Scuba Diving in Egypt: Experience an Epic Diving Adventure

When you think of Egypt, things that usually come to mind are the ancient pyramids, pharaohs, mummies, and endless deserts. But beyond these lies a hidden world of breathtaking beauty: Egypt’s underwater realm, a big contrast to the dry landscape above. It is noted for vibrant coral reefs and fascinating marine creatures including various fish species, graceful turtles, and incredible pelagic life. With calm and clear waters, Egypt offers ideal conditions for new and advanced divers who want to explore this amazing underwater world. Visibility is generally excellent but it can sometimes be affected by weather conditions or plankton blooms.

Explore the captivating world beneath the waves by Joining Egypt excursions. Here’s what you can expect:

A Kaleidoscope World Teeming with Marine Life

Vibrant Coral Reefs and Colorful Reef Fish

Egypt is home to more than 200 different coral species, 80% are declared as Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) to safeguard marine resources, especially coral reefs. The sunlight easily penetrates the Red Sea’s clear waters, contributing to the bright and intense colors of the coral reefs of various sizes and shapes. Some reefs can stretch many kilometers but there are also small coral pinnacles. When diving along Egypt’s Red Sea Coast, you can observe soft corals (sea fans) and hard corals (brain corals). You can come across a kaleidoscope of colorful fish species, including butterflyfish, clownfish, parrotfish, angelfish, and more.

Pelagic Life

The Egyptian Red Sea is home to pelagic creatures including different species of sharks. Whitetip reef sharks (slender, flat bodies with white tips on their dorsal and upper caudal fins), grey reef sharks (with grey dorsal fins), oceanic whitetips (stocky bodies and short snouts, with white tips on their first dorsal, pectoral, and caudal fins), and scalloped hammerheads can be spotted in these waters. You can also come across occasional whale sharks, known as the gentle giants of the sea. Other possible sightings are Manta rays, eagle rays, and even dolphins. 

Scalloped hammerheads are often spotted at Elphinstone and Daedalus reefs. Sightings of schools of scalloped hammerheads during the summer months have been reported further south in St John’s National Park. 

Sea Turtles

Green turtles and hawksbill turtles can be spotted at the Egyptian Red Sea where they nest and feed on seagrass on the coast. There are also rare sightings of the leatherback turtle and the olive-ridley turtle. 

The International Union for Nature Conservation has listed the green and loggerhead turtles as endangered, the leatherback and hawksbill turtles as critically endangered, and the olive-ridley as vulnerable. 

To protect sea turtles, a Code of Conduct for snorkelers and divers has been established. If you come across a turtle while snorkeling or scuba diving, you should:

• Never touch or feed a turtle.
• Maintain a distance of 2-3 meters and keep a slow pace.
• Do not swim directly above a turtle to avoid being an obstruction when the creature wants to go to the surface and breathe.
• Only approach the turtle slowly from behind or from one side, swimming parallel to the creature.
• Do not chase the turtle if it is moving away.

Endemic Species

The Red Sea Anemonefish, Egyptian Butterflyfish, Red Sea soapfish, and the Red Sea anthias are just a few fish species that are endemic to the Red Sea.

Other Marine Life

You could also encounter moray eels, nudibranchs, octopuses, and a variety of invertebrates.

Interesting Dive Sites

Want to experience amazing diving trips in Egypt​? Here are some of the recommended dive sites worth visiting. 

• Marsa Alam – This dive site is noted for its pristine reefs and possible sightings of crocodilefish, pipefish, manatees (also called dugongs), sea turtles, and even common dolphins.
• Hurghada – This resort town is a favorite destination of wreck enthusiasts who come to the site to explore shipwrecks like the Thistlegorm and Giannis D. Marine life sightings include sea turtles, reef fish, barracuda, tuna, mackerel, and sharks.
• Elphinstone Reef – It is ranked among the top ten dive sites around the world.  Oceanic whitetips, hammerheads, and other pelagics regularly visit Elphinstone.  White Tip Reef, Grey Reef, and Silver Tip can also be spotted in the area. Other fascinating marine life that grace Elphinstone Reef are eagle rays, mobular rays, and Manta rays. Get the chance to witness them gliding effortlessly through the water.
• Ras Mohammed National Park – Known as Egypt’s first national park, Ras Mohammed National Park is one of the global top 10 sites recognized for their successful management of marine ecosystems. There are frequent sightings of green turtles and hawksbill turtles in the area. Its biologically diverse coral reefs and strong currents attract diverse species of fish. Dive locations in this area include Eel Garden, Anemone City, Shark Reef, and Yolanda Reef. 

Conclusion

Egypt offers a captivating scuba diving experience featuring the world-renowned reefs of the Red Sea, teeming with vibrant coral and diverse marine life. Explore the unparalleled underwater beauty of Egypt’s famous dive sites such as Marsa Alam, Hurghada, Elphinstone Reef, and Ras Mohammed National Park. Scuba diving trips in Egypt are an opportunity to create memories that will last a lifetime.