Best Places for Diving in Egypt 2025
Egypt is one of my favourite places. When the word exotic is mentioned, it’s the place I think of first. And with the incredible dive sites you can find here, it’s just over the top insane.
Diving in Egypt is on the bucket list of millions of divers all over the world. This is because of the spectacular reef systems in Egyptian waters, as well as the healthy coral.
There is also a fantastic variety of sites in Egyptian waters. Enough to keep you coming back for years. You can choose from day-trip boat dives, liveaboards, and shore dives.
There are even resorts that cater specifically to divers, where you have home reefs at your disposal. I think this must be the ultimate all-inclusive!
When scuba diving in Egypt, you can dive on wrecks, in sinkholes, or on subterranean mountains. You can even dive in the Mediterranean Sea in Northern Egypt. And it’s all still remarkably affordable.
The best way to observe a fish is to become a fish.
– JACQUES COUSTEAU
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Map of Egyptian Dive Sites
Diving in Egypt – Red Sea Dive Sites
When it comes to dive sites in the Egyptian Red Sea, there are hundreds. And there are many day trips out to a lot of them.
But some sites are just too far out for a day trip. That’s where liveaboards come in. More on them further on.
To help you decide what to hit if you don’t have time for hundreds of dives, here are the best:
The dive sites in Egypt can be considered in 2 parts. Southern sites tend to be more suitable for divers with experience. Meanwhile, sites in the northern sea are great for less advanced divers.
According to the CDWS website, the Red Sea is called Egypt’s “Garden of Allah”, for the riches of marine life in its waters. Let’s take a look at some of the best places to see those riches.
1. Marsa Alam
- Best Time to Go: late summer to early autumn for the best water temperatures.
- Depth: up to 32m, depending on site. Visibility: >30m
This is the southernmost area on our list. Marsa Alum is considered by many to have the very best diving in the Egyptian Red Sea.
A multitude of fantastic dive sites can be found in the Marsa Alum area.
There are few wrecks to dive here, but a whole lot of everything else. The southern waters have the most pristine coral, in a sea of pristine coral.
Elphinstone Reef is built around a submerged mountain. The current can be quite strong, and can make navigating this dive site a challenge.
However, this current contributes to the spectacular, colourful soft corals that grow here. The oblong reef is covered in sea whips, sponges, and gorgonian fans.
These all shelter an enormous variety of sea life. Anthias, red-toothed triggerfish, and barracuda all share the water with dolphins, to name just a few.
All of this, along with the real possibility of shark encounters, make this one of the planet’s most exciting dives. The oceanic white tip in summer and fall, and the hammerhead in the spring are big draws to the Elephinstone Reef.
It’s considered by some to be the best shark dive site in the Red Sea.
Dugongs!
This is also one of the best places in the world to encounter the rare dugong.
There’s a small, predictable population of these characters here. The captains of the various vessels are able to find them easily, giving you a good chance of encountering one or two.
Whale sharks and manta rays can also be found around Marsa Alam, especially in May and June.
Spinner dolphins have a special place here, too, and bottlenose can often be seen as well. Check out Dolphin House site if you love these swimmers.
And keep a lookout while your boat’s in motion. They love to race alongside, putting on an acrobatics show as they go.
Hawksbill turtles, ghost pipefish, and crocodilefish are also among the cast of characters.
Thorny seahorses are always fun to see. And at around 15cm, they’re easier to spot than some of their tiny cousins.
You can easily book day trips to your chosen dive site. However, you will be getting up quite early, and spending a lot of time on a boat. A liveaboard is also an option here.
In addition, many resorts in Marsa Alam have begun offering unlimited house reef diving.And if you’d like to go a bit farther afield, you need only pay a small extra fee.
Remember – don’t dive solo. The resorts are great places to find others to dive with. Either other solos, or groups that are happy to have one more.
The resorts often offer other unlimited activities as well, as there isn’t much to do in the village apart from diving.
Liveaboards
A liveaboard is just what it sounds like. A reservation is made through one of the many dive centres. And, you stay on board for a few days to a few weeks.
