Under the surface, Hurghada is spectacular. The Red Sea has hundreds of species of coral and reef fish, clear water and pleasant temperatures most of the year — and you don’t need to be an experienced diver to enjoy it. With a mask and snorkel, a boat trip to the Giftun islands already feels like swimming in an aquarium. Here is where to go, how much it costs, and how to do it safely.
Snorkelling and diving trips in Hurghada
The best snorkelling spots
Giftun islands national park
Must-do
- Access: boat from Hurghada marina, 30–45 min
- Price: ≈ €25–45 with lunch
- Level: beginners to good swimmers
The two Giftun islands and their reefs are the heart of Hurghada snorkelling: coral gardens, parrotfish, clownfish, moray eels and sometimes turtles and rays. Boats typically stop at two or three sites. A national park fee is usually included — check before booking.
Orange Bay
Beach + snorkelling
- Access: boat, ≈ 45 min
- Price: ≈ €30–50
- Level: everyone
A white-sand beach on Giftun Kebir with very clear water, a snorkelling reef nearby and a beach club. The best choice for mixed groups where not everyone wants to snorkel.
Mahmya
Upmarket beach club
- Access: boat to Giftun Kebir
- Price: higher, specific ticket
- Level: everyone
An eco-designed beach club on Giftun with a limited number of daily visitors, sunbeds, a restaurant and calm water. More expensive, more relaxed.
Dolphin House (Shaab El Erg)
With luck: dolphins
- Access: boat, ≈ 1–1.5 h north
- Price: ≈ €35–55
- Level: confident swimmers
A horseshoe reef where spinner dolphins often rest. Sightings are frequent but not guaranteed, and responsible operators don’t chase them. Choose a tour with a limited group size.
House reefs of Makadi Bay & Sahl Hasheesh
Free, every day
- Access: from the hotel jetty
- Price: free for guests
- Level: depends on the current
Many hotels in Makadi Bay and Sahl Hasheesh have a jetty leading to a living reef: you can snorkel every day without a boat. A strong argument when choosing where to stay.
Diving in Hurghada
Hurghada is one of the world’s great diving hubs, with dozens of dive centres, from small local schools to big international chains. Options:
- Try-dive (introductory dive): no certificate needed, 20–40 minutes at a few metres with an instructor. About €45–70.
- Open Water course: 3–4 days to get your first certification, often cheaper than in Europe.
- Fun dives for certified divers: reefs such as Carless Reef, El Fanadir or Abu Ramada, and the El Mina wreck, a minesweeper sunk near the port.
- Thistlegorm: the most famous wreck in the Red Sea (WWII cargo ship), reachable on a very long day trip from Hurghada or, better, on a liveaboard.
See dive trips and try-dives →
Water temperature by month
| Month | Sea temperature | Wetsuit |
|---|---|---|
| January–March | 21–22 °C | 3–5 mm |
| April–May | 23–25 °C | 3 mm or shorty |
| June–September | 27–29 °C | lycra or shorty |
| October–November | 25–27 °C | shorty |
| December | 23 °C | 3 mm |
More details in our Hurghada weather guide.
Snorkelling tips
- Reef shoes to enter the water, and never stand on the coral.
- Reef-safe sunscreen and a lycra T-shirt: you burn quickly face down in the water.
- Life jacket or buoyancy vest for children and weak swimmers — any good boat has them.
- Don’t touch or feed anything: some fish (stonefish, lionfish) and corals sting.
- Check the wind forecast: on windy days, boat trips can be rough or cancelled.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best snorkelling in Hurghada?
Around the Giftun islands (by boat), at Orange Bay and Mahmya, and from hotel jetties in Makadi Bay and Sahl Hasheesh.
Can you snorkel from the beach in Hurghada?
Yes, from hotels that have a jetty over a living reef, especially in Makadi Bay and Sahl Hasheesh. In Hurghada town, reefs near the shore are less rich.
Is Hurghada good for beginner divers?
Excellent: calm, warm, clear water, many sheltered sites and lots of schools. A try-dive or an Open Water course is a classic of a Hurghada holiday.
Are there sharks in Hurghada?
Sharks live in the Red Sea but are rarely seen near Hurghada. Incidents are very rare; follow beach closures and the instructions of guides and lifeguards.
Affiliate disclosure: this guide contains affiliate links (GetYourGuide, hotel and flight comparison sites). If you book through them we may earn a small commission, at no extra cost to you. Prices are indicative and were checked at the time of writing — the live price on the booking page always prevails.