Snorkelling in Hurghada: where and how
From €15 per person, transfer included
Hurghada is one of the best bases on the Red Sea for snorkelling: coral reefs a few dozen minutes away by boat, water between 22 and 28°C depending on the season, and visibility that's often superb. You can start from some beaches, but the finest reefs are reached by boat, around Giftun, in the dolphin areas or, further south, among the turtles of Abu Dabbab.
Is Hurghada good for snorkelling?
Very, and mostly because of the boat trips: the reefs around Giftun and to the north are shallow, colourful and a short ride from town, so even beginners see a lot on their first morning.
The Red Sea has a quirk that surprises Brits used to Cornish rock pools: a share of its species live nowhere else on the planet. Put your face in the water off Giftun and you're in a moving aquarium, not a grey one.
Snorkelling from the beach
It works where a reef touches the shore (the "house reef"), which you find mainly south of town around Sahl Hasheesh and Makadi Bay, while central Hurghada's beaches are mostly sandy and shallow.
The good habit: get in by the jetty or the marked channel, never by walking over coral, and stay inside the marked zone. Water shoes on, life vest if you're not confident. Ask the beach staff about the day's current, too, since it shifts with the wind.
The best snorkelling boat trips
Around Giftun (Orange Bay, Paradise Island and Mahmya), on the dolphin trips to the northern reefs, at White Island by speedboat and, for turtles, in Abu Dabbab bay near Marsa Alam.
| Trip | What you see | From |
|---|---|---|
| Orange Bay | Giftun reefs, tropical fish | €25 |
| Paradise Island | shallow lagoon, ideal for beginners | €25 |
| Wild dolphins | offshore reefs, sometimes wild dolphins | €25 |
| Seascope | 45 min behind the glass, then 20 min snorkelling | €15 |
| Eden Island | reefs and pale sandy seabed | €65 |
| Mahmya Island | reefs of the Giftun reserve | €80 |
| Abu Dabbab | sea turtles, seagrass | €70 |
| Private speedboat | White Island, a reef, one island of your choice | €140 per boat (4 people) |
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What you'll see underwater
Parrotfish, butterflyfish, surgeonfish, clownfish in their anemones, shoals of little silver fish, and hard and soft corals in mounds and walls, plus, with luck, a ray on the sand or a turtle.
Stay still for a minute over a coral head. The fish that scattered when you arrived drift back in, one by one.
Water temperature through the year
The sea sits around 27 to 28°C from July to October, 26°C in November, then drops towards 22°C in February and March (Weather Spark averages).
In winter, a shorty wetsuit or a neoprene top makes long sessions a lot more comfortable.
Snorkelling kit
Masks, snorkels and a float or life vest are usually lent on boat trips, but your own mask is worth packing: one that fits your face lets in less water and fogs up less.
- Your own mask and snorkel (optional)
- Fins if you have them, for the offshore reefs
- A UV rash vest or lycra top
- Reef-friendly sun cream, half an hour before
- Water shoes
- Anti-fog, or the old spit-on-the-glass trick
Good habits in the water
Float flat, kick gently, keep an arm's length from the coral and never stand on it; follow the crew's instructions and snorkel in pairs.
The single biggest upgrade for beginners is to slow down. The more you move, the less you see. And lift your head now and then to spot the boat.