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A scuba diver interacts with tropical fish in an underwater setting, showcasing marine diversity.
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Aquarium

4.0 — based on 23 community signals
4.2 12 species 26 contributors

Year-round diving at Aquarium, Egypt's vibrant reef with excellent coral health and abundant marine life.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Visibility
25 m
Water temp
21–28°C
Family-friendlyPhotoFriendlyHealthyReef

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Visibility
25 m
Water temp
21–28 °C
Best months
Year-round

Map

This spot POIs Airport Nearby spots
Aquarium location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
12.9 kn
Wave
0.5 m
Water
28.2°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NW (56%)
Now: NW (306°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.48m

Today: High 13:00 (+0.01m), Low 06:00 (-0.17m)

+0.3 m0 m-0.2 m
▼ 06:00 · -0.17m ▲ 13:00 · +0.01m ▼ 18:00 · -0.09m ▲ 01:00 · +0.03m Now -0.1m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV7.05 · high Air PM2.59 · good 06:31 18:44
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 17 0.72 7 0mm
09-20 17 0.84 7 0mm
09-21 16 0.86 7 0mm
09-22 15.5 0.78 7 0mm
09-23 16.5 0.72 7 0mm
09-24 16 0.8 7 0mm
09-25 17.5 1 7 0mm
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (21–28°C)

About this spot

Aquarium is a popular dive site off Egypt's coast offering consistent access throughout the year. The reef earns its name from the variety of fish and marine life you'll encounter in its waters. With no stress from coral bleaching, the site maintains healthy hard and soft corals that attract schools of reef fish, making every dive rewarding. The site has generated 12 documented species observations and three community videos, giving divers solid intel before entering the water. The reef structure supports both novice and experienced divers, though specific depth and difficulty details vary by entry point and conditions on the day. Visibility tends to be solid, typical of Egypt's Red Sea diving, though seasonal wind patterns can shift surge and clarity. Diving Aquarium puts you in a living fish tank—hence the name. You'll see groupers, jacks, snappers, and smaller reef dwellers working the coral heads. The lack of marine protected area designation means fewer restrictions, but that also means respecting the reef yourself matters more. Visit any season, but plan your trip around your comfort level with local sea conditions.

📖 Guide: Diving in Egypt: 258 Sites From Wrecks to Hammerheads

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

ReefShore

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 🤿 Pack: 3/2 mm shorty
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/F · 220V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 49%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit 3/2 mm shorty
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 3947km · ~908kg · €16

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 59/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 8h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 7h east · 5 days recovery

FAQ

What's the best time to dive Aquarium?

Year-round diving is possible at Aquarium. Seasonal wind patterns can affect visibility and surge, so check local conditions before booking. Many divers prefer calmer months for easier navigation and better underwater photography.

How deep does Aquarium go and is it for beginners?

Specific maximum depth and difficulty ratings vary depending on which section of the reef you explore and current conditions. Community reports and local dive operators can advise on suitable entry routes for your certification level.

What marine life will I see?

Aquarium's 12 documented species observations show a mix of reef fish including groupers, jacks, snappers, and smaller schooling species. The healthy coral means rich habitat for both large predators and small reef dwellers.

Do I need permits or is this site in a protected area?

Aquarium is not inside a marine protected area, so fewer regulatory restrictions apply. Always verify current local requirements with your dive operator, as Egyptian diving regulations can change.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

This is Wadi Lahami, Fury Shoals (4k) - Red Sea Diving Safari

Jurrien Wiss
💬 3 top comments
  • Some of the best underwater photography I've ever seen! 😀🧝‍

    @elflordsjourneys · 👍 29
  • Imagine that reef 1,000 years ago. Omg the beauty musta been overwhelming.

    @playinragz8183 · 👍 4
  • Einfach unglaublich ! Ich bin im Frühjahr 2026 dort und hoffe 50 % zu sehen, was ihr gesehen habt. Wahnsinn !! Bestes Video seit langer Zeit !!💯💯💯

    @GünterLehner-z4l · 👍 2

Diving Egypt / Marsa Alam | GoPro HERO 8 4K 60FPS

Dive&Discover
💬 3 top comments
  • Hi there 🙂 I hope you did enjoy my first GoPro 8 diving video 😊 Scuba diving in Egypt/Marsa Alam was really a great experience and I loved to film with the new GoPro HERO 8 Black. The quality in 4k 60fps is absolutely brilliant and sometimes I'm really stoked about my own footage. My next GoPro 8 underwater video will be a snorkel video with even more brilliant footage. It will take a time but i

    @DiveDiscover · 👍 12
  • Geniale Videos, toll geschnitten und ...was soll ich sagen...traumhaft !!!

    @GerhardHaupt · 👍 4
  • Die Stelle mit dem Manta und der Schildkröte einfach beeindruckend

    @hd007jr8 · 👍 1

Face to face with the Longimanus shark at Elphinstone Reef Egypt 1st perspective

buchpetzer
💬 3 top comments
  • The longimanus like many other shark species is critically endangered due to the overfishing by industrial fishing and the constant demand for shark fins from Asia. Sharks are a crucial part of the oceans eco system and have to be protected. The pointless slaughter of sharks has to stop and is well documented in movies like "Fin" or "Envoy: Shark Cull".

    @buchpetzer · 👍 15
  • WOW. That's one of the few sharks I'm very afraid of since they have the reputation of eating humans from shipwrecks etc. But wow she was beautiful and not at all upset with you all, she was just checking you out. I noticed when she swam up to the divers, her eye didn't roll back to protect it, so that tells me she was not intending on biting or anything, just curious. That was awesome. What a

    @TanyaQueen182 · 👍 30
  • The music killed this video.

    @joeking22 · 👍 2
wind peaks Jun-Aug-Sep, calmest Jan-Nov-Dec, dry Jan-Dec, water 21-28°C.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: May (100/100) Worst: Feb (0/100) Now: Sep (91/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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