Diving in Hurghada

The best dive sites around Hurghada are the Giftun Islands, Abu Ramada, El Fanadir, Carless Reef and Shaab El Erg, all on a ring of reefs within about an hour of the marina. The boat picks the sites on the day depending on wind, current and your group's level.

Most day boats work a ring of reefs within about an hour of the marina. The sites chosen on the day depend on wind, current and the group's level.

• Giftun Islands – sheltered coral gardens on the inside and wall/drift dives on the outside. Small Giftun is a deep wall known for gorgonian fans, tuna and barracuda; it suits intermediate divers because of depth and current.
• Abu Ramada – terraced plateaus and coral towers; Gota Abu Ramada's plateau sits at about 12–14 m and works for all levels.
• El Fanadir – a long sloping wall north of town with a shallow lagoon; good for beginners, macro life and night dives.
• Carless Reef – two pinnacles on a coral plateau (12–17 m) famous for moray eels. Exposed and current-prone, so it is dived only in good weather by experienced divers.
• Shaab El Erg – a horseshoe reef between Hurghada and El Gouna; bottlenose dolphins use its channel, though sightings are never guaranteed.

The wrecks of Abu Nuhas are about 3–4 hours' sailing away, so they are usually a liveaboard or special-trip destination. Read our full guide to the best dive sites in Hurghada.

Hurghada's sea averages about 22 °C in February–March and about 29 °C in August, and stays above 26 °C from June to November. Most divers wear a 5 mm wetsuit from December to April and a thinner suit in the warmer months, plus a windproof layer for the boat ride back.

Hurghada's sea is coolest in February–March, when the average is around 22 °C, and warmest in August at around 29 °C. From June to November the average stays above 26 °C.

• December–April: roughly 22–25 °C. Most divers want a 5 mm wetsuit and a windproof layer for the boat ride back.
• May–June and November: roughly 25–27 °C. A 3–5 mm suit is comfortable.
• July–October: roughly 27–29 °C on average, sometimes warmer. A 3 mm suit or shorty is enough for most people.

Visibility is commonly reported at 20–40 m, often best in spring and autumn. There is no true off-season: boats go out all year, and the captain picks sheltered sites on windy days. Winter brings more wind, so a site on your wish list may be swapped for a calmer one.

Two practical tips: if you get cold easily, ask for a thicker suit or a hood from December to April, and bring a fleece or windbreaker for the deck. In summer, the risk is the opposite — drink plenty of water between dives and keep a hat on during the surface interval.

Certified divers, beginners and non-divers can all join a Hurghada dive day. Certified divers join guided dives matched to their training, beginners try an introductory dive without a licence (PADI minimum age 10, maximum depth 12 m), and non-divers are welcome on the full-day boat for the snorkel and island stops.

Certified divers bring their certification card (and logbook if you have one) and join guided dives at a level that matches their training. Deeper walls and current sites are planned for divers with the right experience.

Beginners can dive without a licence through an introductory program, subject to the dive center's requirements. Under PADI's Discover Scuba Diving standards, the minimum age is 10 and the open-water dive is limited to 12 m, with an instructor at your side. A short medical questionnaire is part of the paperwork.

Non-divers are welcome on the full-day boat: the snorkel stop and island stop are there for everyone.

To keep diving after your trip, the PADI Open Water course is the next step.

Kids: children who don't dive can join the boat as non-divers, subject to the operator's age and safety requirements. Under PADI standards, children from 10 can take part in an introductory dive or start a Junior Open Water course; tell us ages when you book so the team can confirm what's possible.

A typical day goes like this: hotel pickup, a short transfer to the marina, then a briefing on board while the boat heads out. The first dive is in the morning, followed by a surface interval with snorkeling. Lunch is served on board, then the second dive at a different site. On our full-day trip, the program can finish with a stop at Orange Bay or another island before the boat returns to the marina and you are driven back to your hotel.

Hurghada dive boats are proper day boats with shade, a saloon and deck space, so non-divers have somewhere to relax. Exact sites and timings change with the weather; safety calls are made by the captain and dive guide.

For certified divers this format means two dives at different sites, usually a deeper or more structured first dive and a shallower, relaxed second dive. Bring your certification card and, if you have one, your logbook. Want a quieter day or a set of sites chosen around your group? That's what the private diving trip is for.