Shaab Samir - Hurghada
Shaab Samir might not have the big name appeal of some of Hurghada's other sites, but for those who slow down and look closely, it's a quiet charmer. We love it for its sense of calm, a nice change from the busier spots. It's a pretty gentle dive, perfect for just cruising along the reef slope, watching the light play on the coral heads. You'll find plenty of smaller, more camouflaged critters here. Keep an eye out for the Black Blenny, often tucked into tiny crevices, or the Smooth-fin Blenny popping its head out from the sand. We've spent ages just watching the Dusky Wrasse root around the rubble, or admiring the subtle patterns on the Polkadot Cod. The Variable Stromb snails are particularly striking against the sandy patches. It's not about huge pelagics here, it's about the little details: the flash of a Yellowstriped Cardinalfish disappearing into a coral, the almost iridescent scales of the Candelamoa Parrotfish. If you're into macro life, or just prefer a relaxed dive away from the crowds, Shaab Samir is a solid pick. Go early, before the day boats from Hurghada proper arrive, and you'll often have the place mostly to yourself.
- Location
- Hurghada, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 27.321339, 33.807743
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 10-25m
Marine Protected Area: شعاب البحر الأحمر
Best Time to Dive in Hurghada
The warmest water temperatures in Hurghada occur in August, averaging 28.9°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 22.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 23.1°C
- February: 22.3°C
- March: 22.0°C
- April: 22.8°C
- May: 24.9°C
- June: 26.2°C
- July: 27.5°C
- August: 28.9°C
- September: 28.1°C
- October: 27.3°C
- November: 26.6°C
- December: 24.8°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Hurghada
- Abu Hashish Drift - 15-30m (drift)
- Abu Hashish Lagoon - 5-15m (reef)
- Abu Nugar - 5-20m (reef)
- Abu Ramada Cave - 10-20m (cave)
- Abu Ramada - Ost - 10-25m (reef)
- Abu Ramada Plateau - 15-30m (reef)
- Abu Ramada South - 10-25m (reef)
- Abu Salama - 5-20m (reef)
- Aquarium - 8-20m (reef)
- Aquarius Diving Club - 5-15m (reef)
- Aquarius Diving Club - 5-15m (reef)
- Balena - 15-30m (wreck)
- Banana Reef (reef)
- Ben El Gebel - 10-25m (channel)
- Blue Water Dive Resort - 5-20m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Shaab Samir
Marine Life in Hurghada
Home to 47 recorded species including 33 reef fish, 7 whales & dolphins, 4 seagrass & algae, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea cucumbers, 1 hard corals.
Notable Species
- Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Indian Scad (Decapterus russelli) - Reef Fish
- Rock Cod (Epinephelus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) - Reef Fish
- False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) - Whales & Dolphins
- Tail-spot Squirrelfish (Sargocentron caudimaculatum) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Stethojulis interrupta) - Reef Fish
- Desjardin's Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer) - Reef Fish
- Dapple coris (Coris variegata) - Reef Fish
- Diagonal Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Crested Sabretooth Blenny (Petroscirtes mitratus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Trim Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Shaab Samir
Based on average water temperature of 25.4°C, currents 20 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 25°C water needs minimal exposure protection
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories