Diving in Hurghada

Why the Red Sea Is a Diver's Paradise

The Red Sea off Hurghada ranks among the world's best diving destinations and attracts divers from around the globe with its extraordinary underwater world. Crystal clear water with visibility up to 30 meters, year-round warm water temperatures between 22 and 28 degrees, over 1,000 different fish species, and more than 200 coral species make Hurghada a dream destination for divers of all experience levels. The coral reefs of the Red Sea are among the best preserved and most biodiverse in the world, offering a brilliance of color and variety that is truly unmatched.

What makes Hurghada particularly special as a diving destination is the immediate proximity of outstanding dive sites to the coast. Many of the best spots are reachable in less than one hour by boat. From colorful coral gardens in shallow water to steep walls and spectacular underwater pinnacles to fascinating wreck dives, the region offers an astonishingly diverse diving experience. Whether you are entering the underwater world for the first time or seeking new challenges as an experienced diver, you will find the perfect dive in Hurghada.

The Best Dive Sites Around Hurghada

Abu Ramada – The Aquarium

Abu Ramada, affectionately called the Aquarium, is one of the most popular dive sites for beginners and discovery divers. The reef lies in sheltered waters with minimal current and offers an impressive variety of marine life in relatively shallow water. Large schools of anthias, curious clownfish in their anemones, elegant butterflyfish, and colorful parrotfish make every dive an unforgettable experience. The maximum depth here is approximately 15 meters, ideal for beginners.

Giftun Islands – Biodiverse Coral Gardens

The reefs around the Giftun Islands are part of the national park and rank among the most colorful dive sites in the region. Here you find extensive coral gardens with an impressive diversity of hard and soft corals. Large table corals, branching staghorn corals, and vibrant fan corals create a living underwater paradise. Residents include Napoleon wrasse, triggerfish, moray eels, blue-spotted stingrays, and a multitude of tropical fish. Diving depth varies between 5 and 25 meters, offering suitable areas for both beginners and advanced divers.

Abu Nuhas – The Red Sea's Wreck Museum

For wreck divers, Abu Nuhas is a must. This reef north of Hurghada has claimed several ships over the centuries and now houses some of the most famous wrecks in the Red Sea. The Carnatic wreck from 1869, the Giannis D wreck, and the Chrisoula K are in excellent condition and encrusted with colorful corals and sponges. Diving at Abu Nuhas is suitable for certified divers with deep diving experience, as the wrecks lie at depths between 15 and 27 meters.

Erg Sabaya – Underwater Pinnacles and Big Fish

Erg Sabaya consists of a series of underwater pinnacles, known as ergs, that rise from the sandy seabed and are covered in colorful corals. This dive site is particularly known for big fish encounters: barracudas, tuna, and with some luck eagle rays and whitetip reef sharks patrol between the ergs. Depths range from 12 to 30 meters, and a moderate current brings nutrient-rich water and therefore abundant marine life. Erg Sabaya is ideal for divers with some experience.

Shaab El Erg – The Dolphin Reef

Shaab El Erg, also known as Dolphin House, is a reef where spinner dolphins are regularly encountered. The dolphins use the lagoon inside the reef as a resting and playing area. As a diver, you have the unique chance to observe dolphins underwater in their natural environment. Beyond the dolphins, the reef also features excellent coral growth and rich marine life.

Diving Options for Beginners

Discover Scuba Diving

The Discover Scuba Diving program is the perfect introduction to the underwater world for anyone who has never dived before. The program begins with a theoretical introduction to the basics of diving, followed by practical exercises in shallow water where you learn to breathe underwater, equalize pressure, and master the most important hand signals. You then undertake your first real dive in the open sea under the personal supervision of a certified PADI instructor. You dive to a maximum depth of 12 meters and experience the fascinating underwater world of Hurghada up close. The minimum age is 10 years and no previous knowledge is required.

PADI Open Water Diver Course

The PADI Open Water Diver course is the world's most widely recognized entry-level dive course and takes three to four days. You learn all the theoretical fundamentals of diving, complete practice dives in a pool or shallow water, and undertake four open water dives at various dive sites around Hurghada. Upon successful completion, you receive the internationally recognized PADI Open Water Diver certification, which qualifies you to dive anywhere in the world to a depth of 18 meters. The course can be completed in English or German.

