Egypt's first national park, at the very tip of Sinai — home to Shark & Yolanda Reef and some of the best diving and snorkelling on the planet. Declared in 1983, Ras Mohammed sits where the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet, about an hour from Sharm El Sheikh by boat or 4x4. Sheer coral walls drop straight into deep blue water, so you get world-class reefs, the mangrove channel and hidden salt-water bays all in one protected reserve. Most people come on a day trip from Sharm — snorkellers and divers alike.
WHAT IT IS: Egypt's first national park (1983), at the tip of Sinai
BEST FOR: Divers, snorkellers & day-trippers from Sharm El Sheikh
HOW TO VISIT: Boat or 4x4 day trip from Sharm (~1 hour each way)
DON'T MISS: Shark & Yolanda Reef, the Mangrove Channel, Magic Bay
Ras Mohammed is the reason a lot of people fly to Sharm El Sheikh in the first place. We run boats down here most weeks of the year, and the moment the anchor drops you understand why: the water is so clear you can count the fish twenty metres down, and the reef wall falls away into an almost navy-blue deep. This is the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where two gulfs collide and pour nutrient-rich water over the coral, giving one of the richest marine ecosystems in the world. You don't need to be a certified diver either — some of the best coral sits a metre or two below the surface, so a mask and snorkel are enough to make the day.
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What Is Ras Mohammed National Park?
Ras Mohammed (also spelled Ras Muhammad) became Egypt's first national park in 1983, created to protect its reefs from the fishing and development spreading along the coast. It covers roughly 480 square kilometres of land and sea at the meeting point of the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba, about 20 km southwest of Sharm El Sheikh. The headland itself is stark desert — flat, tawny and treeless — which makes the explosion of colour underwater all the more startling. Because it's a protected reserve, everything is regulated: you pay a park fee, boats moor at fixed buoys rather than anchoring on the coral, and touching or taking anything is off-limits. That protection is why the marine life here is still so spectacular decades on.
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Tell us when you can travel and we'll suggest the ideal route and season — usually within the hour.
The park packs several distinct sites into one visit — a typical day trip strings together two or three of these, so you get variety rather than the same reef twice.
Shark & Yolanda Reef
The headline act. Shark Reef is a vertical coral wall dropping into deep blue, patrolled by clouds of snapper, barracuda and jackfish, while the adjoining Yolanda Reef is famous for the cargo of the Yolanda — a freighter that sank in 1980, spilling its improbable load of bathroom fixtures across the seabed. Divers still swim past toilets and bathtubs sitting on the coral: a surreal sight and one of the most photographed dive scenes in the Red Sea.
The Mangrove Channel
At the southern edge of the headland, a shallow channel is lined with one of the northernmost mangrove stands on Earth — salt-tolerant trees whose roots shelter juvenile fish and migrating birds. It's a gentler landscape than the dive walls and a favourite photo stop on the 4x4 route.
Magic Bay & the Hidden Bay Salt Lake
Magic Bay (sometimes called Hidden Bay) is a sheltered, impossibly turquoise cove that's ideal for less confident swimmers and families — calm water, gentle entry and reef close to shore. Nearby lies a small salt lake, a natural pool so dense with salt that you float without effort, tucked into the desert just back from the coast.
The Shark Observatory & Avalanche
The Shark Observatory is a dramatic cliff-top viewpoint where the desert plateau drops sheer into the sea — superb for photos and, in season, watching for larger pelagics below. Avalanche is a well-known dive site nearby, named for its steeply sloping wall of coral and sand.
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Ras Mohammed Diving & Snorkelling
For divers, Ras Mohammed is bucket-list territory. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef rank among the top dive sites in the world, and the park also delivers Anemone City, Jackfish Alley and the Yolanda wreck cargo — walls, drift dives and reef flats within a short boat hop. Visibility routinely hits 20–30 metres, and the sheer walls let you hang almost weightless while big schools sweep past. If you're certified, a diving day trip out of Sharm is the way to do it; if you want to learn, dive centres run introductory dives here under instructor supervision. Scuba diving Sharm day trip
Snorkellers are far from second-class here. Because the reef tops sit just below the surface, you float above the same coral gardens the divers descend into and still see turtles, parrotfish, moray eels and vast shoals of anthias. Magic Bay and the shallower reef flats are perfect for it, and boat crews carry spare masks and fins. Weighing up the wider area? Our guide to the best dive and snorkel sites around Sharm sets Ras Mohammed against Tiran and the local house reefs. Best dive sites Sharm el SheikhTiran Island guide
Not sure which month suits you? Ask a local.
We'll tell you honestly what the weather and crowds are really like for your travel dates.
