Introduction

The town of Hurghada has two centers: Downtown (quite interesting, but made for tourists, which you can visit in one hour) and Sigala (less interesting). To go there from your hotel, you can either take a bus (coming every 2 or 3 min., costing 1 pound per person) or a taxi (10 pounds for 4-5 persons). Of course you have to negotiate every price! Remember: in Hurghada, there is nothing to do but diving! One day should be kept for visiting Luxor. Even if the journey costs 85 dollars and you have to stand up at 4 am.

Hotels: the best are the Intercontinental, the Sofitel, and the Marriot, but there are quite expensive. Some other hotels, like the Sheraton, are cheaper and almost as comfortable.

The biggest problem when diving in Hurghada is... the number of divers. Since all the boats leave at the same time, you usually find 10 of them at the same place. Because of all those people, and since the boats use anchors, the corals are often broken. Fortunately, there are lots of fish. Notice also that there is no interesting wreck near Hurghada.

Travel facts

Diving type

Destination

easily accessible

bargain destination

Diving level & type

for beginners

for advanced divers

shore diving

liveaboard

Diving Characteristics

pelagics

lots of fish

lots of corals

interesting underwater scenery

Other activities

attractive natural spots

gastronomy

night life

beach

snorkeling

Diving Sites

• 

  Carless Reef

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 20 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  2 reefs lying on a sandy bottom at 20 meters (top at 12 meters), in a dive site with lots of fish. Some current. Saw six morays, a shark and a turtle. It's the best dive site in Hurghada, even though there are lots of divers.
  
  
• 

  El Aruk Diana

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 12 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  Like El Aruk Gigi. Saw two rays.
  
  
• 

  Gota Abu Ramada East

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 13 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  Some unusual fish in shallow water. The current slightly lowers the temperature. Interesting snorkeling after the dive.
  
  
• 

  Shabrur Umm Gamar

  rating : 3.0

  type of diving : wreck

  depth : 37 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  On this dive site there is a wreck at a depth between 28 and 37 meters, in a bad state (with a motor and 5 tanks, lying over a large area). The coral is very rich, and there are lots of fish.
  
  
• 

  Small Giftun

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 17 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  An easy dive (great for beginners) near the reef. Saw 5 napoleons.
  
  
• 

  Umm Gamar

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 25 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  3 small caves at 25, 20 and 18 meters. Lots of napoleons, trumpet-fish (50 cm), a lion-fish and a ray. It is very interesting to do some snorkeling on the reef after the dive.
  
  
• 

  El Aruk Gigi

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 12 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  A lot of pinnacles full of corals (about 10, the dive takes place on the middle of them) with lots of fish. Shallow water.
  
  
• 

  Gay Samana

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 27 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  Lots of fish, but some current.
  
  
• 

  Abu Ramada South

  rating : 1.0

  depth : 28 m

  visibility : good
  description :
  
  Some napoleons. Unfortunately, the coral is quite dead and there are only few fish. Not really interesting...
  
  
• Ben El Jabal

  depth : ?

  visibility : ?
  description :
  
  Great corals, interesting relief with a turtle and a moray.
  
  
• El Fanadir

  depth : 12 m

  visibility : ?
  description :
  
  Dive at 12 meters on a sandy bottom with a vertical wall of corals.
  
  
• Torfa El Fanus

  depth : ?

  visibility : ?
  description :
  
  The northern part of this site is quite interesting, with nice corals. Only sand and stones to the southern part.