The trip is organized around diving, and your boat may very well have your dive sites all to itself. And as you’re already in the area, you can take part in night dives too.
That’s one advantage to diving from a liveaboard. Another is that you can dive the same sights that the day boats travel to.
The captain will know when the popular scheduled times are for the day boats, and can avoid them. So again, you could have the entire site to yourselves.
Another advantage to liveaboards is that they’re definitely more comfortable than a typical day boat. They have all the amenities that you need for extended time frames, which is great.
But, keep in mind that there are no shore excursions. You’re on your boat for the duration of the trip. That may seem like a negative. But it’s a great way to get to know other divers if you’re feeling social.
And, more importantly, if you’re a solo diver, it gives you the opportunity to get to know the people. I always feel more comfortable buddying up with people I know at least a little.
One downside to the liveaboard experience, if you’re a beginner, might be that you do need to already be a certified diver. You won’t be able to learn how to scuba dive while you’re out in deep water.
As well, depending on the dive site, you may need an advanced certification to take part. For example, some of the many wreck dives require a wreck diver certification.
But there are many that don’t, so don’t get discouraged. With so very many dive sites to choose from, you should have no trouble finding the perfect experience for you.
As far as pricing – the cost of a liveaboard is similar to spending the same time at a resort. Liveaboards vary in price from budget to luxury, as resorts do.
I recommend spending at least a few days on a liveaboard – it’s my favourite way to dive Egypt!
2. El Quseir
- Best Time to Go: Late summer and autumn have the best water temperatures.
- Depth: max 40m
- Visibility: up to 26m
El Quseir, which can also be spelled El Qoseir, is a city of about 50,000. There’s a bit of history to explore here, and the town is still small and quiet enough to be charming.
There are as many as 50 great dive sites within reach of El Quseir. The house reefs of the resorts are right off the shore, so shore diving is a fantastic option here, for any level of diver.
Some shore dives necessitate a transfer, though. Your accommodation can arrange that for you. Some dives farther out can be arranged by zodiac or a day boat.
Elphinstone Reef can be accessed by day boat from El Quseir, as well. As mentioned above, it’s best for a more experienced diver, but is well-known for its shark encounters.
Liveaboards, however, are fewer here, due to the lack of a protected spot to keep the boats. But, some are possible. Shore diving is really the thing at El Quseir.
There’s a lot of variety in this area, with cavern systems, wall dives, and coral gardens. Also find seagrass meadows that hide all kinds of marine life.
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Try a Night Dive
Large sea life is sparse here, but you may see guitar sharks and white tips. You can also expect to see blue-spotted ribbon-tail rays, porcupine fish, crocodile fish, lionfish, octopus, turtles…
The list goes on and on. Dugong sightings are also possible, but not common. Also, have a look at The Rock to see hundreds of anemones and their resident clownfish.
Snorkelling here is also fantastic. This is a great option if you have a flight coming up and you’re in that 24-hour no-dive period.
Check with your accommodation about arranging a boat out to the Salem Express.
This is a wreck dive on a passenger/vehicle ferry that sank in 1991 after hitting the Hyndman Reef.
It is not recommended that divers go inside the ship, so try to stay on the outside. Even still, it will take 2 separate dives to see the entire wreck.
This is a controversial dive site, owing to the loss of life aboard the ship. An estimated 470 passengers perished on that day.
If you do decide to dive here, please be respectful.
You may even be able to do a night dive while in El Quseir. These are always magical, and sometimes a little spooky. Again, check with your resort staff.
3. Hurghada
- Best Time to Go: anytime, but May through December is best
- Depth: 5m – >40, depending on the site
- Visibility: 10m – 30m
Hurghada is right in the area where scuba diving in Egypt first became popular. It’s now a mecca for divers, and is not the place to come if you’re looking for a sleepy spot to dive from.
It does, however, afford access to some world-class dive sites.
Even with the heavy tourism on the sites here, the reefs are holding up well.
This is thanks in very large part to the protection of the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA), formed in 1992.
