The Red Sea is a diver’s paradise, renowned for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and diverse marine life, and there is more to it than diving in Egypt. Stretching from the Sinai Peninsula in the north to the Bab el Mandeb strait in the south, the Red Sea offers a variety of dive destinations that cater to all levels of experience. Whether you’re seeking bustling resort towns, quiet off-the-beaten-path locations, or remote dive spots, the Red Sea has something for you. This article explores the top dive destinations in the Red Sea to help you choose the perfect location for your next adventure.
1. Egypt.
Egypt is the most popular place to go diving in the Red Sea, offering a range of dive destinations from bustling resort towns to quieter, more remote locations. Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada are lively with a wide array of resorts, restaurants, and nightlife, ideal for families and couples. Marsa Alam and Safaga offer a more relaxed atmosphere with fewer crowds, perfect for those seeking tranquility. Dahab provides a laid-back, bohemian vibe popular with backpackers, freedivers, and solo travelers.
Where to Dive:
- Sharm el Sheikh: The Ras Mohammed National Park, SS Thistlegorm wreck, and the Straits of Tiran offer a fantastic taste of Egypt’s classic ‘reef and wreck’ diving style.
- Hurghada: The Giftun Islands and Abu Nuhas are a must. Abu Nuhas, Egypt’s ‘ships graveyard’ features some impressive wrecks including the oldest diveable wreck in the Red Sea, the 1869 SS Carnatic.
- Marsa Alam: As well as the spectacular Elphinstone Reef and Daedalus Reef, Marsa Alam boasts dugongs, dolphins, and access to the remote Fury Shoals.
- Dahab: This famous freediving destination is known for the vast Blue Hole, the Canyon, Lighthouse Reef, and its excellent shore diving.
- Safaga: This quieter destination is known for the Panorama Reef, Abu Kefan, and the 100-meter-long Salem Express wreck.
Marine Life Highlights: Egypt’s Red Sea waters are teeming with marine life, including colorful coral reefs, schools of fish, reef sharks, manta rays, and the occasional hammerhead shark. The wrecks in Egypt are particularly impressive and host an array of marine life.
Best Time to Go: You can go diving in Egypt all year, though March to May and October to November offer warm waters, comfortable air temperatures, and excellent dive conditions.
Average Water Temperature: 21°C to 27°C (70°F to 80°F).
Dive Experience Level: Beginner to technical, depending on the dive site.
2. Sudan.
Sudan offers a more remote and less crowded diving experience compared to Egypt. It is ideal for adventurous divers seeking pristine and untouched dive sites. Accommodations are typically more basic, with fewer large resorts and more local guesthouses and liveaboards. Sudanese diving is usually done via liveaboards that combine diving in Egypt and Sudan.
Where to Dive:
- Sha’ab Rumi Reef: Famous for Jacques Cousteau’s Conshelf II experiment in 1963, this dive site features pretty coral gardens and plenty of sharks, including hammerheads.
- Sanganeb Atoll: Discover spectacular coral formations and rich marine life at this isolated coral atoll.
- Umbria Wreck: This is one of the best-preserved wrecks in the Red Sea and hosts abundant marine life.
Marine Life Highlights: Sudan’s waters are home to large pelagics, including hammerhead sharks, manta rays, dolphins, whales, and schools of barracuda. The coral reefs are vibrant and teeming with life, offering a more untouched underwater experience.
Best Time to Go: November to June for the best visibility, January to April for hammerheads, or August to October for manta rays.
Average Water Temperature: 26°C to 30°C (79°F to 86°F).
Dive Experience Level: Advanced to experienced due to strong currents and remote locations.
3. Jordan.
Jordan’s coastline along the Red Sea is small but stunning, centered around the city of Aqaba. Aqaba offers a mix of luxury resorts, budget hotels, and guesthouses, making it suitable for families, couples, and solo travelers. The city is lively but less crowded compared to Egyptian destinations and is a friendly and safe destination.
