If you have dived in Sharm El Sheikh before, please share your experiences: Dive spots you would recommend, which Dive Center you used, Fishes & Diving, Visibility, Currents, etc. Please post your comments in the section below, by doing so you will help fellow divers to plan their next trip
Sharm el Sheikh offers reef, wall and wreck diving against a striking backdrop of desert and sea. Local reefs can suit training or a gentler first day, while Ras Mohammed, Tiran and the Thistlegorm offer different reasons to travel farther.
Popular sites can be busy. Choose a centre by its group size, briefing, equipment and emergency arrangements, and ask how it adapts the programme to weather and diver experience. A famous site name does not describe the difficulty of every possible profile there.
For a diving-focused week, I also use LiveAboard.com to compare Red Sea cruises. This is an affiliate link. Check the named route, departure port and full cost; a cruise does not guarantee an empty reef.
In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Sharm El Sheikh.
Table of contents
Best Dive Review
Choose the area before choosing the dive
| Area | What draws divers? | Who should check carefully? |
|---|---|---|
| Local Sharm reefs | Coral gardens, reef fish and convenient training or check dives. | Ask which entry and profile suit your experience; local does not always mean sheltered. |
| Ras Mohammed | Walls and reef scenery, including Shark and Yolanda. | Drift routes require current awareness, group discipline and a clear pickup plan. |
| Strait of Tiran | Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon reefs, with different wall and plateau profiles. | Exposed sides, current and deeper features can change the requirements considerably. |
| Thistlegorm | A WWII wreck with surviving cargo and fish life. | Experienced divers with suitable certification, buoyancy and a confirmed excursion. |
| Dunraven | A separate wreck excursion around Sha’ab Mahmoud. | Check current structural condition and the permitted profile with your operator. |
| Dahab | Shore-diving scenery on a separate land excursion. | Confirm travel, permits and the exact Blue Hole or Canyon profile; overhead sections require specialist training. |
Camel describes Middle Garden’s shallow coral wall and sandy terrace as an option for varied experience levels. Thomas Reef offers a different setting of walls and gorgonians. These examples help explain the range of diving; the guide still chooses the day’s route.
Thistlegorm: experience and preservation matter
The CDWS preservation instructions exclude divers with fewer than 20 dives or buoyancy problems and prohibit touching, sitting on or kicking the wreck. Do not use a lower advertised operator minimum as a reason to ignore those instructions.
Camel’s Thistlegorm information also requires a full Egyptian visa and explains that weather and minimum numbers prevent a guaranteed date. Its cargo includes motorcycles, trucks and military supplies; the wreck is both a historical site and a living marine habitat.
Discuss the actual depth, current, recent experience and check-dive requirements before booking. Wreck penetration adds an overhead environment and needs appropriate specialist training, equipment and planning. An exterior dive is a valid choice; seeing cargo does not require treating every opening as an invitation to enter.
Other northern wrecks, including Rosalie Moller and Kingston at Shag Rock, belong in a separately confirmed excursion or cruise plan rather than a promised standard Sharm day.
Sharm reef and wreck orientation map
CDWS reference positions distinguish local sites, Tiran, Ras Mohammed and longer wreck excursions. These are not a sailing itinerary, harbour positions or underwater navigation instructions.
1. Middle Garden · 2. Ras Umm Sid · 3. Shark and Yolanda · 4. Jackson · 5. Thomas · 6. Thistlegorm · 7. Dunraven
How to dive Sharm El Sheikh?
Day boats and a matched budget
Camel’s advance-online tariff, checked 24 October 2026, lists two boat dives at €90, guide, 12-litre tanks, weights, Sharm hotel transfers and taxes included. Add €28 standard equipment rental, €7 park fee and optional €10 lunch: €135 for that day. Finalise advance bookings at least 48 hours before arrival; confirm the equipment list and any computer charge.
Its Thistlegorm supplement is €127 on top of diving and includes breakfast, lunch, soft drinks and park fees. It is bookable locally subject to conditions and numbers. Do not add the standard lunch and park charges again when they are already included.
Hotel diving or a cruise?
A hotel base lets you mix boat days with time ashore and activities for non-diving companions. A liveaboard can give a more concentrated itinerary, but ports, qualifications and minimum logged dives vary by boat and route. There is no single 20-dive rule covering every cruise.