Another effect of the ever-growing popularity of diving in the area is the large selection of dive centres. Be sure to shop around, and definitely read online reviews.
You don’t want to go with the cheapest, and you don’t need to decide on the most expensive. Your most reliable indicator is the experiences of others.
Hurghada is a good place to learn to dive if you’re not already certified. Or take an advanced course if you want to be able to dive more difficult sites.
A lot of diving out of Hurghada is focused on multiple dive sites around the Giftun Islands and the reefs in that area.
You’ll get to see eagle rays, lionfish, clownfish, and triggerfish. There are coral gardens and wall dives. If you love drift diving, you’ll find that here too.
The town’s location affords access to several shipwrecks, as well. Most well-known is the SS Thistlegorm. Jacque Cousteau discovered the WWII ship in 1956.
SS Thistlegorm
The Thistlegorm was sunk by a German long-range bomber in 1941, when the ship was just 18 months old.
Its inventory included tanks, aircraft, and Bedford trucks, as well as the anti-aircraft gun it had been fitted with.
This is just the tip of the iceberg of munitions and vehicles, etc. that were aboard the British army freighter when it sank.
Exploring the relics makes for a fascinating dive.
Towards the end of the dive you’ll be met with teira batfish and trevally. Hawksbill turtles frequent the area, as well, and crocodilefish hide in the rubble.
The Thistlegorm is about 4.5 hours north of Hurghada. A liveaboard is a good option if you plan to reach it from here. Day trips are also available.
To the southeast are 5 more wrecks. One of these is the Carnatic, sunk in 1869. It’s been taken over by the sea and is now covered in coral.
Pipefish make a home here, as well as lionfish and triggerfish.
Hurghada is a popular starting point for many liveaboards. This is great if you’re limited in the stops you can make while you’re on the Red Sea coast.
You can reach many of the popular Red Sea dive sites from Hurghada. It may require several days on a liveaboard.
But these are just days that you have all of your meals and accommodation taken care of. And day after day of diving, that sounds like a win to me.
4. Dahab
- Best Time to Go: June through August for temperatures and variety of fish
- Depth: varies widely according to site; to 100-200m at Blue Hole
- Visibility: 20m up to 60m, depending on the site
In the last 30 years, Dahab has gone from being an isolated Bedouin village, to a hippie hang-out. Then to an adventurer’s paradise and a backpackers’ favourite.
Today the area is a mix of independent travellers’ accommodation and upscale options. Unfortunately, this has caused an inflation of prices, especially for long-stay options.
Try to stay in the old part of Dahab. You might find yourself never wanting to leave. In Masbat you should still find good, inexpensive accommodation.
There are also beachfront bars and eateries in this area. Find your favourite Bedouin cafe and settle in until it’s time to go diving.
Diving in Dahab is still as amazing as when the term scuba was first heard here. There is a lot of shore diving here, and the snorkelling is great too.
Some shore dives require a transfer from your accommodation. Jeep transfer gets the job done. But when diving in Dahab you may have the option of transfer by camel.
That’s when you know you’re in Egypt.
Important Tip: stay on your camel’s good side, as they have been known to spit when they’re unhappy.
Two of the most famous shore dives, not just in Dahab but in the world, are the Blue Hole and the Canyon.
The Blue Hole is for experienced divers, and it attracts divers from all over the world.
Recreational divers will get their gear together on the beach and trek north a bit to El Bells to access the site.
It’s about 35m across, and some 200m deep. You’ll have the chance for some spectacular wall dives. If you’ve never seen black coral, here’s your chance.
The Canyon
The Canyon is suitable for all levels of experience. Entry and exit are easy, through a beautiful, shallow lagoon.
You’ll see the light effects that the site is famous for. The sun bounces off the white sand like sunshine through a window that brightens the room.
On a night dive during a full moon, the Canyon is utterly mystical.
You’ll be treated to a scatter of amazing coral pillars, as well as seahorses, nudibranches, and ghost fish.
Hatchetfish and glassfish are here too, along with octopus, unicornfish, and clouds of Red Sea anthias.
