Diving in Sharm El Sheikh (2026): Ras Mohammed, Reefs and the Best Trips

Sharm El Sheikh sits at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Red Sea's richest reefs come almost to the shore, and it is Egypt's diving capital for good reason. The trips here are among the highest-rated and most-booked in the whole country, with more than 13,000 reviews across the dive and snorkel tours in our catalogue. You do not need to be a certified diver to enjoy it, either, because the same boats carry snorkellers to the same spectacular reefs.

Ras Mohammed National Park

The headline site is Ras Mohammed, a protected national park at the very tip of the Sinai where desert mountains meet the sea. It holds Egypt's richest marine biodiversity, with sheer reef walls dropping into deep blue, huge shoals of fish, and famous dive sites like Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, where the cargo of a wrecked ship still lies scattered on the seabed. A boat trip combining Ras Mohammed with snorkelling and diving starts from about 1,733 EGP (roughly 36 USD) per person and holds a 4.9 rating across more than 2,600 reviews, which is exceptional for a trip of this scale.

If you would rather stay dry, there is also a land tour into Ras Mohammed by bus, stopping at panoramic viewpoints over the Gulf of Aqaba, the park's Allah's Gate entrance, the mangroves that grow straight from the salt water, and the Earthquake and Magic Lake spots, from about 1,003 EGP.

Tiran, White Island and the Thistlegorm

Beyond Ras Mohammed, Sharm's dive menu is deep. The Strait of Tiran to the north holds four reefs, Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon, with strong currents and big pelagic life for experienced divers. White Island is a bare sandbank in open sea, often called the Egyptian Maldives, exposed at low tide and covered at high, and frequently paired with Ras Mohammed. And further afield lies the SS Thistlegorm, a British WWII cargo ship sunk in 1941 with its trucks, motorbikes and munitions still in the holds, one of the greatest wreck dives in the world and a full-day or liveaboard trip in itself.

Divers and snorkellers together

What makes Sharm easy is that you do not have to choose between diving and lounging. The day boats take certified divers, first-timers doing an introductory dive with an instructor, and snorkellers on the same trip, so mixed groups and families all get their version of the reef. Sharm is also one of the cheapest and best places in the world to learn to dive, with PADI and SSI courses from beginner Open Water up to technical levels, and it has decompression facilities and a mature safety culture. Even from the shore at Naama Bay or Shark's Bay you can snorkel straight onto a house reef.

When to go

Diving and snorkelling run all year. Water is warmest from June to October and coolest, though still comfortable in a wetsuit, from December to March. Visibility is excellent year round, often 20 to 30 metres. Summer is hot on land but the sea is perfect, while winter is milder and quieter. Marine life, from turtles and rays to reef sharks and clouds of anthias, is abundant in every season.

Tips

• Book a boat trip for the best reefs. Ras Mohammed, White Island and Tiran are offshore, and the boat days from about 1,733 EGP are the core experience.
• Non-swimmers can still go, via the land tour into Ras Mohammed or snorkel-focused and glass-bottom trips.
• Try an introductory dive if you are curious, since Sharm is a safe, cheap place to start.
• Bring reef-safe sunscreen or cover up, as the parks protect the coral.
• Check inclusions such as gear, lunch, park fees and hotel pickup.
• Consider a liveaboard or a Thistlegorm day if you are certified and want something special.

The verdict

For underwater Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh is the best base in the country. Ras Mohammed, Tiran and White Island are world-class and sit right offshore, the trips are cheap and consistently rated near the top, from about 1,733 EGP, and the same boats look after divers and snorkellers alike. Whether you are getting certified, chasing the Thistlegorm, or just floating over the reef with a mask, this is where the Red Sea is at its finest.