Red Sea
Legendary Wrecks and Pristine Reefs in Crystal-Clear Waters
The Red Sea is one of the most saline seas in the world, with minimal river inflow resulting in extraordinary water clarity that often exceeds 30 meters. Its relative isolation has led to a high degree of endemism, with approximately 10% of fish species found nowhere else. Egypt's coastline offers the most accessible diving, from the resort town of Sharm el-Sheikh near Ras Mohammed National Park to Hurghada and the remote southern reefs. The SS Thistlegorm, a WWII British supply ship sunk in 1941, is widely regarded as the world's best wreck dive. Liveaboard routes to the Brothers Islands and Daedalus Reef offer encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerheads, and thresher sharks in season.
Top Dive Sites
SS Thistlegorm
16-32mA 128-meter British Merchant Navy ship sunk by German bombers in 1941, still loaded with wartime cargo including motorcycles, trucks, locomotives, and ammunition. This wreck is considered the best in the world, offering both external and penetration diving through its well-preserved holds.
Ras Mohammed - Shark & Yolanda Reefs
5-40m+A spectacular twin-reef system at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Shark Reef features a dramatic wall dropping into the blue with Napoleon wrasse, barracuda, and reef sharks, while Yolanda Reef is famous for its scattered cargo of toilets from a shipwreck.
Big Brother Island
5-40m+A remote offshore reef in the middle of the Red Sea accessible only by liveaboard. The island's vertical walls drop to over 300 meters and attract oceanic whitetip sharks, grey reef sharks, and hammerheads. Two wrecks sit on the walls including the Numidia and Aida II.
Elphinstone Reef
5-40m+A long, narrow offshore reef south of Marsa Alam renowned for oceanic whitetip shark encounters. The north and south plateaus attract pelagic life, and the walls are covered in stunning soft corals. Best dived from liveaboards or extended day trips.
Jackson Reef (Tiran Strait)
5-35mThe northernmost reef of Tiran Strait, marked by the rusting hull of the Lara shipwreck on the surface. The reef features beautiful coral gardens, a wall on the eastern side, and frequent sightings of hammerhead sharks in the strong currents of the strait.
Blue Hole (Dahab)
6-100m+One of the most famous dive sites in the world, this massive underwater sinkhole near Dahab drops to over 100 meters. The Blue Hole hosts international depth competitions and is a mecca for technical divers attempting the Arch passage at 56 meters. Recreational divers enjoy the stunning coral-rimmed rim and the vibrant reef life along the shallow edges.
Featured Marine Species
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus
Red Sea Bannerfish
Heniochus intermedius
Dugong
Dugong dugon
Scalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
Blue-spotted Ribbontail Ray
Taeniura lymma
Giant Moray Eel
Gymnothorax javanicus
Diving Conditions
Best Season
March to May and September to November (mild weather, best visibility)
Water Temperature
21-30°C
Visibility
20-40m+
Difficulty
Beginner to Advanced
Frequently Asked Questions
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