🤿 WORLD-CLASS DIVING DESTINATION

Hurghada Diving & Snorkeling

Everything a diver (or wannabe diver) needs to know about the Red Sea. From someone with 300+ dives here.

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A Small Request from Salem

I've spent years exploring every corner of Hurghada to bring you this free guide. To keep this website running and updated, some links here are affiliate links.

What does this mean? If you book through my links, I earn a small commission to support my work — at absolutely no extra cost to you. Actually — I often find you better deals than you'd get going direct!

If you find my advice helpful, booking through these links is a wonderful way to say "Thank You" and help me continue serving you. Enjoy your trip! 🌴

Why Divers Keep Coming Back

The Red Sea is special. I don't say that lightly — I've dived in Thailand, Mexico, the Maldives, the Caribbean. The visibility here is bonkers (30+ meters on good days), the corals are healthier than most places I've seen, and the water's warm enough year-round that you don't need a 7mm suit.

After 300+ dives in these waters, I still get excited planning my next one. Whether you're doing your first-ever Open Water or you're a tech diver looking for 40m+ wrecks, Hurghada's got something for you. And the prices? Still cheaper than most dive destinations I know. Check my money guide for budgeting tips.

Top Dive Sites in Hurghada

Giftun Islands

📍 15km northeast of Hurghada Marina

5-40m Depth
All Levels Experience
⭐ 4.9 Rating

The crown jewel of Hurghada diving! Giftun Islands offer pristine coral walls, vibrant drop-offs, and an incredible variety of marine life. The shallow reefs are perfect for beginners and snorkelers, while experienced divers can explore deeper sections with larger pelagic species.

🐠 Marine Life

Napoleon wrasse, barracuda, tuna, turtles, dolphins (occasional), moray eels, lionfish, parrotfish

🪸 Coral Types

Hard corals, soft corals, fan corals, table corals—some of the healthiest reefs in the Red Sea

📅 Best Season

Year-round, but April-November offers the best conditions. Check the weather guide for details.

💡 Pro Tip

Book morning trips for the calmest seas and best visibility. Afternoon winds can create surface chop.

Abu Ramada "The Aquarium"

📍 12km east of Hurghada

3-20m Depth
Beginner+ Experience
⭐ 4.8 Rating

Named "The Aquarium" for good reason—this site is absolutely teeming with colorful reef fish! Shallow, easy diving makes it perfect for Open Water students and snorkelers. The sheer density and variety of marine life here is astonishing, with schools of fish so large they block out the sun.

🐟 Signature Species

Anthias, glassfish, batfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, clownfish, pufferfish

📷 Photography

Excellent for macro photography and wide-angle shots of fish schools. Bring a wide lens!

🎓 Training Site

Popular for Open Water certification dives. Also fantastic for snorkeling!

⚠️ Note

Can get crowded during peak season (December-February). Early morning trips recommended.

Carless Reef

📍 20km northeast of Hurghada

10-30m Depth
Intermediate Experience
⭐ 4.7 Rating

A stunning drift dive along a pristine coral wall adorned with massive gorgonian fans and soft corals. Carless offers the chance to see larger pelagics, including sharks, rays, and tuna. The wall drops dramatically to great depths, creating a spectacular underwater landscape.

🦈 Big Fish

Whitetip reef sharks, eagle rays, tuna, jackfish, Napoleon wrasse

🌊 Dive Type

Drift dive—moderate to strong currents. Good buoyancy control essential.

🪸 Coral Gardens

Exceptional soft corals and sea fans in vibrant purples, reds, and yellows

💡 Tip

Bring a reef hook if you want to stop and photograph the gorgonians without drifting.

El Mina Wreck

📍 Hurghada Harbor

5-30m Depth
Advanced Experience
⭐ 4.6 Rating

This 80-meter cargo ship sank in the 1960s and now sits upright on a sandy bottom. Penetration opportunities include the cargo holds and engine room (with proper training). The wreck has become an artificial reef, attracting schools of glassfish, lionfish, and curious snappers.

🚢 Wreck Features

Intact hull, accessible cargo holds, impressive engine room, dramatic structure

⚠️ Requirements

Advanced Open Water minimum. Wreck Specialty recommended for penetration.

📸 Photography

Excellent for dramatic wreck photography with strong light beams through openings

🌙 Night Diving

Available for experienced divers—glassfish schools are magical at night!

🏝️ Regional Dive Highlights

Panorama Reef

📍 Soma Bay (Day trip range)

Wall Dive

One of the most famous wall dives in the Red Sea. Massive vertical walls dropping to 400m+, covered in purple soft corals. Known for "Anemone City" – a huge field of anemones and clownfish.