You might even see the Red Sea Walkman and pepper moray eels. This is all before actually entering the “Canyon” of the site. It’s about 10m at its highest.
NOTE: Those looking to preserve the Canyon dive site request that divers refrain from entering the Fishbowl inside the Canyon.
There are about 20 amazing dive sites in the Dahab area. I hope you have a lot of time here! Dahab is also a great spot to get your diving certification, or take one or 2 advanced courses.
5. Diving the Mediterranean – Alexandria
- Best Time to Go: Spring and Fall
- Depth: 16m – 42m
- Visibility: up to 20m
First things first – diving in Alexandria takes some advanced planning. You’ll need to contact your dive centre at least 2 days before your dive.
They’ll need a copy of your passport to get the necessary permissions for your dive.
Also note that the currents of the Mediterranean tend to be stronger than those of the Red Sea. If you’re looking for visibility for miles and the colourful corals that you see in the Red Sea, you won’t find them in Alexandria.
What you will find are some of the most fascinating dive sites in the world. Especially if you’re a fan of ancient history, you will love diving here.
Cleopatra’s Underwater City is just one example of the unique history you can find here. The city was built in 300 BC by Alexander the Great, and fell into the sea during an earthquake.
It’s estimated that the structures have been in the water since the 4th century. You can swim along the Roman columns and around the sphinx statues that used to stand in that city.
There are also wreck dives on centuries-old ships. The Battle of the Nile was fought in 1798, and some of the casualty ships can be found here.
The more modern WWII plane is a shallow dive that’s great for beginners. Many other sites are suitable for all levels of diver, such as Pharos Island.
Some places even have resident eagle rays or the occasional white-tip reef shark.
* CHECK BEFORE YOU BOOK
While there are hundreds of reputable dive centres to serve you in Egypt, there is the occasional bad apple. Before you book your dive, have a look at the Chamber of Diving and Water Sports (CDWS) website. The site lists accredited dive centres in Egypt, and will make you aware of any that have been blacklisted.
6. Dive in the Desert
Another unique site is the Siwa Oasis. About a 3-hour drive inland, this trip is a great chance to try sandboarding and kite sailing, as well as enjoy diving in the middle of the desert.
You’ll also get a taste of Bedouin culture out here in the desert.
There are a variety of springs to dive here. Most are about 8 metres deep, and full of crystal clear water, and the remains of ancient Roman construction.
From diving in the Mediterranean, and diving in the middle of the desert. Alexandria is a great addition to any dive trip to Egypt.
Diving Safety – Travelling Solo in Africa
Do look out for your safety when you dive as a solo traveller. Regardless of your experience or certification. I never recommend diving solo. The previous page, where you found this article, has a section dedicated to diving safely as a solo traveller. Please be sure to read it through, if you haven’t already. Enjoy!
🤿 Dive Safety When Travelling
If you have a flight out after a dive, be sure to plan ahead. There is a necessary preflight surface interval that must be adhered to.
The length of this interval varies. They are anywhere from 12 hours for a single dive to 18 hours for multiple dives or several days of diving, as stated by PADI and DAN.
The US Air Force enforces a 24-hour interval after any number of dives. And the US Navy feels that only 2 hours is necessary before a flight of any altitude.
The concern about flying too soon after diving is the risk of decompression sickness. The preflight interval ensures that all residual nitrogen in your bloodstream has had time to dissipate.
If no interval is taken, flying can have the same effect as surfacing too quickly during a dive, causing nitrogen bubbles to form.
I recommend 2 full days between your last dive and any flight. This, of course, is your decision. I encourage you to read PADI’s post-dive safety tips.
Summing It Up: Diving in Egypt in 2023
If you’re looking for an awesome dive vacation, you can’t go wrong planning a trip to Egypt.
Egypt is a great option for diving while travelling solo. It’s almost impossible not to meet other divers to buddy up with.
Whether you’re at a dive resort on the western shore of the Red Sea, or in Masbat in Dahab, divers are everywhere. And you get to be one of them. Enjoy!
Happy travels!
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