Compare the actual programme, cabin, transfers, compulsory fees, rental gear and non-diver suitability. Northern routes may include Ras Mohammed or wrecks in the Gulf of Suez, while other Red Sea routes use different ports. Book by the named departure rather than a general assumption that most boats leave Sharm.
Where to stay?
I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Sharm El Sheikh as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.
Best time to dive in Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm offers diving year-round. Summer brings warmer water and hotter days on land; winter calls for warmer exposure protection and a windproof layer between dives. PADI gives Egypt a broad 21–28°C water range, but check recent readings for your dates and planned depths.
Spring and autumn can work well for a mixed diving-and-sightseeing holiday. If a particular wreck matters most, allow several possible excursion days. Wind, sea state and group requirements can alter the programme in any month.
Top liveaboards in Sharm El Sheikh according to divers reviews
Dive courses
Choose a course by the instructor, group size, training facilities and time allowed for skills. A short introductory dive is not a full entry-level qualification, and an advanced course does not automatically qualify you for overhead or technical profiles.
Camel’s cited tariff lists a three-day SSI Open Water course at €436 online or €474 walk-in, with digital materials, hotel transfers, applicable rental equipment and taxes. Boat lunch and park fees are extra. Confirm certification charges and extra training time in the final quote.
For certified divers returning after a break, discuss a refresher before arrival. Bring your qualification card and recent logbook so the operator can plan a suitable first dive and assess eligibility for wreck excursions.
Scuba Diving conditions
Current: reefs can have sheltered sections and more exposed drift profiles. Tiran and Ras Mohammed should not be described as universally gentle. Confirm the entry, depth, current direction, exit and surface-marker procedure at the briefing.
Visibility: clear water makes the scenery appealing, but it is not a guarantee. Particles, weather and activity around wrecks can reduce visibility. Keep track of depth and gas even when the water looks exceptionally clear.
Boat days: consider crossings, ladders, shade and warmth during surface intervals. Tell the centre about mobility needs, seasickness or equipment concerns before choosing a longer excursion.
Check emergency oxygen, communications and evacuation arrangements, plus insurance for the intended activity. Plan flights and mountain excursions around diving; the Sharm travel guide covers entry and onward-travel considerations.
Snorkelling in Sharm El Sheikh
Non-divers can join dedicated snorkelling outings and selected diving boats. The travel guide compares priced full-day snorkelling, passenger-only and hotel-package options, including meals and park fees.
Ask about the actual shallow-water stops, guide, lifejacket, swimming ability and child arrangements. A Thistlegorm wreck trip is not interchangeable with a reef-snorkelling day. Beach access can also depend on the hotel, jetty and sea conditions. Follow designated entry points and local closures, protect yourself from the sun and avoid standing on coral.
Fishes and Coral
Coral formations, gorgonians, reef fish and schools in open water create much of Sharm’s appeal. Turtles, rays or sharks can be memorable additions, but sightings should never be promised. Site names such as Shark Reef are not wildlife guarantees.
Wide-angle reef scenes and wreck structure reward photographers, while slower observation can reveal smaller subjects around coral and sand. Keep buoyancy steady, do not touch or move animals, and avoid crowding a subject with cameras.
Diving Safety
If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Sharm El Sheikh, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.
Sharm diving questions
Can beginners dive in Sharm?
Yes, through a qualified centre at suitable training sites. More demanding drift, deep and wreck profiles have separate requirements.
How many dives do I need for Thistlegorm?
CDWS instructions exclude divers with fewer than 20 dives or buoyancy problems. Operators may add certification, check-dive and recent-experience requirements.
Is the Thistlegorm supplement the full trip price?
No. The cited supplement is added to diving; it includes specified meals and park fees, so compare the complete quote without double-counting.
Is a Sinai-only stamp enough for Thistlegorm?
Camel requires a full Egyptian visa. Confirm your nationality and exact route requirements before arrival.
Will a liveaboard avoid all crowds?
No. It can change timing and travel patterns, but popular sites may still be busy.
Operator and CDWS information checked 24 October 2026.
Photos Sharm El Sheikh
Travel Guide
Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Sharm El Sheikh Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.
Diving Reviews for this region
Dive spots reviews in Sharm El Sheikh
Liveaboard Reviews in Sharm El Sheikh
MV Seawolf Dominator
A shaded dive deck, room to relax outside and a choice of northern and southern programmes make Dominator an appealing base for a week devoted to diving. Choose the route first: a Tiran week and a marine-park week ask different things of a diver.
