Conditions referenceSeason, water and visibilityBest Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov · Moderate current · 22–30°C (coldest Feb, warmest Aug)
- Current
- Moderate
- Water temperature
- 22–30°C (coldest Feb, warmest Aug)
- Visibility
- 20–40m: Commonly 20-40m, often over 30m in spring and autumn.
- Experience
- Sheltered Sharm and Ras Mohammed reefs suit Open Water divers.
01 · Marine life
What you may see
Sightings are never guaranteed. The bars show typical likelihood by month.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | rare |
| February | rare |
| March | rare |
| April | rare |
| May | occasional |
| June | occasional |
| July | peak season |
| August | peak season |
| September | peak season |
| October | occasional |
| November | occasional |
| December | rare |
Schools concentrate at Jackson Reef in the Straits of Tiran and around Ras Mohammed in summer, roughly July to September.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident year-round and most reliable at Shark Reef (Ras Mohammed) and Ras Umm Sid, where individuals are used to divers and often approach closely.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident on the coral gardens year-round.
| Month | Likelihood |
|---|---|
| January | commonly seen |
| February | commonly seen |
| March | commonly seen |
| April | commonly seen |
| May | commonly seen |
| June | commonly seen |
| July | commonly seen |
| August | commonly seen |
| September | commonly seen |
| October | commonly seen |
| November | commonly seen |
| December | commonly seen |
Resident and among the most frequently seen rays on the reefs, tucked under coral ledges and foraging sandy patches on almost any dive.
02 · Dive sites
Dive sites worth knowing
A starting point, not a ranking. Conditions decide what works on the day.
Gordon Reef
The southernmost and easiest of the Tiran reefs, with a sheltered plateau and moorings that make it the most beginner-friendly of the group in calm conditions.
5–30m · Moderate current
Jackson Reef
The northernmost and best-known of the four Straits of Tiran reefs, with the richest coral coverage of the group and the rusting hull of the Lara, a cargo ship aground on the reef…
5–40m · Strong current
Ras Za'atar
A wall dive at the southern entrance to Mersa Bareika in Ras Mohammed, where a steep drop-off carved with caves and overhangs meets a coral-head slope.
4–29m · Mild current
See all 8 dive sites
03 · LogisticsGetting there and costsEasy. Fly to SSH. Typical trip $.
Route overview
Easy
Day trips from a coastal base, about 0.5h from the airport.
Airport options
SSH
Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport
Direct scheduled and charter flights from across Europe; roughly 20-30 minutes to the dive centres and marinas
HRG
Hurghada International Airport
Alternative gateway; several Thistlegorm and northern-wreck liveaboards depart from Hurghada
Typical trip cost
$
under $2,000
Per person, excluding international flights.
- One of the cheapest quality dive destinations in the world.
- Northern Red Sea 7-night liveaboards run roughly $1,300-1,900 (about $150/night or less), dropping to ~$950-1,600 in the June-September low season.
- Land-based: a single reef dive is $35-60, a 5-dive package around $220-275, and a Ras Mohammed day trip (2 dives, lunch, park fees) $70-90.
- A PADI Open Water course runs ~$450-650.
- Flights and marine-park fees are additional.