Ras Mohammed is an easy day trip from Sharm El Sheikh, and there are two ways to do it. The classic option is a boat trip: board at Sharm's marina, cruise about an hour down the coast, and spend the day at two or three reef sites with lunch on board — best for divers and keen snorkellers because it puts you right over the famous walls. The alternative is a 4x4 safari overland, reaching the Mangrove Channel, Magic Bay, the salt lake and the Shark Observatory viewpoint — better for desert scenery and shore snorkelling. Nearly every organised trip includes hotel pickup, the park entry fee, equipment and a guide, so you rarely arrange anything on the day. We run both formats — browse the full range of Sharm day tours, or book a dedicated diving trip if reefs are your priority. Sharm El Sheikh day toursScuba diving Sharm day trip
★ Ready to see Shark & Yolanda Reef for yourself? Our Sharm El Sheikh day tours run to Ras Mohammed by boat and by 4x4, with hotel pickup, park fees and gear all sorted — just bring a swimsuit. Browse our Sharm El Sheikh day tours Sharm El Sheikh day tours
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Park Fees & Practical Tips
Park fee: a modest entry fee applies (roughly $10–15 per person in 2026) — on organised tours it's usually already included, so check your booking.
Bring: reef-safe sunscreen, a hat, a rash vest for sun and coral protection, and a towel — shade on the boats and in the desert is limited.
Take nothing, touch nothing: it's a protected park, so removing shells, coral or sand and feeding the fish are all prohibited and fined.
Note the border rules: the park sits near a sensitive border zone, so bring your passport — organised tours handle the paperwork for you.
Motion sickness: if you're prone to it, take a tablet before the boat trip; the crossing can be choppy on windy days.
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Best Time to Visit & Who It Suits
Ras Mohammed is a year-round destination, but the sea is warmest and calmest from roughly May to October, when the water sits in the high 20s°C and snorkelling in a swimsuit is comfortable. Winter (December–February) is still perfectly divable in a wetsuit, though windier days can make the crossing bumpy. Marine life is abundant all year, with summer bringing the biggest schools to Shark Reef; for the wider picture on Egypt's seasons, see our best time to visit guide. The park suits almost everyone — serious divers chasing the world-class walls, first-time snorkellers who just want turtles and colour, and families happy to spend the day in Magic Bay's calm shallows. Only non-swimmers might skip it, and even they enjoy the desert scenery and the Shark Observatory on the 4x4 route. Best time to visit EgyptScuba diving in Egypt
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Combine Ras Mohammed With
Most visitors fold Ras Mohammed into a longer Sharm break. Pair it with a snorkelling day at Tiran Island for a completely different reef system, or a night dive on the local house reefs. Back on land, our roundup of the best things to do in Sharm El Sheikh covers the desert safaris, Old Market and Naama Bay nightlife that fill the non-boat days, and our where-to-stay guide breaks Sharm down neighbourhood by neighbourhood. Divers on a longer trip often add a couple of days in Dahab up the coast for the Blue Hole. To wrap the whole coast into one booking, our Red Sea packages combine Sharm, its reefs and optional Cairo add-ons. Things to do in Sharm El SheikhWhere to stay in Sharm El SheikhDahab day tripsRed Sea travel packages
★ Want the reefs without the planning? Tell us your dates and we'll build a Red Sea package around Ras Mohammed — flights of fancy underwater, comfortable hotels above it, all handled. See our Red Sea travel packages Red Sea travel packages
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Absolutely — it's Egypt's first national park and home to Shark & Yolanda Reef, regularly rated among the best dive and snorkel sites in the world. Even non-divers get calm turquoise bays, a salt lake and dramatic desert cliffs, making it the standout day trip from Sharm El Sheikh.
It's about an hour from Sharm El Sheikh, reached either by boat from the marina or by 4x4 overland. Almost all visitors go on an organised day trip that includes hotel pickup, the park fee and equipment, so there's no need to self-drive or arrange permits. Sharm El Sheikh day tours
The park charges a modest entry fee, roughly $10–15 per person in 2026. On organised boat or jeep tours this fee is usually already included in the price, so confirm with your operator when you book rather than paying twice at the gate.
Both. The reef tops sit just below the surface, so snorkellers see turtles, parrotfish and huge shoals of fish over the same coral divers descend into. Magic Bay and the shallow reef flats are ideal for beginners and families, and boats carry spare masks and fins.
It's good year-round, but the sea is warmest and calmest from May to October, ideal for snorkelling in just a swimsuit. Winter diving is excellent too but needs a wetsuit, and windy days can make the boat crossing choppy. Marine life is abundant in every season. Best time to visit Egypt
Yes — the park lies near a sensitive border zone, so carry your passport for the checkpoints on the way in. On an organised tour the guide manages the paperwork, but you should still bring your passport rather than leaving it at the hotel. Tailor-made Egypt tours
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