Diving in Egypt: 258 Sites From First Dive to Hammerheads

Egypt has 258 mapped dive sites along the Red Sea, and the range runs from shallow, calm beginner reefs to deep walls where scalloped hammerheads circle. Water stays between 21 and 29 °C year-round, visibility regularly hits 25–35 m, and most resort areas have house reefs you can enter straight off the beach. If you've just got your Open Water card, you'll find plenty here — and enough to keep you coming back for years.

Best dive sites in Egypt

• Makadi Garden — Beginner-friendly reef with 30 m visibility. Calm conditions and a gentle profile make it a reliable first-sea-dive spot.
• Shaab Sharm — Another beginner site, 25 m viz, good for building confidence on coral gardens without current.
• Rocky South — Shallow, clear (25 m viz), and manageable for new divers. Reef fish are abundant.
• Blue Water House Reef — Accessible directly from shore, 25 m visibility, beginner-rated. Ideal for multiple easy dives in a day.
• Sachua Abu Galawa — Beginner site with 25 m viz; coral formations and resident reef life without the pressure of depth.
• Shaab Hamam — Calm beginner reef, 25 m visibility, consistent conditions.
• Black Pearl - Red Sea — Beginner-rated, 25 m viz; a quieter site that rewards patient divers.
• Dahab — Blue Hole (Bells entry) — Intermediate, 6–30 m, 25 m viz. Famous but respect the depth; the Bells entry arch is for experienced divers only — beginners should stay on the outer reef above 15 m.
• Elphinstone Reef — Advanced, 15–40 m, 30 m viz. Oceanic whitetips and strong current; come back when you have 50+ logged dives.
• The Brothers Islands — Expert level, 20–40 m, 35 m viz. Scalloped hammerheads and thresher sharks. A liveaboard destination for experienced divers.

When is the best time to dive in Egypt

The Red Sea dives year-round. Water temperature ranges from 21 °C in winter (January–March) to 29 °C in summer (July–September). Visibility is consistently high across all seasons. Winter brings cooler water but calmer seas and thinner crowds; summer is warm and busy. For hammerheads at The Brothers, June–September is peak season. For beginners, any month works — just pack a 5 mm wetsuit for winter dives.

Is Egypt good for beginners

Yes. Resorts around Hurghada, Marsa Alam, and Sharm el-Sheikh all have dedicated beginner reefs with instructors and easy entry points. Sites like Makadi Garden, Shaab Sharm, and Blue Water House Reef are specifically rated for new divers and offer 25–30 m visibility — conditions that build confidence fast. Avoid the advanced sites (Elphinstone, The Brothers) until you have the experience and dive count to handle current and depth.

What you'll see

Even on beginner reefs, expect honeycomb moray eels, common octopus, great barracuda, and blacktip reef sharks. Green and hawksbill turtles appear regularly across Red Sea sites. Push into intermediate and advanced territory and you add tiger sharks, scalloped hammerheads, and the occasional whale shark on liveaboard routes.

FAQ

Do I need a wetsuit in Egypt? In summer (25–29 °C) a 3 mm shorty is enough. In winter (21–23 °C) use a 5 mm full suit, especially for multiple dives per day.

Can I do a discover scuba dive in Egypt without a certification? Yes. Most Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh dive centres offer supervised introductory dives to 5–6 m with no prior certification needed.

Are liveaboards necessary to see hammerheads? For reliable scalloped hammerhead sightings at The Brothers Islands, yes — a liveaboard is the practical way to reach those offshore sites. Day-boat access is limited.

Is the Red Sea safe for beginner divers? The sheltered, calm reefs near resort areas are well-suited to beginners. Stick to sites rated beginner or intermediate, dive with a guide, and avoid open-ocean and deep-wall sites until your skills and experience match the conditions.

Egypt dive map