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Egypt's Red Sea Coast

World-class diving, warm water almost year-round, and a very different Egypt.

Egypt's Red Sea coast — mainly Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh — has some of the most accessible world-class diving and snorkeling on the planet: clear, warm water, healthy coral reefs a short boat ride from shore, and resort infrastructure built specifically around it. It's also a genuinely good place to just do nothing for a few days after the more demanding pace of Cairo and Luxor.

Most people picture Egypt as pyramids and desert, and then they see a photo of the Red Sea's coral reefs and wonder why nobody mentioned this part. It's not a footnote — Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh are two of the most underrated dive destinations in the world, easy to reach, and a genuinely different side of the country from the temple circuit.

Egypt's Red Sea Coast: Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh
Beaches & Red Sea

Egypt's Red Sea Coast: Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh

World-class diving, warm water almost year-round, easy resort infrastructure.

Questions people actually ask

Is the Red Sea coast worth adding to an Egypt trip?
Yes, if you have the time — 3–4 days is enough to dive or snorkel a few sites and decompress. It pairs naturally with Cairo/Luxor as either the start or the finish of a longer trip.
Do I need to be a certified diver?
No — most dive centers run 'discover scuba' sessions for complete beginners, and the snorkeling straight off many beaches or on a day-boat is spectacular on its own. Certified divers get the most out of it, but it's not a requirement to enjoy the reefs.
Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh?
See our full comparison — short version: Sharm has the more dramatic, better-protected reefs (Ras Mohammed National Park) and a more polished resort strip; Hurghada is generally cheaper and has easier access to a wider range of day-trip reefs and wreck sites.