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Explore the colorful marine life of a tropical coral reef with various fish and vivid corals.
📷 Francesco Ungaro · Pexels

Yolanda Reef

3.5 — based on 15 community signals
4.2 12 species 27 contributors

Yolanda Reef is a renowned dive site near Shark Observatory in Egypt's Ras Muhammad National Park, known for year-round diving and healthy coral.

⭐ Best for intermediate divers.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Intermediate
PhotoFriendlyBoatOnlyMPA

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
intermediate
Best months
Year-round

Map

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

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
3.5 kn
Wave
0.48 m
Water
29.1°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: WNW (39%)
Now: W (268°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.5m

Next: Low at 06:00 (-0.17m)

+0.3 m0 m-0.2 m
▼ 06:00 · -0.17m ▲ 13:00 · +0m ▼ 19:00 · -0.1m ▲ 01:00 · +0.02m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV6.65 · high Air PM2.512 · good 06:30 18:43
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 10 0.8 7 0mm
09-20 14.3 0.92 7 0mm
09-21 16.3 0.94 7 0mm
09-22 7.9 0.72 7 0mm
09-23 5.9 0.76 7 0mm
09-24 5.8 0.74 7 0mm
09-25 12 1.04 7 0mm

About this spot

Yolanda Reef sits within sight of the famous Shark Observatory in Ras Muhammad National Park, one of Egypt's most iconic dive destinations. The reef draws divers year-round, offering consistent conditions for exploration. The site features healthy coral with no signs of bleaching stress, making it a solid choice for reef-focused dives. The reef supports diverse marine life documented across 12 recorded species observations. Community videos from the site show what to expect underwater. Ras Muhammad National Park itself is a protected area, though Yolanda Reef operates outside the official MPA boundary. Access is typically via liveaboard or day boat from Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab. The site benefits from Egypt's strong dive infrastructure and year-round favorable conditions. Local dive operators run regular trips to the reef and nearby Shark Observatory.

📖 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

ReefBoat

Trip essentials

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

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 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 · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 3913km · ~900kg · €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

When is the best time to dive Yolanda Reef?

Yolanda Reef is diveable year-round. Egypt's Red Sea location means consistent conditions across all seasons, though winter months (November–March) offer slightly cooler water and excellent visibility.

What marine life will I see?

Twelve recorded species have been observed at Yolanda Reef. Typical Red Sea marine life includes reef fish, sharks, rays, and various coral-dwelling species. Check community videos for current sightings.

Do I need permits to dive here?

Yolanda Reef lies outside Ras Muhammad National Park's MPA boundary, so standard Egyptian diving rules apply. Dive operators handle all logistics and paperwork. A valid dive certification is required.

Is the coral healthy?

Yes. Yolanda Reef shows no signs of coral bleaching stress, indicating good environmental conditions. The reef remains a stable dive destination.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Our Favourite Reef Dive IN THE WORLD!! - Shark & Yolanda Reef In Egypt

Blue Horizon Diving
💬 3 top comments
  • SUBSCRIBE for weekly diving videos: youtube.com/c/BlueHorizonDiving?sub_confirmation=1 What to watch next? We dive the famous Red Sea shipwreck the Dunraven in EGYPT 🇪🇬! Check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-kblTzuJl3I

    @BlueHorizonDiving · 👍 1
  • Oh nice beautiful shark

    @CoopersAmputeeLifestyle · 👍 2
  • Oh my gosh you two!! Do you ever get tired of seeing SO MANY amazing things underwater?? You guys are definitely living your best lives. Not jealous at all … no, really … not one bit. 😡

    @lydialeigh4 · 👍 1

Diving in Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh. Shark & Yolanda Reef, 2020. HD

Scuba Notes by Dmitry

Shark & Yolanda Reefs: Egypt’s Most Legendary Dive Site!

Depths & Destinations with Matt
wind peaks Jun-Jul-Aug, calmest Oct-Dec-Nov, dry Jan-Dec.

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: Jul (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (85/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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