

Blue Sea Dive Club Sharm (White Hills)

Camel Dive Club & Boutique Hotel

Vip Diving College

Anar Dive Center

Aquarius Diving Club [Sharm el-Sheikh]

Diving World Sharm

Goat Diving

Emperor Divers Sharm El Sheikh

Shark Divers - the dive club in sharm

Blue Lagoon Diving Center Sharm el Sheikh

Mr.Diver Red Sea

Aqua Sharm Diving College

MANTA DIVERS SHARM EL SHEIKH

Circle Divers Sharm El Sheikh

Big Whale dive center

Dolphin Diving Center

Crazy shark diving center

Elite Diving with Divers United

Sharm Divers Club

Pyramids Diving Center Pickalbatros Palace

Sunshine Divers Club

Sinai Dive Club

Dive Club Italiano Centro Sub - Sharm

Guides

The Complete Sharm El Sheikh Diving Guide: Red Sea's Finest

Diving Sharm El Sheikh: Conditions, Seasons, and More

Top 10 Sharm El Sheikh Dive Sites: Wrecks and Reefs

Safety

Bring Sharm El Sheikh underwater