Hurghada is the Red Sea's largest day-boat diving hub, fronting the Giftun Islands marine national park and within reach of the Abu Nuhas 'ship graveyard' wrecks. Fringing reefs, offshore ergs and a resident pod of spinner dolphins at Sha'ab El Erg make it a year-round, all-levels destination with reliably warm, clear water.
Destination info
Conditions, highlights, and the resident marine life.
Conditions
Water and air temperature across the year.
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Description
Hurghada sits on Egypt's western Red Sea coast and is the country's busiest diving gateway, with a huge fleet of day boats and a base for northern wreck-and-reef liveaboards. Its house reefs are the Giftun Islands, protected since 1986 as one of Egypt's first marine national parks (about 14 km²); the wider Red Sea reef system here is exceptionally biodiverse, with roughly 200 coral species and hundreds of reef-fish species. The signature attraction north of Hurghada is Sha'ab Abu Nuhas, a reef in the Strait of Gubal that has wrecked a cluster of cargo ships now famous as a 'ship graveyard' — the Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K and Kimon M all lie within recreational depths. Closer in, day boats run to coral-garden ergs such as Gota Abu Ramada ('the Aquarium') and Sha'ab El Erg ('Dolphin House'), a horseshoe reef whose resting lagoon shelters a habituated pod of spinner dolphins. Conditions are benign for most of the year: water runs roughly 21–22°C in winter to 28–29°C in late summer, visibility is commonly 20–30 m, and currents are usually light to moderate inshore. The exposed wreck and offshore-pinnacle sites (Abu Nuhas, Carless Reef) can pick up stronger current and chop, so they are weather-dependent and suited to more experienced divers.
Highlights
What makes this dive worth the trip.
Sha'ab Abu Nuhas, on the north side of Shadwan Island in the Strait of Gubal, is the Red Sea's most famous 'ship graveyard': a single reef that has sunk a cluster of cargo ships, four of which — Giannis D, Carnatic, Chrisoula K and Kimon M — lie within recreational diving depths (roughly 4–30 m). Most are reached by liveaboard or longer day-boat trips and are best dived in calm weather.
The Giftun Islands were established in 1986 as one of Egypt's first marine national parks, protecting roughly 14 km² of reef and beach off Hurghada; the surrounding Red Sea reef system is among the most biodiverse in the region, with on the order of 200 coral species and many hundreds of reef-fish species.
Sha'ab El Erg ('Dolphin House'), a large horseshoe-shaped reef about 25 km northeast of Hurghada, has a sheltered central lagoon used as a daytime resting ground by a resident pod of spinner dolphins (Stenella longirostris) habituated to snorkellers and divers; early-morning trips give the best chance of an encounter.
Marine life
46 species you’re likely to encounter on a dive here.
Dive sites
6 signature sites at this destination.
Giannis D (Abu Nuhas wreck)
The most popular wreck at Abu Nuhas: a roughly 100 m Greek cargo freighter, loaded with sawn timber, that ran onto the reef in April 1983 and now lies on its port side broken into sections. The stern with its bridge and engine room is largely intact and penetrable, while the long mast slopes up to within about 4 m of the surface, making it divable across a range of levels in good conditions. Schools of glassfish and sardines fill the holds, with lionfish, moray eels and the occasional reef shark around the structure.
4–28 mintermediateLiveaboardModerateVisibility 10–40 m
Carnatic (Abu Nuhas wreck)
The oldest of the Abu Nuhas wrecks: a 90 m British steam-and-sail vessel carrying wine, cotton and gold bullion that struck the reef in 1869 and sank the following day. Its wooden planking has long gone, leaving an open, photogenic skeleton of steel hull ribs now heavily encrusted in coral. The frame shelters dense clouds of glassfish, grouper, octopus and moray eels; its modest depth and gentle profile suit competent divers comfortable in mild current.
18–27 mintermediateLiveaboardModerateVisibility 10–40 m
Chrisoula K (Abu Nuhas 'Tile Wreck')
Nicknamed the 'Tile Wreck' for the cargo of Italian floor tiles still stacked in its holds, this roughly 100 m freighter sank on the reef in 1981. The stern, engine room and propeller are well preserved at depth, while the shallower bow section is more broken up, so the wreck offers options for divers of different experience. Reef fish, glassfish and the usual Red Sea wreck residents shelter throughout the structure.
4–28 mintermediateLiveaboardModerateVisibility 10–40 m
Gota Abu Ramada (The Aquarium)
An oval coral reef ringed by a shallow sandy seabed about an hour south of Hurghada, nicknamed 'the Aquarium' for its sheer density and variety of fish. Coral ergs rising from the sand hold huge schools of goatfish, bannerfish, sweetlips and butterflyfish, with bluespotted stingrays, moray eels, crocodilefish and the occasional turtle on the bottom. Shallow and sheltered with limited current, it is one of the area's most reliable all-levels and training sites.
5–30 mbeginnerDay boatLightVisibility 20–30 m
Carless Reef
Two large coral pinnacles linked by a plateau, lying offshore roughly an hour northeast of Hurghada — one of the area's signature 'big' reef dives. The plateau drops away into walls and is famous for a population of unusually approachable giant moray eels, with whitetip reef sharks, schooling bannerfish and, on lucky days, passing hammerheads and tuna in the blue. Its exposed position and lack of mooring mean it is dived in good weather only, and the current can be demanding.
12–30 madvancedDay boatStrongVisibility 20–40 m
Sha'ab El Erg (Dolphin House)
A large horseshoe-shaped reef about 25 km northeast of Hurghada whose sheltered inner lagoon is a daytime resting ground for a resident pod of spinner dolphins. The reef itself offers easy coral gardens, sandy patches and an outer slope to around 25 m, suitable for all levels, while the dolphin encounters happen mainly on snorkel in the managed lagoon zone. Eagle rays, turtles and reef fish are common on the reef proper; dolphin sightings are best on early-morning trips and are never guaranteed.
5–25 mbeginnerDay boatLightVisibility 15–30 m
Where to dive & stay
Local dive centers, resorts, and hotels.
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