Ras Mohammed, the Thistlegorm wreck and the Straits of Tiran are the headline dives — world-class reefs on Sharm's doorstep. Sharm El Sheikh sits at the tip of Sinai where the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba meet, so within an hour's boat ride you get sheer coral walls, big pelagic fish, a legendary WWII wreck and gentle house reefs for beginners. The classic day-boat sites are Ras Mohammed, Tiran, Ras Um Sid, Temple, White Knight and Dunraven; the Thistlegorm usually needs a long day trip or a liveaboard.
We've been guiding divers out of Sharm El Sheikh for years, and it never gets old: you roll off the boat into water so clear it feels like flying, and a wall of soft coral drops into deep blue. Sharm's magic is its geography — it sits where the Gulf of Aqaba funnels nutrient-rich water past the tip of Sinai, so the reefs are dense, the fish are big and the variety is enormous. In a single week you can drift a current-swept reef alongside barracuda, penetrate a WWII cargo wreck and potter over a shallow coral garden while the kids snorkel above you. This guide runs through the best dive sites in Sharm El Sheikh, the level each one suits, and how to reach them.
Sharm is the most established diving destination on the Egyptian Red Sea, and for good reason. Water temperatures stay diveable year-round (21–29°C), visibility regularly tops 25–30 metres, and the reefs are protected inside the Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran. Most sites are 20–60 minutes from the marina by day boat. There's a site for everyone — protected bays for training and first dives, sheer walls and drift dives for experienced divers, and the region's most famous wreck for those certified to reach it. Non-divers aren't left out either: many of these reefs snorkel beautifully from the boat.
Tell us when you can travel and we'll suggest the ideal route and season — usually within the hour.
Chat with a local expertHere are the sites we return to again and again, roughly in order of fame. We've noted the diver level each suits and whether it works for snorkelling, so you can match the day boat to your group. scuba diving in Egypt
The crown jewel. At the southern tip of Sinai, Ras Mohammed National Park delivers two coral pinnacles — Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef — where vertical walls plunge into the blue and clouds of anthias, barracuda, jacks and snapper hang in the current. Yolanda adds a quirky wreck cargo of bathroom fittings scattered across the reef. Expect strong currents and depth. Diver level: intermediate to advanced (drift experience helps). Snorkellers can still enjoy the shallow plateau and mangrove channel from the boat. Ras Mohammed National Park
One of the greatest wreck dives in the world. This British WWII cargo ship was sunk by German bombers in 1941 in the Strait of Gubal and still holds its cargo — motorbikes, trucks, rifles, railway locomotives and boots frozen in time. It lies at 16–30 metres. Diver level: advanced, with wreck and deep training recommended; currents can be strong. It's a long day-boat run or, better, an overnight liveaboard from Sharm. Not a snorkelling site. scuba diving Sharm tour
Four reefs strung across the current-swept channel between Sinai and Tiran Island. Jackson Reef is the star — pelagic action, the wreck of the Lara on its shoulder, and occasional sharks. Gordon is the gentlest and snorkels well; Woodhouse is a classic drift; Thomas is a deep canyon for experienced divers only. Diver level: intermediate to advanced due to currents. Gordon Reef suits snorkellers straight off the boat. Tiran Island guide
A short hop from Sharm's old lighthouse, Ras Um Sid is famous for its forest of giant gorgonian fan corals cascading down a gentle slope. It's an easy, colourful dive with plentiful reef fish, turtles and the odd eagle ray, accessible from shore or boat. Diver level: all levels, including beginners. Excellent snorkelling over the shallow reef top, making it a family favourite.
Just off Naama Bay, Temple is a shallow cluster of coral pinnacles that's the go-to site for training dives, check dives and night dives. Glassfish shimmer around the pinnacles, lionfish hunt at dusk and the reef is alive with macro life. Diver level: beginner-friendly, ideal for Open Water students. Snorkellers do well here too thanks to the shallow depth.
South of Sharm near Ras Katy, White Knight is a sloping reef leading to a dramatic sandy canyon and a pinnacle garden. There's a chance of white-tip reef sharks resting on the sand and free-swimming moray eels. Diver level: intermediate — some navigation and mild current. Snorkelling is possible over the shallow saddle, though the highlights are deeper.
A 19th-century steam-and-sail cargo ship that struck the reef near Sha'ab Mahmud and sank in 1876. It lies upside down at 15–30 metres, its hull now a swim-through packed with glassfish, lionfish and grouper. Diver level: intermediate, a great first wreck. Usually paired with a Ras Mohammed day boat. Not suited to snorkelling due to depth.
Local tip: if you only have one diving day, pick the Ras Mohammed run — most operators combine two of its walls with the Dunraven, giving you a signature wall dive and an easy wreck in a single trip.
We'll tell you honestly what the weather and crowds are really like for your travel dates.
Chat with a local expertAlmost every Sharm dive site is reached by boat from the marina, and it's the easiest thing in the world to organise. Day boats leave each morning for two or three dives at the reefs off Ras Mohammed, Tiran or the local sites, with tanks, weights, guide, lunch and hotel pickup included — you just bring your certification card and logbook. For the Thistlegorm and the far reefs, an overnight liveaboard is the more comfortable option. Non-divers can join most day boats to snorkel or simply enjoy the ride. We run guided diving and snorkelling trips from Sharm hotels daily, and we can arrange courses for complete beginners through to Advanced and Nitrox. scuba diving Sharm tour Sharm El Sheikh day tours
★ Ready to get in the water? Our Sharm El Sheikh day tours cover guided reef and wreck dives plus snorkelling trips to Ras Mohammed and Tiran — with hotel pickup, gear and an English-speaking dive guide sorted. Browse our Sharm El Sheikh day tours Sharm El Sheikh day tours
A few things worth knowing before you book. The diving is year-round: summer (June–September) brings the warmest water and the best chance of pelagics and sharks at Tiran and Ras Mohammed, while winter (December–February) is cooler and calls for a 5mm wetsuit but still offers superb visibility. There's a fixed daily park fee for Ras Mohammed and Tiran that most operators add on top. Bring your certification and a recent logbook; if it's been a while, take a refresher on an easy site like Temple first. And leave at least 18–24 hours between your last dive and any flight home. best time to visit Egypt
Sharm is more than its reefs. On surface intervals or non-diving days there's the buzz of Naama Bay, quad-biking in the desert, and easy day trips to Ras Mohammed's shore side or a Bedouin dinner under the stars. It's also a springboard for St Catherine's Monastery and Mount Sinai. Sort out where to base yourself and what else to see, and you've got a complete Red Sea holiday around your diving. things to do in Sharm El Sheikh where to stay in Sharm El Sheikh Ras Mohammed National Park Tiran Island guide
★ Want the reefs plus the pyramids? Our Red Sea travel packages pair days of world-class diving in Sharm with Cairo, Luxor or a Nile cruise — one seamless, private itinerary. See our Red Sea travel packages Red Sea travel packages
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