Best Dive Sites in Egypt: A Complete Guide to Red Sea Diving
Discover the top dive sites in Egypt's Red Sea — from the legendary SS Thistlegorm wreck to Elphinstone Reef's hammerhead sharks. Detailed guide with depths, conditions, and nearby dive centers.
Egypt's Red Sea is one of the world's premier diving destinations, offering warm water year-round, exceptional visibility, and an extraordinary range of dive sites from pristine coral reefs to legendary WWII wrecks.
The Legendary Wrecks
SS Thistlegorm
The SS Thistlegorm is widely regarded as the world's finest wreck dive. This 128-meter British cargo ship was sunk by German bombers in 1941, and her holds still contain motorcycles, trucks, and military supplies frozen in time. Located in the Strait of Gubal, the wreck sits at 30 meters and is typically visited on liveaboard itineraries from Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada.
Abu Nuhas Wrecks
Sha'ab Abu Nuhas reef has claimed four major vessels, each offering a distinct diving experience. The Giannis D is the most photographed, with her stern tilted at a dramatic 45-degree angle. The Carnatic, sunk in 1869, is one of the oldest diveable wrecks in the Red Sea.
World-Class Reef Diving
Elphinstone Reef
Elphinstone Reef is a narrow offshore pinnacle famous for encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks and scalloped hammerhead schools. The north plateau at 20 meters is the best spot for hammerheads during morning dives from June through November.
Ras Mohammed National Park
The southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula hosts some of the Red Sea's most celebrated reefs. Shark and Yolanda Reef consistently ranks among the world's top five reef dives, with an extraordinary concentration of fish at the confluence of the Gulf of Aqaba and Gulf of Suez.
The Famous Blue Hole
Dahab's Blue Hole is a near-perfect circular sinkhole dropping to over 100 meters. While the deep sections are reserved for technical divers, the reef wall around the rim offers spectacular recreational diving with pristine coral and incredible visibility.
Best Time to Dive Egypt
The Red Sea is diveable year-round with water temperatures ranging from 22°C in winter to 29°C in summer. Peak seasons are March-May and September-November for calm seas and best visibility. Hammerhead and oceanic whitetip encounters peak from June through November.
Find a Dive Center in Egypt
Browse 176+ dive centers in Egypt on DivePlanner Pro — from Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada to Dahab and Marsa Alam. Many offer PADI and SSI courses in multiple languages.
Explore all dive sites in Egypt on DivePlanner Pro.
Ready to try DivePlanner Pro?
Start your free 14-day trial. No credit card required.