Diving in Hurghada
Why dive here
Hurghada offers some of Egypt's richest diving, with 42+ marine species recorded in the area - including dolphins, humpback whales, seahorses, spinner dolphins and whale sharks. Water ranges 22-29°C, warmest July, August, September.
Hurghada has been a Red Sea staple for decades, and for good reason. It’s the original Egyptian dive hub, and while some of the nearshore reefs have seen better days, the further afield sites really deliver. We love the easy access to the Giftun Island reefs, where the schooling fusiliers can be so thick they block the sun. For the history buffs, Hurghada is the gateway to the famous Abu Nuhas wreck graveyard, with its four well-preserved ships, and the legendary SS Thistlegorm is just a longer day trip away. We’d suggest planning your dives for earlier in the morning to beat the crowds, especially around the more popular Giftun sites. Visibility is generally excellent, often pushing 30 metres, which makes those deeper sections of the wrecks particularly inviting. Look out for slender groupers tucked into the reef crevices and the distinctive candelamoa parrotfish grazing on the corals. We often see the vibrant red sea clown surgeons flitting around the coral heads and, if you’re lucky, a pod of bridled dolphins might just cruise by in the blue. The currents can pick up, particularly around the exposed Giftun sites, making for some exhilarating drift dives.
Hurghada Dive Site Map
Dive sites and dive centres in Hurghada
Hurghada Dive Sites
87 dive sites in Hurghada
Abu Hashish Drift
Abu Hashish Drift is a pleasant enough spot for an easy-going drift, especially if you’re looking for a relaxed start to the day. We’ve found the currents here generally gentle, carrying you along a sloped reef. You'll often see schools of yellowtail snappers zipping by, and we’ve spotted blue-spotted rays tucked into the sandy patches. While it’s not the Red Sea's most dramatic dive, it's a good place for newer divers to practice their drift technique without feeling overwhelmed, or for anyone who just wants a peaceful cruise.
Abu Hashish Lagoon
Abu Hashish Lagoon often gets overlooked in the Hurghada hustle, but it’s a solid, easy dive. The lagoon itself is fairly shallow and sandy, perfect for a relaxed start or a safety stop. We’ve seen a decent array of smaller critters here, like the occasional Fleshy Peristernia tucked into a crevice or a Variable Stromb slowly making its way across the sand. While it’s not a whale shark magnet, it’s one of those spots where dolphins sometimes cruise through, especially earlier in the morning. This site is a good pick if you’re looking for a calm dive, maybe to test out new gear or just enjoy some quiet time in the water without strong currents.
Abu Nugar
Abu Nugar is one of those sites we always come back to in Hurghada, especially when we want to get away from the bigger boats. It’s got this really relaxed vibe, not too deep, so we often spend more time just observing the smaller stuff. We’ve had some fantastic luck here with the African eel blenny, tucked away in the sand patches, and the Chestnut blennies are always putting on a show, bobbing their heads out of tiny holes. The reef itself isn't a dramatic wall, more a gentle slope with scattered coral heads, which is exactly what makes it great for spotting the Camouflage grouper blending in perfectly, or the sneaky wrasse darting around. Our favourite part has to be looking for the Bluestripe pipefish – they’re masters of disguise, so take it slow. If you’re into macro and don’t mind a leisurely dive, you’ll love it here. It's a proper chill-out dive, perfect for photographers or anyone wanting to escape the rush.
Abu Ramada Cave
Abu Ramada Cave, often just called "The Gota," is a popular stop in Hurghada. It's less a true cave and more a series of swim-throughs and overhangs. We usually drop in here to explore the coral formations, looking for the Blackline Fangblenny hiding in the cracks or watching Clown Tangs dart between the hard corals. It's a fairly shallow dive, making it a good spot for newer divers to practice buoyancy in confined spaces. The sunbeams filtering through the openings create some nice photo opportunities, particularly on clear mornings. Don't expect dramatic caverns, but it's a solid, enjoyable dive for stretching the fins.
