Sharm El Sheikh is great for snorkeling (and diving). The reef drops off steeply close to the shore, so the water is deep and usually very clear – and many hotels have a jetty that takes you straight out to the reef edge. The corals are not always as intact as further south in the Red Sea, but they are colourful, and there are enough fish to keep you busy for hours.
Here is my guide to the best snorkeling in Sharm – from the shore and on day trips.
Snorkeling from the shore
Naama Bay in the centre of Sharm is lively, sandy and shallow – fine for a first try, but not the best reef. The good snorkeling is along the coast, where most hotels have direct access to the reef. A few of the best:
Ras Nasrani and Ras Ghamila
North of the centre, near the airport. A sandy lagoon close to shore, then a drop-off with bigger fish – and in the right season even a manta ray. The drop-off is for confident snorkelers: the water is deep and the current can be strong.
Ras Um Sid
By the lighthouse in the southern part of Sharm. A steep wall and a dense coral garden with lots of fish. The current brings food to the reef, which is why there is so much life here – but it also means you should stay close to the reef and turn back in good time.
Temple and Ras Katy
In Faraana Bay. Temple is a group of coral pinnacles that reach almost to the surface, surrounded by clouds of sea goldies. Ras Katy is shallow and calm, and suits all levels.
Many hotels in Sharm only have access to the exposed outer reef. That is beautiful, but you miss the sheltered bays with sand and seagrass, where you find other species. I always recommend visiting different habitats – it is the best way to see as many different fish as possible.
Day trips by boat
Ras Mohammed National Park
At the southern tip of Sinai, where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba. Ras Mohammed has some of the best-preserved reefs in the northern Red Sea, with steep walls, big schools of fish and clear blue water. If you only do one boat trip from Sharm, make it this one.
The reefs in the Strait of Tiran
Four reefs – Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon – lie in the strait between Sinai and Tiran Island. Deep water on all sides gives great visibility and big fish, but also strong currents. Gordon Reef has a shallow plateau that is the best spot for snorkelers. Go with a crew that knows the currents, and stay close to the group.
Nabq Bay
North of Sharm, and often overlooked. Here you find grey mangrove trees – a nursery for juvenile fish, and a place for birds you will not see out on the reef.
What fish will you see in Sharm?
Along the walls you meet sea goldies, butterflyfish, groupers and – with luck – a Napoleon wrasse. Out in the blue, look for jacks, and sometimes a turtle or an eagle ray gliding past.
I have written about 10 of the fish you are most likely to see in Sharm. If you want to know the rest, my fish guide shows the 115 fish you are most likely to meet in the Egyptian Red Sea – sorted by where you see them. Or start with the free checklist.
Best time to snorkel in Sharm
The water is always nice. It ranges from around 22–23°C in January–February to around 27–28°C in July–August. In winter a wetsuit is a good idea – the wind can make it feel colder than it is. Read more about weather, wind and waves in Sharm.
A few tips before you go
- Respect the current. Snorkel against it first, so it carries you back – and ask the hotel or dive centre where it runs.
- Use the jetty or the marked entry points. Never walk across the reef flat.
- Do not touch or feed the fish. Here is how to snorkel safely and responsibly on the reef.
- Still choosing where to go? Read my comparison of Sharm, Hurghada and Marsa Alam.
Happy snorkeling!
