Best dive sites in Egypt
Africa · Red Sea / North Africa · 7 dive sites reviewed · best Mar–Oct
Egypt's Red Sea coast is one of the world's most celebrated dive regions, offering steep coral walls, endless reefs, and abundant pelagic life. It is home to the legendary SS Thistlegorm wreck, the famous Dahab Blue Hole, and the protected Ras Mohammed park. The dive scene is huge and mature, with land-based operations in Hurghada, Marsa Alam, and Dahab plus a thriving liveaboard fleet.
Diving in Egypt: the essentials
We've ranked 7 dive sites in Egypt, averaging 4.2/5 across the set. Our top pick, Ras Mohammed National Park, scores 4.6/5 — Wall-and-reef diving with visibility up to 30 m, 4 standout species — a great fit for most divers..
Conditions are strongest in Mar–Oct.
A realistic travel budget in Egypt works out to about $38/day per person — see the cost breakdown below for the full picture.
Local food
Koshari, ful medames, grilled fish and molokhia, washed down with strong tea.
Local culture
Egypt is Muslim-majority and Friday tends to be quieter. Haggling is expected in souks, walking barefoot into mosques is not, and modest dress is appreciated away from the coast.
Typical travel cost
Average daily cost per person
A one-week trip costs about $265 per person, based on real traveler spending.
Source: BudgetYourTrip — real traveler expenses, not a fixed rate.
Ras Mohammed National Park
Wall-and-reef diving with visibility up to 30 m, 4 standout species — a great fit for most divers.
Dive sites in this country
7 ranked
Ras Mohammed National Park
Wall-and-reef diving with visibility up to 30 m, 4 standout species — a great fit for most divers.
Marsa Alam
Wall-and-reef diving with visibility up to 30 m, 4 standout species — a strong choice for experienced divers.
Elphinstone Reef
Wall-and-reef diving with visibility up to 30 m, 4 standout species, liveaboard access, challenging currents — a strong choice for experienced divers.
Sha'ab El Erg (Dolphin House)
Drift diving with visibility up to 25 m — a great fit for most divers.
Giftun Island
Drift diving with visibility up to 25 m — a great fit for most divers.
Dahab Blue Hole
Blue-hole diving with visibility up to 25 m — a strong choice for experienced divers.
SS Thistlegorm
Wreck diving with visibility up to 25 m, 4 standout species, liveaboard access — a strong choice for experienced divers.