The Red Sea is championed around the world for its spectacular scuba diving potential. As Sharm El-Sheikh is one of the most popular resort destinations in the region, the infrastructure here is top-notch. Jaz Hotel Group at Sharm El-Sheikh are ready to get you the certification, equipment and transport you need to see some of the most awe-inspiring coral reefs in the world.
Ras Mohammed National Park hosts a few of the most popular dive sites. Reef walls here plunge to an astonishing 800 metres below sea level. They’re covered in vibrant coral gardens and host diverse communities of marine life. Hammerhead nesting sites, dolphin sanctuaries and exotic eel gardens are all found in the area.
Scuba diving at Sharm El-Sheikh is possible from Ras Mohammed (at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula) all the way to the Straits of Tiran in the Gulf of Aqaba. The following are a few of the top diving sites separated according to skill level:
Beginner Dives
Temple
Located at the centre of Ras Om El Seid bay, this reef features an enormous coral column that stretches from the seafloor. There’s also a 15-metre wall with interesting crevasses to explore, and a vast collection of pinnacles that sometimes hide octopuses.
Ras Katy
This shallow dive offers plenty to see, which is why it is so popular with beginning divers and even snorkelers. This is a good site to visit at night, when you may see lionfish and free-swimming moray eels.
White Knights
The reef wall at this site drops around 13 metres to a sandy bottom, which is why it rates so well with divers who are still perfecting the technical skills. At the centre of the area is a trough with swim-through features located at a depth of 10 metres and further out at 35 metres. Triggerfish and groupers are abundant, and then occasional manta ray glides in search of plankton. To the north is a densely populated eel garden.
Intermediate Dives
Jack Fish Alley
Usually executed as a drift dive, Jack Fish Alley is easily identified by the prominent white patch on the cliff face. At a depth of five metres, divers will encounter a series of caves that are teeming with glassfish. These are particularly photogenic, so bring a waterproof camera with you if you have one. ‘Jack Fish Alley’ itself is actually a coral garden and sandy gulley to the south, which hosts stingrays and white tip sharks.
Gordon Reef
In 1981, the Lovilla ran aground here in the Straits of Tiran and sank into Gordon Reef. This dive site lends itself well to drift dives and mooring dives. It begins at a sandy plateau and then continues to a drop-off at around 20 metres’ depth. A kaleidoscope of reef fish live here, darting amongst beautiful, pastel gorgonians. If you descend further down the drop-off, you may spot hammerheads and eagle rays.
Dunraven
This site is named for the British steamer, which sank to its final resting place in Ras Mohammed National Park. It now lies in two separate sections, both of which are at least partially penetrable. The ship’s brass propeller was dislodged and lies to the north of the two sections. Lionfish, flathead scorpionfish and napoleon fish are all commonly sighted in and around the wreck. Portions of it are overgrown with brain coral.
Ras Za’atar
Also located in Ras Mohammed National Park, this site lie to the south of Marsa Bareika. It’s a south-to-north drift dive that follows the reef. It doesn’t take long to come upon a fantastic table coral that is home to napoleon wrasse, glassfish and sea turtles. Divers often share this site with resident dolphins.
Experienced Dives
Shark and Yolanda
Another site within Ras Mohammed National Park, Shark and Yolanda are regularly singled out on international top-ten lists. Conditions here are absolutely spectacular, with two pillars joining a vertical wall before plunging deep into the abyss. It’s a rewarding, but highly technical dive. Currents can be strong and unpredictable.
The best place to begin this dive is at Shark Reef, where you’ll see silky sharks, snappers and barracudas fighting the strong currents just off the wall. Set your sights for the deep blue, and you’re likely to see tuna, bluefish and even hammerheads in the distance.
Before you reach Yolanda (which is a shipwreck), there’s a plateau with coral outcrops and small pinnacles, home to a few variety of fish. The wreck is scattered across a portion of the reef with its contents scattered across the floor.
Jackson Reef
This nesting ground for hammerhead sharks is located in the Straits of Tiran. It’s the northernmost reef in the straits, and this is about as far out as charter boats can take divers in a daylong outing. The wall diving is superb around the perimeter of the reef, and you’ll see plenty of banner fish, masked puffers and triggerfish. At the northern end is the wreck of the Lara. Turtles, sharks and a variety of other big fish are often seen here, and the variety of corals and sponges is first rate.
SS Thistlegorm
This wreck went down in 1941 in the Straits of Gubal, and it remains the single-biggest dive attraction in all of the Red Sea. In fact, this dive site generates more tourism income for Egypt than the Pyramids.
Technically speaking, this site is classified as a war grave, which means that diving here is illegal. However, that hasn’t deterred thousands of divers from visiting each year. When the ship sank, it was loaded with motorcycles, rifles, radio equipment, jeeps and bren-gun carriers. Wreck enthusiasts love the site for the wealth of vintage paraphernalia found here on the sea floor. However, this site is also teeming with fish including snapper, giant tuna and barracuda.