Alright, fellow bubble blowers — this one's for us. If diving is the main reason you're coming to Hurghada (and honestly? It should be), then where you stay matters. A lot.
Here's my thesis after 500+ dives in the Red Sea: the right resort saves you money, saves you time, and opens up diving opportunities that casual tourists never get. I'm talking sunrise house reef dives, night dives straight from the beach, and dive centers that actually know what they're doing.
The wrong resort? You're hauling your gear 30 minutes to a dive center, paying crazy transport fees, and missing the best diving window of the day. No thanks.
🤿 Quick Resort Comparison
| Resort | House Reef | Dive Center | Price/Night |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steigenberger Aldau | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (legendary) | 5-Star PADI | €120-180ish |
| Coral Beach Rotana | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (very good) | PADI | €80-120ish |
| Hilton Hurghada | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (nice) | 5-Star PADI | €100-150ish |
| Arabia Azur | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (improving) | PADI | €60-90ish |
| Jasmine Palace | ⭐⭐⭐ (decent) | Partner center | €50-75ish |
🏆 My Top Picks (Where I Actually Stay)
🏨 Steigenberger Aldau Beach Hotel
This is it. The gold standard. When serious divers ask where to stay, I say here without hesitation.
The house reef... I don't have words. You walk off the jetty, descend, and you're IN IT. Lionfish everywhere. Crocodilefish chilling on the sand. Clownfish doing their thing. I once spent 90 minutes just watching a moray eel hunting and didn't even realize how long it had been.
The on-site James & Mac dive center is 5-star PADI — meaning equipment is immaculate, instructors actually know their stuff, and they don't cut corners. They speak like 6 languages between them too.
🏨 Arabia Azur Resort
If Steigenberger is the Rolls Royce, Arabia Azur is the... really solid Honda Civic? That analogy doesn't work. Point is: great diving for a reasonable price.
The house reef is getting better every year — they did an artificial reef project that's attracting more and more life. You can still do unlimited shore dives without paying daily fees. The dive center runs daily boats to Giftun and other sites, and prices are genuinely competitive.
A German dive instructor I know stays here when he visits because he doesn't want to waste budget on a room he's barely in. Smart man.
🤫 Diver's Secret
Book dive packages DIRECTLY with the resort's dive center before you arrive. I've seen people save 20-30% by pre-booking a 10-dive package instead of paying individually. Most centers also do 5-day unlimited packages — insane value if you're diving 2-3 times daily.
Oh, and ask about sunrise house reef dives. Many resorts offer these FREE to hotel guests. Nobody else is awake, visibility is perfect, and you'll see fish behavior you never see later in the day. My favorite time to dive.
🐠 Nearby Dive Sites
🏝️ Giftun Islands (Big & Small)
Boat time: 20-30 mins from these resorts
Protected marine park = pristine coral and abundant fish. Multiple sites around the islands suit all levels. Expect moray eels, lionfish, octopus, and if you're lucky, dolphins cruising past. This is why you came to the Red Sea. Visibility regularly hits 30+ meters.
🦑 Shaab Abu Ramada ("The Aquarium")
Boat time: 15-20 mins
Nickname tells you everything. Fish density is RIDICULOUS. Perfect for beginners (8-18m depth) and macro photographers. I once counted 12 different species of butterflyfish on one dive. One dive! Seriously beginner-friendly but interesting enough for experienced divers who appreciate reef life.
🚢 Abu Nuhas Wrecks
Boat time: 2-3 hours (day trip)
Four wrecks in one area — Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K, and the Tile wreck. Covered in soft corals, home to massive groupers and rays. The Giannis D in particular is spectacular — cargo ship broken perfectly in two, both halves penetrable. Needs Advanced cert for some parts but Open Water can do easy routes. Worth the longer boat trip.
Questions Fellow Divers Ask
Best time of year for diving?
It's year-round honestly — that's the magic of the Red Sea. But if I had to pick: March-May and September-November for visibility (20-40 meters!). Summer (June-August) brings 28°C water and can be windy. Winter (Dec-Feb) is cooler topside but less crowded. I've dived every month and never been disappointed.
Should I bring my own gear?
Personally? I bring mask, computer, and wetsuit. Renting tanks, BCD, and regs is fine at good resorts — the gear's well-maintained. But you want the mask that fits YOUR face and the computer you know how to read without thinking. Full gear is unnecessarily heavy for airlines to charge you for.
I'm a beginner — can I learn here?
Absolutely yes! Every resort on this list offers Open Water courses (3-4 days, €350-450 including all dives, equipment, certification). The conditions are IDEAL for learning — warm water, good visibility, calm sites. I've taught dozens of people here. It's basically the perfect place to start.
What's included in dive packages?
Typically: boat transfers, tanks, weights, guide, lunch on full-day trips, insurance. Equipment rental is usually extra (€10-15/day). Nitrox is extra (€6-8/tank). If the package doesn't list these clearly, ASK before booking. No surprises underwater or on the bill.
Night dives — worth it?
YES. omg yes. The house reefs here come alive at night. Spanish dancers (the most beautiful nudibranch you'll ever see), hunting octopus, sleeping parrotfish in their mucus cocoons, cuttlefish hypnotizing prey... It's like a completely different dive site. €25-40 per dive, absolutely worth it at least once.
Ready to Blow Some Bubbles?
The Red Sea is waiting. The fish are waiting. What are you doing still reading? 🤿
Browse Dive Resorts Snorkeling GuideFinal Thoughts
Look — I've dived all over the world. Caribbean, Southeast Asia, Great Barrier Reef, the works. The Red Sea remains my favorite for reef diving. The coral health, the fish diversity, the visibility... it's special.
And staying at a resort built for divers makes it even better. Roll out of bed, walk to the dive center, spend your surface intervals by the pool, do a night dive after dinner. It's just... easy. The way diving should be.
Pick one of these resorts. Book a dive package. Bring a good mask and your sense of wonder.
See you underwater. Happy bubbles. 🐠