MV Blue Melody
Photos: Blue Melody gallery supplied through LiveAboard.com.
MV Snefro Love
Photos: Snefro Love gallery supplied through LiveAboard.com.
Freedom VIII
Freedom VIII is a 22-metre liveaboard for up to eleven guests, sailing from Umbi Sharks Bay in Sharm El Sheikh. Five cabins and a choice of shorter safaris make it an appealing size for friends who would rather share a boat than join a large group. Its
MV Dreams
Since 1989, Sea Serpent Fleet, a luxury-class motor yacht diving operation, has operated liveaboard safari vessels in the Egyptian Red Sea. Sister ship to MV Miss Nouran, MV Dreams is one of the prestigious fleet. Sea Serpent Fleet have a wealth of loc
MY Emperor Superior
Photos: Emperor Superior gallery supplied through LiveAboard.com.
MY Snefro Spirit
Photos: Snefro Spirit gallery supplied through LiveAboard.com.
MY Seawolf Felo
Status checked 24 October 2026. The Scuba News reported in November 2022 that Felo had struck a reef and sunk. The current Seawolf fleet page lists Dominator and Steel; the specialist Felo booking listing is marked unavailable.
MY Miss Nouran
MY Miss Nouran is the perfect Red Sea liveaboard if you are looking for an economical liveaboard without sacrificing security and quality service. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gynVdjQMaeY Aside from great diving, guests will be connected to the onli
MY Dreams Liveaboard
MY Dreams is a 28 meter long liveaboard that can comfortably accommodate up to 16 divers in her 8 standard cabins, complete with en-suite facilities. The liveaboard has been focusing it's activities on the Red Sea, since 2005. https://www.youtube.
me and my girlfriend are going to sharm el sheik on 20th september 2012, and are looking to do a 1 day dive.
we have no previous experience in diving at all, but was wondering if it was possible for us to dive without any certification, obviously under instruction ????????
Hi Daniel,
All dive centres will over a Discover Scuba Diving course which will let you test it out and see if you like it.
Try speaking with Red Sea Diving College, Camel Dive Club, Elite Diving or Sinai Divers.
a god place to have day trips ” ras mohammed”
I have dived here a number of times and completed 2 courses in Sharm, both with Emperor, fantastic company, friendly, safe A1
We just returned from a 2 weeks stay at Baron Resort with daily snorkeling. Twice wie saw a school of sharks just a GEW Meters from the reef.
We just returned from two wks at sharm. We dived with pharaoh divers wow they were amazing we did our advanced with them. Was wow we dived the thistlegorm as well as shark and Hollands reef ras Mohammed. Omg. Can’t wait to go back. Thanks to Mohammed and sherif and all the guys at pharaoh. They were amazing. I really will miss them
Hi all,
I’ve been lucky enough to dive in several places across the globe, the Red Sea several times. In general my experience in the Sharm area has been great, good vis, minimal currents and vast beautiful reefs (particularly the straights of Tiran). There is the world famous Thistlegorm wreck, which can be a little crowded but well worth the trip. The dive outfit I use by choice now is Elite-Diving, an amazing family run dive Center that still has that personal touch, the majority of dive staff are British, so no language issues for me.
Worth a visit to Dahab to dive the “canyons & hells bells/blue hole” if you’re with a good company they’ll arrange a trip there with you if the political situation there allows.
We normally travel with a group of 20+ divers with hotel, transfers & nights out etc arranged by Elite & choose not to go all inclusive, this way you get to see and experiance so much more.
Certainly recommend it for all levels (ours go from complete beginner to instructor level) a great fun filled trip every time.
Nick
I’ve been snorkelling in Dahab near Sharm. I want to say there is really beautiful deep canyon under water there. As i remember it is named as blue hole.
So i recommend you visit this small village for snorkelling.
We had a briliant time – 9 dives in 2 weeks. Various sites. Our instructor Bill was really great. We saw the biggest Napoleon Wrasse I have ever seen. Probably the only thing we didnt see was a turtle.
Best diving I have ever done comparing to Jamaica, Turks & Caicos & Cancun/Cozumel. Did the SS Thistlegorm wreck dive. Got caught in a current in another dive & was being pulled toward a 1000 foot drop straight off a cliff, surfaced at that point!