Options for Certified Divers

Day Dive Trips

For certified divers, we offer daily boat trips to the best dive sites around Hurghada. Each day you complete two dives at different reefs. The dive boat is comfortably equipped with a changing area, freshwater shower, sun deck, and catering. Complete diving equipment including wetsuit is provided, though you are welcome to bring your own gear. An experienced dive guide accompanies every dive and shows you the highlights of each site.

Multi-Day Dive Packages

For divers who want to dive on consecutive days, we offer attractive multi-day packages. Packages of three, five, or seven dive days each include two dives per day at changing dive sites, allowing you to explore the full diversity of dive spots around Hurghada. Multi-day packages offer significant price advantages compared to individually booked day trips.

Marine Life of the Red Sea

The biodiversity of the Red Sea is breathtaking. Among the most common reef inhabitants are clownfish, parrotfish, surgeonfish, butterflyfish, angelfish, moray eels, lionfish, and stonefish. In the coral gardens you find starfish, sea urchins, nudibranchs, and a variety of shrimp and crabs. At the outer reefs, barracudas, mackerel, and tuna patrol. With some luck you may encounter sea turtles gliding leisurely through the water or experience a meeting with a pod of spinner dolphins.

During the winter months from November to February, there is a rare chance to spot mantas and even whale sharks that visit the nutrient-rich waters in search of food. The coral reefs themselves are living organisms of fascinating beauty: luminous red soft corals, massive brain corals, branching staghorn corals, and imposing fan corals create an underwater landscape of incredible color intensity.

Prices and Booking

Discover Scuba Diving costs from 40 euros per person and includes the theoretical briefing, pool exercises, one dive in the sea, and complete equipment. Day dive trips for certified divers with two dives cost from 50 euros per person including equipment, boat, guide, lunch, and drinks. Multi-day packages offer significant savings: three days from 130 euros, five days from 200 euros, and seven days from 270 euros.

The PADI Open Water Diver course costs from 280 euros for the complete three to four-day course including all materials, equipment, examination, and international certification. For divers looking to expand their skills, we also offer the PADI Advanced Open Water course from 220 euros and specialty courses such as night diving, wreck diving, or underwater photography.

Equipment and Health Requirements

Complete diving equipment including regulator, BCD, dive computer, wetsuit, mask, fins, and weights is provided with all our offerings. Equipment is regularly maintained and meets current safety standards. If you wish to bring your own equipment, you are of course welcome to do so.

A health questionnaire is completed before diving. Individuals with cardiovascular conditions, asthma, epilepsy, or certain other pre-existing conditions require a medical certificate of dive fitness. This can also be obtained on-site from a dive physician. Important: do not dive within 24 hours before a flight. Sufficient time must be planned between the last dive and the return flight.

Best Season for Diving in Hurghada

Hurghada offers year-round diving, and each season has its own appeal. In summer from June to September, water temperatures are warmest at 26 to 28 degrees, and a thin wetsuit or shorty is sufficient. Underwater visibility during the summer months is often excellent. In winter from December to February, water temperatures drop to around 22 degrees, requiring a thicker wetsuit, but the chance of encounters with large marine animals such as mantas and whale sharks increases. Spring and autumn offer the best compromise of pleasant temperatures and good visibility.

Why Choose Ra Reisen?

Ra Reisen partners with professional, PADI-certified dive centers in Hurghada that meet the highest safety standards. Our dive instructors speak English and German and have years of experience in the Red Sea. The safety of our guests is our top priority. Equipment is checked daily, boats are equipped with first aid equipment and emergency oxygen systems, and group sizes are deliberately kept small.

What sets us apart from other operators: Ra Reisen places special emphasis on sustainable diving and coral reef protection. We exclusively use reef-friendly practices, conduct environmentally conscious dives, and raise awareness among our guests about protecting the fragile marine environment. Flexible booking conditions, German and English-speaking customer service, and personal care make Ra Reisen your ideal partner for unforgettable diving experiences in the Red Sea.