Abu Ramada - Ost
Abu Ramada East, often called the Aquarium, is a gentle drift dive that’s a solid choice for a second or third dive of the day. We’ve found the currents here tend to be mild, making it a good spot for newer divers to practice their buoyancy control while keeping an eye out for some interesting critters. The reef slopes down, letting you pick your depth, and we’ve consistently seen plenty of Klunzinger’s wrasse darting about. Keep an eye on the sand patches for the occasional cowfish or a well-camouflaged sandfish, and sometimes even a small-eyed squirrelfish peeking out from under ledges. It's a reliable dive for a relaxed afternoon.
Abu Ramada Plateau
Abu Ramada Plateau, often simply "The Plateau," is a Hurghada staple. It’s a solid multi-level dive, good for getting your bearings early in a trip, or for a relaxed afternoon. We’ve found the best of it usually unfolds along the drop-offs, where you can drift past schools of fusiliers and often spot a curious clown tang nosing about. Keep an eye on the sand patches too; the bullethead parrotfish often make an appearance, and we’ve had good luck spotting sandfish there. It’s not always a showstopper, but it reliably delivers a pleasant Red Sea dive.
Abu Ramada South
Abu Ramada South offers a mellow dive in Hurghada, a good pick when you're after something relaxed. We often drift along its gentle slopes, keeping an eye out for the smaller inhabitants. Look closely and you'll spot Red Sea Halfbeaks flitting about or a shy Bluebell Blenny peeking from its hole. It’s a site that rewards patience, better for those who enjoy a slower pace and aren’t just chasing pelagics.
Abu Salama
Abu Salama isn’t always on the top of everyone’s Hurghada list, but for us, it’s a quiet favourite, especially when you’re looking to escape the busier spots. It’s got that relaxed, drift-dive feel that just lets you switch off. We often drop in on the northern side, letting the gentle current carry us south along the wall. Keep an eye out for the slender grouper tucked into the crevices – they’re shy but often there. What we really love here is the sheer number of parrotfish. We’ve seen everything from the iridescent blue trim to the chunky candelamoa, all munching away, leaving little trails of sand. You’ll hear them, too, that distinct crunching sound that tells you the reef is active. Look closely among the coral heads and you might spot an African eel blenny peering out, or the striped antennas of a brownbar snapping shrimp waving from its burrow. It’s a site that rewards a slow pace. Take your time investigating the rocky outcrops; that’s where you'll find the banded blennies and little congregations of dusky farmerfish. It’s a great spot for those who enjoy observing individual fish behaviours rather than just flying past big schools.
Aquarium
Aquarium, just off Hurghada, often catches divers by surprise. It's a nice, easy drift, generally pretty shallow, which makes for relaxed dives. We usually see a good few Clown Tangs and Sleek Unicornfish darting around the corals. If you're lucky, and we have been a few times, you might spot dolphins passing through, maybe even an Indian Ocean bottlenose pod. It's a great spot for a relaxed second dive, or for less experienced divers looking to build confidence without battling current.
Aquarius Diving Club
Aquarius Diving Club, not a dive shop, but a solid little reef, often gets overlooked in the Hurghada rush. We’ve always found it a reliable spot, especially when the main boat traffic heads elsewhere. The main draw for us here is the sheer density of small stuff – not always the flashy pelagics (though we’ve logged a few dolphin sightings here, even a white one once, which was a thrill), but the quieter moments. You'll spend your time here exploring the nooks and crannies. Keep an eye out for the Blackline Fangblenny, they’re often perched on the coral heads, and the Crested Sabretooth Blennies have a habit of darting in and out. The schools of Drummers are impressive, sometimes so thick they obscure the reef for a moment. We often find ourselves just hanging out, watching the Bullethead Parrotfish chomp away, or spotting a plump Spotted Grouper tucked under an overhang. If you’re into macro and don’t mind a relatively shallow profile, this site delivers consistent, unhurried diving. We’d suggest an early morning visit to avoid any crowds.
