Where ocean meets desert, that's where the Red Sea lies. Scuba diving here means travelling to Egypt, a fascinating holiday destination full of wonders both ancient and natural. Egypt's section of the sea stretches from the beautiful and renowned Sinai Peninsula in the north to the Sudanese border.
Cultural tourism plays a large part in Egypt's worldwide attraction with so many historical sites of ancient civilisations. When picturing its finest tourist attractions, legendary places such the pyramids of Giza, The Valley of the Kings, Mount Sinai and the River Nile spring easily to mind. For scuba divers there are also fascinating natural seascape environments, clean, vibrant reefs and innumerable tropical fish species. All these things combine to make Egypt and the Red Sea one of the most exotic dive resort package locations on Earth.
The Red Sea is in fact a glittering example of what environmental cooperation and commitment can achieve. Despite the convenience of getting there from Europe and its consequent popularity, it boasts some of the best preserved marine environments on the planet, thanks to local authorities and dive operators protecting their tourism resources.
Undoubtedly the Red Sea is as interesting as it is unique. Essentially a cul-de-sac, a large portion of the sea's marine life is indigenous, making the Red Sea a wondrous diving holiday destination. Travelling to Egypt to sample the historical and underwater wonders in this amazing region should be a must for any scuba diving enthusiast.
For divers who prefer to stay on land and conduct daily dive trips from a resort or hotel along the Red Sea coast, we recommend Sharm El Sheikh and Marsa Alam as the best places to stay on holiday in Egypt. With many excellent dive sites close to shore, you can enjoy day trip packages on high quality Red Sea diving boats:
The most remote, least developed and tranquil of our Egypt day trip diving holiday locations, Marsa Alam in the Southern Red Sea boasts some spectacular healthy reefs, handy shore diving, as well as special spots to find dugongs and dolphins, as well as the legendary Elphinstone, where you could get lucky and spot some sharks! [More information on these dive sites: Southern Red Sea].
> [More details: Marsa Alam Scuba Packages]Located on the Sinai Peninsula, this is the Red Sea's most popular dive resort destination. Holiday makers have the opportunity to make day trips to visit sites right across the peninsula, from the world famous Thistlegorm wreck and Ras Mohamed National Park to the Straits of Tiran. The town hosts some of the world's leading hotel names, as well as some more affordable beach resorts. [More information on these dive sites: Sharm El Sheikh].
> [More details: Sharm El Sheikh Diving Packages]A 'happening' Red Sea tourist town on the Egyptian mainland, Hurghada offers daytrip diving to more than 40 sites, including a local marine park. Its shallow protected reefs are popular with beginners, and its excellent wrecks and submerged coral plateaus attract more advanced diving enthusiasts. Dolphin encounters are almost gauranteed. [More information on these dive sites: Hurghada].
> [More details: Hurghada Dive Packages]In these Red Sea locations you will hear many languages spoken in the huge choice of hotels along the coast. You'll meet visitors from all over the world, many enjoying their first overseas diving holiday in this great value-for-money destination. The Egyptian Red Sea is full of accommodation options to suit all budgets.
The weather in Egypt is typical of the country's desert climate. Days are commonly warm or hot, and nights are cool. Rainy days are few and far between and nearly unknown in upper Egypt. There are only 2 seasons in Egypt, a mild winter (20-29°C from December through May) and a hot summer (24-42°C from June to November), although the heat is less taxing than you may imagine, due to the low humidity. For most part, the weather is ideal and sunny, but at night there can be a noticeable drop in temperature, making it wise to pack both lightweight and warm clothing.
The Red Sea is a year-round dive holiday destination, with water temperatures ranging between 22-30°C. The overall average water temperature is 25°C. April to May or September to November would be the best time to come to enjoy the warm days sans the midday heat of high summer and the crush of fellow tourists. Check our Red Sea dive site descriptions for more details on the best time to go to each destination.
Most divers will arrive in Egypt via the Cairo International Airport. It is well serviced by over 70 international airlines from Europe, the US, Africa and Asia. The popular holiday resort towns are accessible via the domestic services of Egypt Air, or direct via a selected few international centres.
For complete peace of mind during your travels, we recommend insurance that specifically covers scuba diving and includes trip cancellation protection. Our insurance partners offer affordable, tailored coverage options:
For travellers looking to book accommodations before or after their Red Sea resort diving holiday, our trusted partner HotelsCombined.com offers an excellent selection of lodging options across Egypt. From luxury Red Sea resorts to convenient Cairo city hotels, their platform makes it easy to find and secure your ideal stay:
Every reservation comes with their valuable 'Low Price Guarantee', ensuring you always get the best available rates for maximum value on your Egyptian getaway.
Find everything you need to know about the best dive seasons & conditions, travel requirements & visas, essential trip planning tips, all in one place on our Egypt Dive FAQ page.
Very responsive and helpful with all of our queries - of which there were many! - thank you. Beef in particular deserves a mention for helping us book the holiday resort and guiding us through all the details