Where to Dive:
- Cedar Pride Wreck: This famous shipwreck is easily accessible from shore and hosts a variety of marine life. She is an impressive site, lying intact on her port side and surrounded by thriving coral reefs.
- Japanese Gardens: These coral gardens have beautiful coral formations and diverse fish species.
- Aqaba Marine Park: Healthy reefs and abundant marine life abound at this marine park, which contains most of Jordan’s dive sites.
Marine Life Highlights: Jordan’s dive sites are known for their rich coral gardens, colorful reef fish, and occasional sightings of larger species like sea turtles and rays.
Best Time to Go: Go diving in Jordan from September to October for the best diving conditions and abundant fish life.
Average Water Temperature: 21°C to 27°C (70°F to 80°F).
Dive Experience Level: Beginner to technical.
4. Saudi Arabia
Saudi Arabia’s Red Sea coast is relatively unexplored but offers incredible diving opportunities with pristine reefs and diverse marine ecosystems. Accommodations range from luxurious resorts in Jeddah to more remote and basic lodgings near dive sites.
Where to Dive:
- Farasan Islands: These coral islands are rich in marine biodiversity and have beautiful coral reefs.
- Yanbu: This is one of the liveaboard departure points and the nearby dive spots boast untouched coral reefs with exciting drop-offs and abundant marine life, including hammerhead sharks.
- Jeddah: Discover diverse reefs and shipwrecks in this popular diving area.
Marine Life Highlights: Saudi Arabia’s dive sites are known for their untouched reefs, large schools of fish, and healthy coral ecosystems. Divers may also encounter sharks, rays, and dolphins.
Best Time to Go: You can go diving in Saudi Arabia all year but December to May are the best months for pelagic sightings.
Average Water Temperature: 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F).
Dive Experience Level: Beginner to experienced.
5. Djibouti.
Djibouti is an emerging diving destination, offering unique underwater experiences in a relatively untouched environment. Accommodations are generally basic, with a few resorts and guesthouses catering to divers. Most diving in Djibouti is done via liveaboard and most people go visit for whale shark encounters.
Where to Dive:
- Goubet Al Kharab (Devil’s Throat): This bay has shallow reefs teeming with life plus dramatic landscapes and deep waters that host large pelagics and sharks. You can even dive between two tectonic plates at ‘The Crack’.
- Seven Brothers Islands: These untouched volcanic islands have rainbow-hued soft coral landscapes and a diverse mixture of Red Sea and Indian Ocean fish life.
- Tadjoura: The Gulf of Tadjoura sits at the entrance to the Red Sea and offers some of Djibouti’s best diving, with an incredible array of marine life and thriving coral reefs. Whale sharks are the main attraction here.
Marine Life Highlights: Djibouti is famous for its whale shark encounters, especially from November to February. The reefs are healthy, with vibrant coral and a variety of marine species.
Best Time to Go: November to February for whale sharks and mantas.
Average Water Temperature: 26°C to 30°C (79°F to 86°F).
Dive Experience Level: Beginner to experienced.
6. Eritrea.
Eritrea’s Red Sea coast is one of the least explored diving destinations, offering pristine reefs and abundant marine life. Accommodations are limited, with a focus on local guesthouses and liveaboards.
Where to Dive:
- Dahlak Archipelago: Discover over 200 islands with untouched reefs and rich marine ecosystems far from any diving crowds.
- Massawa: Clear waters and diverse underwater life.
Marine Life Highlights: Eritrea’s dive sites are home to large pelagics, vibrant coral reefs, and diverse marine life, offering an untouched and secluded place to go diving.
Best Time to Go: March to June for manta ray season and comfortable temperatures.
Average Water Temperature: 25°C to 30°C (77°F to 86°F).
Dive Experience Level: Advanced to experienced given the drop-offs and challenging currents, though there are some shallow reefs suitable for beginners.
Kathryn Curzon, a shark conservationist, and dive travel writer for Scuba Schools International (SSI), wrote this article.
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