The Dive Sites of Hurghada, Red Sea

31 January 2021
From Hurghada you can reach the famous wrecks of the North - the Thistlegorm, Ghiannis D, Carnatic, Ulysses, Rosalie Moeller and others. It is also close to the protected Giftun Island Marine Park and many reefs.

The area is well looked after thanks to the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA). They have, for instance, installed a boat mooring system to protect the reefs and wrecks from boat anchors.

Hurghada is located just below the Sinai peninsula. Until the early '80s it was a small fishing village but has grown to become a large resort town. You can fly directly to Hurghada from many European countries. The sea temperature ranges from 21 ^oC in February to around 28 ^oC in August. The weather gets very warm between June and August, with temperatures over 35 ^oC . There are plenty of ATMs in Hurghada so getting money out is no problem.

Red Sea Reef, Photo credit: Tim Nicholson.

Some people are nervous of going to Egypt at the moment because of the risk of terrorism. However, enhanced security measures are in place to protect the Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada resort areas. Security forces are situated at the international airports, at check points around the perimeter of the towns and throughout the Governorates. Routine security checks are being performed on entry into the airport and the police are carrying out vehicle checks in the towns. See the Egypt Foreign Travel Advice page for more details. You are always advised to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel.

Tourists need a visa to visit Egypt. You can get this on arrival by payment in Sterling, US Dollars or Euros. The cost is US$25 at approved bank kiosks within airport arrival halls, before reaching immigration. There's no need to buy a visa from an agent who often charge more than the US$25 for the visa. (Note: if travelling just to Sharm el Sheikh, Dahab, Nuweiba or Taba resorts you don't need to buy a visa, but for Hurghada you do.) Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Egypt.

Dive Sites of Hurghada • Recommended dive operators in Hurghada • Other Areas of the Red Sea

Dive Sites of Hurghada

For details of the wrecks near Hurghada see the Northern Wrecks page: Thistlegorm, Carnatic, Ghiannis D, Chrisoula K, Kimon M, Barge at Bluff Point, Ulysses, Rosalie Moeller, Dunraven, Kingston, Salem Express…

Carless Reef is around 14 km north east of Hurghada, between Shaab Umm Qamar and Giftun island. It is 200 m long with the reef top being at just a couple of metres. Expect to see giant moray eels and white tip reef sharks. The reef has two pinnacles at 12 m.

A ledge at 12 m slopes down to a drop-off starting at 22 m. One of Hurghada's largest coral reefs. It has been a marine protected area since 2006.¹

Photo credit: Tim Nicholson.

You can dive the east or west side of El Fanus. It is also known as dolphin reef as you often see bottle nose dolphins here.

The Giftun islands are opposite Hurghada. They have been a marine protectorate since 1986 and divers need to pay 20L.E (Egyptian pounds) to go there. This money goes to maintaining the national parks. There are restrictions on how many boats are allowed.

Off the northern end of Giftun island.

Coral gardens at the west and east points of this reef. It has been a Marine Protected area since:1986.¹

A coral plateau and a lovely wall with coral and gorgonia. A small island east of Hurghada.

Another place to see giant morays. A sandy slope leads to a coral wall. This is 15 km south east of Hurghada.

Go here for details about the beautiful Safaga and Soma Bay dive sites

Our 10 days in Soma Bay was just wonderful. It's just north of Safaga, about 45 km south of Hurghada. It's on a little peninsular, and at the moment there's hardly anything else there. Given the usual Egyptian approach to these things however, I guess it will be looking like Sharm el Sheikh 10 years from now. There are so few divers and the hard corals are still in great condition. Deepest dive I did was 38 m
Matthew Moore

References
¹AZIAB

Further Reading to Hughada

Here are three useful books on your trip.

Shipwrecks from the Egyptian Red Sea

by Ned Middleton, Hardback, Immel Publishing, 196 pages, 2006.
The author spent over 8 years engaged in dedicated research into the many shipwrecks which are found in this part of the world. There are nineteen major featured shipwrecks - including two which are only recently discovered. These are followed by brief details of another eighteen vessels which were too small to be classified as ships - tugboats, barges etc. Finally, there are brief details of approx. 250 additional vessels that are either not yet discovered, far too deep for scuba divers or never even existed.

Coral Reef Guide Red Sea

by Ewald Lieske and Robert Myers, Collins, 384 Pages, Paperback (2012)
Coral Reef Guide Red Sea covers all common species of underwater life of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, you are likely to see while diving or snorkelling. Each species is illustrated with a full-colour photograph and the text gives details of range and characteristic behaviour. A map of good dive sites appears on the inside front cover. Includes jellyfish, corals, nudibranchs, starfish, sea urchins, fishes and turtles. An excellent sea life guide which I always take to the Red Sea

Hurghada: Diving Guide and Integrated Logbook

by Rik Vercoe, Travelling Diver, (2008)
A great little guide and money well spent if you are going to Hurghada. Read our review.

Note: If you buy any book through one of these links, the SCUBA Travel site earns a commission (at no extra cost to yourself). Thank you for making your purchases from here and helping to support this site.

Your Comments

Please add your comments on diving in the Red Sea. Do you want to recommend a dive operator? Let us know.

Your Name: 
E-mail:    
Dive Site Rating 
(5 = excellent, 1 = poor):
1
2
   
3
   
4
   
5
 
 
 
 

Dive Site Comments: 

Other Comments: 

Rest of the Red Sea

Or jump to Europe, Africa, Pacific, Asia, Americas, Caribbean, Elsewhere...