Aquarius Diving Club
Aquarius Diving Club is one of our go-to spots when we’re in Hurghada and just want a solid, easy dive. It’s not going to blow your mind with dramatic topography, but it’s a lovely, relaxing drift along a healthy sloping reef. We often start shallow, maybe 10-12m, letting the gentle current carry us past dense patches of schooling fusiliers – honestly, sometimes they’re so thick you can barely see the reef behind them. Keep an eye out for the smaller stuff here; we’ve had some fantastic encounters with shy broomtail wrasse darting between the corals and more black sea cucumbers than you can count. Our favourite part is often the sandy patches at around 18-20m where you’ll usually find spangled emperors foraging. If you’re lucky, a pod of grey dolphins might even cruise by in the blue, though that’s more of a bonus than a guarantee. It’s a site that really suits divers who enjoy a slow pace, keen photographers looking for macro subjects, and anyone who just wants to unwind with a long, peaceful drift. We’d suggest going early in the morning to beat any crowds and catch the reef at its quietest.
Balena
Balena, for us, is one of those sites we always try to hit when we're in Hurghada. It's not the most famous, but it delivers on those classic Red Sea vibes without the crowds you sometimes find elsewhere. We love dropping in on the northern side, letting the gentle current carry us along the reef wall. The sheer number of yellowstriped cardinalfish schooling here is incredible; they absolutely smother the corals in places, a shimmering cloud you can practically swim through. Keep an eye out for the bottleneck sea cucumbers on the sand patches – they're surprisingly charismatic – and the flash of a candelamoa parrotfish making its way across the reef. We've had a few lucky encounters with bottlenose dolphins here too, though those are always a treat, never a guarantee. The deeper sections of the reef are home to some really chunky dusky wrasse and the occasional edgeblack grouper lurking under ledges. It's a relaxed drift, perfect for photographers or anyone who just wants to soak in the bustling reef life at a leisurely pace. If you're looking for a consistently rewarding dive in Hurghada that feels a little less "tour bus," Balena is our pick.
Hurghada Dive Centres
43 dive shops and operators in Hurghada
Aggressor Floating Resort - Hurghada
Alyses Plongee
Aquarius Diving Club
Aquarius Diving Club
Aquarius Diving Club
Blue Brothers Diving
Blue Water Dive Resort
Cave Divers
Ocean Wildlife in Hurghada
42 species recorded in Hurghada
Hurghada Daylight & Sunrise/Sunset
Sunrise and sunset times for Hurghada, calculated from coordinates
Today - Monday 24 August
Sunrise
05:21
Sunset
18:15
Daylight
12h 54m
Golden Hour
17:44
First light (dawn) at 04:57 · Last light (dusk) at 18:39
Monthly Averages
| Month | Sunrise | Sunset | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jan | 06:36 | 17:12 | 10h 36m |
| Feb | 06:22 | 17:37 | 11h 14m |
| Mar | 05:55 | 17:53 | 11h 58m |
| Apr | 05:21 | 18:09 | 12h 48m |
| May | 04:57 | 18:26 | 13h 29m |
| JunLongest | 04:50 | 18:41 | 13h 51m |
| Jul | 05:00 | 18:42 | 13h 42m |
| AugNow | 05:16 | 18:24 | 13h 7m |
| Sep | 05:31 | 17:51 | 12h 20m |
| Oct | 05:45 | 17:17 | 11h 33m |
| Nov | 06:05 | 16:54 | 10h 49m |
| DecShortest | 06:27 | 16:53 | 10h 26m |
Times are approximate local times based on longitude. Actual times may vary slightly depending on the exact timezone observed in Hurghada.
Where to Stay near Hurghada
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Marine Protected Areas near Hurghada
3 protected areas near Hurghada - please respect local regulations when diving
شعاب البحر الأحمر
محمية رأس محمد
محمية نبق
Getting to Hurghada
Hurghada
Sharm El Sheikh
Sharma
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