  • Huge gorgonian fans
  • Possible pelagic sightings (tuna, barracuda)
  • Best for: Intermediate/Advanced

Abu Hashish Island

📍 Sahl Hasheesh

Drift / Lagoon

A protected island site with a shallow lagoon and a stunning drop-off. Famous for its clear water and sandy bottom filled with stingrays and crocodilefish.

  • Very relaxed, easy diving
  • Great for photography (shallow light)
  • Best for: Beginners & Drift lovers

PADI Courses in Hurghada

Hurghada is one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified. Seriously. And the conditions are ideal for learning — warm water, good visibility, calm sites. If you're planning your first visit, factor in a few days for your course.

🎓 Open Water Diver (OWD)
3-4 days • Ages 10+
€280-350

Your entry into the diving world! Learn to dive to 18 meters independently. Includes theory sessions, pool training, and 4 open water dives. Most popular course for beginners.

Digital materials All equipment Certification card
🏆 Advanced Open Water Diver (AOWD)
2 days • OWD required
€220-280

Expand your skills with 5 specialty dives including deep diving (to 30m), navigation, and 3 electives (wreck, night, drift, etc.). Perfect next step after Open Water.

Deep dive cert Navigation skills 5 adventure dives
⭐ Rescue Diver
3 days • AOWD + EFR required
€300-380

Learn to prevent and manage problems, respond to emergencies, and help other divers. Challenging but rewarding—many divers call this their favorite course.

Emergency skills Rescue scenarios Leadership pathway
💎 Divemaster (Professional Level)
4-6 weeks • Rescue Diver required
€650-850

Your first professional certification! Assist instructors, lead certified divers, and work in dive centers. Intensive training covering theory, watermanship, and leadership.

Professional cert Guide dives Career opportunity

Recommended Dive Centers

⭐ 5.0 (850+ reviews)

Emperor Divers Hurghada

Professional 5-Star PADI center with experienced multilingual instructors. Excellent safety record, modern equipment, and small group sizes. House reef access from their private jetty.

Languages: English, German, French, Russian
Hotel pickup: Free from most hotels
Special: Nitrox available
⭐ 4.9 (720+ reviews)

Diving World Hurghada

Family-run PADI center known for personalized service and great value. Perfect for nervous beginners—patient instructors take time to ensure comfort. Daily boat trips to the best sites.

Languages: English, German, Polish
Group size: Max 6 divers per guide
Special: Kid-friendly (8+ years)
⭐ 4.8 (920+ reviews)

Colona Dive Club

Well-established center with multiple locations. Large, comfortable dive boats with sundeck and toilet facilities. Excellent for advanced divers seeking technical diving and wreck penetration courses.

Languages: English, Italian, Dutch
Boats: Large, air-conditioned
Special: Tech diving courses

🙋‍♂️ Diving Questions I Get Asked Constantly

Are there sharks in Hurghada waters?

Yes, but they are rare to see on recreational dives. The most common are whitetip reef sharks (harmless) and occasionally leopard sharks. Dangerous encounters are statistically almost zero. Most divers dream of seeing one! If you see one, count yourself lucky, not unlucky.

How much is a PADI Open Water course in Hurghada?

Prices are very competitive globally. Expect to pay between €250 and €350 for the full PADI Open Water course (3-4 days). This usually includes full equipment rental, manual/certification fees, and lunch on the boat. It's one of the cheapest places in the world to get certified.

Is diving safe for non-swimmers in Hurghada?

For the "Intro Dive" (Discover Scuba Diving)? Yes! An instructor physically holds you the entire time underwater. You don't need to swim; you just need to breathe. However, if you want to get *certified* (license), you do need to pass a 200m swim test. So: Try it? Yes. License? No.

How deep is the diving in Hurghada?

Most recreational diving here is between 12m and 30m. It's perfect for beginners because many sites are shallow, sandy plateaus with zero current. Advanced divers can find deep walls at sites like Elphinstone (day trip away), but local Hurghada sites are generally relaxed and shallow.

⚠️ Safety & Important Information

🚑 Insurance: The Honest Truth

Standard travel insurance often excludes diving deeper than 18m. Do not risk a €5,000 hyperbaric chamber bill.

Recommendation: Serious technical divers should get DAN. For holiday divers needing travel + adventure coverage, I use Ekta (select "Extreme" pack).

👉 Check Ekta Rates or read my full Hurghada Insurance Guide.

Medical Fitness

All divers must complete a medical questionnaire. Certain conditions (asthma, heart problems, ear issues) may require doctor's clearance. Be honest—your safety depends on it.

Flying After Diving

Wait minimum 18 hours after your last dive before flying (24 hours for multiple dive days). Plan your last diving day accordingly! See my flights guide for more.

Environmental Responsibility

Respect the reef—no touching, no feeding fish, maintain good buoyancy. Use reef-safe sunscreen. Take only photos, leave only bubbles. The Red Sea's beauty depends on all of us. More tips in the beaches guide.

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