Scuba diving in Hurghada: your first dive
From €35 per person, transfer included
Hurghada is one of the big diving centres of the Red Sea, with dozens of sites around the Giftun islands and the northern reefs. Beginners can try scuba diving without any qualification: with Hurghada Habibi, it's two dives, first between 3 and 6 m, then between 6 and 9 m, from €35 per person, lunch on board included.
The try-dive: how it works
A day on a boat with two dives, an instructor next to you the whole time: a briefing on board, kit, a first dive between 3 and 6 m, then after lunch a second one between 6 and 9 m, once you feel at ease.
- Hotel pick-up, then out by boat.
- Briefing: hand signals, breathing, equalising.
- Kit on, first dive, 3 to 6 m.
- Lunch and drinks on board.
- Second dive, 6 to 9 m.
- Back to your hotel.
The first minute underwater surprises everyone: you hear your own breathing, you feel heavy, then weightless. The instructor stays beside you from start to finish, and you set the pace. Plenty of first dives start with "I'm going straight back up" and end with "can we go again tomorrow?".
Dive sites around Hurghada
Try-dives use sheltered, shallow reefs picked for calm water, while certified divers head further out: the Giftun reefs, Shaab El Erg to the north, walls and wrecks around the region.
Shaab El Erg is also the dolphins' reef, which says a lot about the life you meet there. Certified? Put your level and number of dives in your message and we'll tell you what's on for your dates. And on the try-dive reefs, between 3 and 9 m, you're already swimming among corals and shoals of damselfish, just like in the photo.
Who can do a try-dive?
Anyone in good health, no qualification needed; you fill in a medical questionnaire before diving, and the minimum age is set by the dive team, which we confirm on WhatsApp for your group.
Got a cold, blocked sinuses or sensitive ears? Move it back a day. Equalising your ears is much easier without a cold.
Best time to dive in Hurghada
Diving runs all year: the sea is warmest from July to October (27 to 28°C), and in February and March it drops towards 22°C, when a thicker wetsuit is provided or recommended (Weather Spark averages).
Diving and flying home
Leave at least 24 hours between your last dive and your flight home, the comfort margin diving organisations use after several dives, so plan your try-dive at the start or middle of your stay.
One more good habit: travel insurance that covers diving.
What to bring
- Swimmers on from the start, and a dry pair for the break
- Towel, reef-friendly sun cream, a cap
- A jumper for the deck after the dive
- Glasses? Say so: prescription masks are sometimes available
- Your logbook if you're certified
Try-dive prices and booking
Hurghada Habibi runs the try-dive from €35 per person: transfer, equipment, two dives, food and drinks on board; partner price, confirmed on WhatsApp.