The Red Sea reefs of Egypt: Cousteau’s underwater world

Few seas have inspired as many divers as the Red Sea. Its reefs start right off the beach, the water is clear and warm, and in the 1950s Jacques Cousteau explored and filmed here, helping to introduce the world to life beneath the waves. In 1955 his team located the SS Thistlegorm, a British cargo ship sunk in 1941, now one of the most famous wreck dives in the world.

Why it’s special

The Red Sea is a long, narrow sea with very little rainfall or river run-off, so its water is exceptionally clear. More than 1,000 species of fish live here, and a remarkable number are found nowhere else. Its northern corals have also attracted scientific attention, because they have historically coped with higher temperatures than many reefs elsewhere. Even so, parts of the Red Sea bleached during the global heatwave of 2023–25, a reminder that no reef is entirely safe.

Ras Mohammed, at the southern tip of Sinai, became Egypt’s first national park in 1983. Its walls, such as Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, drop into deep blue water and are visited by huge schools of fish in summer.

What you’ll see

• Ras Mohammed National Park: vertical walls, schooling barracuda and snappers, and turtles.
• The SS Thistlegorm: a wartime wreck still loaded with lorries, motorbikes and rifles.
• The Brothers and Elphinstone: offshore reefs where oceanic whitetip and hammerhead sharks appear in season.
• Abu Dabbab, Marsa Alam: a bay known for turtles and occasional dugongs.
• House reefs: many Red Sea hotels have excellent snorkelling straight from the beach.

When to go

You can dive all year. Water temperatures range from about 21°C in February to 28°C in August. Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable, with warm water and less extreme air temperatures.

How to get there

Direct flights from Europe serve Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Marsa Alam, and day boats leave from all three. Liveaboards visit the offshore reefs and wrecks. Check your government’s travel advice before you go, especially for Sinai.

Snorkelling or diving?

The Red Sea is one of the best places in the world to learn to dive, with calm, warm, clear water and reefs right off the beach. Snorkellers can see a huge amount from hotel jetties and day boats; the Giftun Islands off Hurghada and the bays around Sharm el-Sheikh are popular choices. Experienced divers head for the walls of Ras Mohammed, the Thistlegorm and other wrecks in the Strait of Gubal, and the offshore marine parks of the Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone, where currents and sharks make for advanced diving.

Know before you go

• Visas: many nationalities can get a visa on arrival or an e-visa; Sinai-only permits are available for Sharm el-Sheikh.
• Water temperature: 21–28°C, so a 5 mm wetsuit is wise in winter.
• Wind: afternoons can be windy, so morning dives and snorkels are often calmer.
• Marine park fees: charged for Ras Mohammed and the offshore parks, usually through your operator.
• Safety: follow current travel advice, and choose operators with good safety records.

Protecting the reef

The Red Sea’s most popular sites are crowded. Choose operators that use moorings rather than anchors, keep your fins off the coral when entering from the beach, and use reef-safe sunscreen.

Book a trip

Compare snorkel trips, dive days and tours for this area on our partner GetYourGuide, with reviews from other travellers and free cancellation on many trips. For the full list, see the world’s top 20 coral reefs, or read about coral bleaching and the future of reefs.

Questions people ask

Where is the best snorkelling in Egypt’s Red Sea?

Ras Mohammed, the reefs off Sharm el-Sheikh, the Giftun Islands off Hurghada and Abu Dabbab near Marsa Alam are all excellent.

Did Jacques Cousteau discover the Thistlegorm?

His team located the wreck in 1955, and it was rediscovered by recreational divers in the early 1990s.

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