Diving in Hurghada

Hurghada, once a quaint fishing village, has transformed into one of Egypt’s premier diving destinations, offering an unparalleled underwater adventure along the western coast of the Red Sea. Divers here are treated to a kaleidoscope of marine life, from vibrant coral gardens teeming with colorful fish to intriguing wrecks that tell stories of the sea. The diverse dive environments include coral walls, plateaus, and pinnacles, each hosting a unique array of species, making every dive an exploration of nature’s underwater artistry. The area is ideal for both novice and seasoned divers, with dive centers conveniently situated within many hotels, providing easy access to daily boat dives or liveaboard adventures. For those seeking extended exploration, Hurghada serves as the main port for liveaboards, offering excursions to remote, untouched sites that promise even more thrilling encounters. Seasonal migrations add a fascinating layer, with opportunities to witness majestic creatures like dolphins and turtles gracing the waters around Hurghada. Beyond the underwater realm, the city itself is a vibrant hub of activity, with beautiful beaches stretching along the Red Sea’s clear waters. Whether you're diving into the depths or enjoying the lively atmosphere ashore, Hurghada provides a memorable dive travel experience enriched with both natural beauty and cultural charm.

Places to Explore

Makadi Bay

1 Divesite 1 Center

Makadi Bay is a wonderful yet underrated place to dive in the Hurghada area.

El Gouna

7 Divesites 1 Center

El Gouna offers great access to the northern Red sea with over 40 dive sites that can be dived all year long.

Giftun Islands

2 Divesites

Diving in Giftun Islands, you will explore the wonderful reefs with a rainbow of soft coral as well as hard coral and dramatic drop-offs.

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Diver Level Programs / Courses

Orca Diveclub El Gouna

Open Water Diver

15 Nov 2025

This globally recognized certification program is the best way to begin your lifelong adventures as a certified scuba diver. Personalized training is combined with in-water practice sessions to ensure you have the skills and experience required to become truly comfortable underwater. You will earn the SSI Open Water Diver certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Red Sea Blue Paradise

Decompression Diving

21 Nov 2025

The SSI Decompression Diving Specialty will teach you how to dive beyond the no-decompression limits. You will learn to plan and conduct dives to a maximum depth of 40 meters with limited decompression using your recreational total diving system and a single decompression cylinder. You will learn and practice how to effectively use your dive computer features, including switching gases, gas integration, time-to-reserve, and time-to-surface. Using these computer functions will become second nature, enabling you to safely conduct dives with limited decompression without hours of dive planning. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Decompression Diving Specialty certification and be able to explore stunning deep dive sites or larger wrecks without being restricted by the traditional no-decompression limits. The opportunities to expand your diving adventures have just got bigger!

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Red Sea Blue Paradise

Enriched Air Nitrox Level 2 (40%)

22 Nov 2025 + 1 more

As a Nitrox diver, you can increase your bottom times and safety margins, plus shorten your surface intervals - so you can spend more time diving and less time waiting! In this program, you will learn new skills and increase your diving knowledge whilst learning how to safely plan and dive with enriched air mixtures of up to 40% oxygen. Upon completion, you will earn an SSI Enriched Air Nitrox 32% or 40% certification.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Extra Divers Makadi Bay

Open Water Instructor (Instructor Training Course ITC)

24 Nov 2025 + 1 more

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to: • Conduct academic sessions • Lead confined water training • Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more • Develop student management and communication skills Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more. Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

Extra Divers Makadi Bay

Assistant Instructor

24 Nov 2025

The Assistant Instructor rating is the next step after becoming a Divemaster along the scuba instructor pathway. It allows you to collect valuable teaching experience, practice briefings, teach academics, and conduct in-water training. If you want to further your career as a dive professional, you can finish the Instructor Training Course, pass the Instructor Evaluation, and become an Open Water Diving Instructor.

Professional Level Programs / Courses

SSI Service Center Egypt

ندوة المدربين - ITS

25 Nov 2025

أن تصبح مدربًا محترفًا هو الإنجاز الأسمى. تعرّف على مدربي غوص آخرين حول العالم في ندوة مدربي الغوص (ITS) ووسّع شبكتك الدولية.

أثناء التدريب، ستتاح لك الفرصة لتعزيز تطورك الشخصي، والخضوع لتدريب متخصص في المبيعات، وصقل قدراتك التدريسية، وإتقان مهارات جديدة، وتنمية صفات القيادة داخل صناعتك، وفي الوقت نفسه تعزيز آفاقك المهنية.

مدربو SSI مؤهلون لتدريس جميع دورات الغوص، وإدارة دورة تدريب المدربين (ITC)، بالإضافة إلى دورات الانتقال بين المدربين. كما يمكنهم تقديم ندوات تدريبية متخصصة لجميع التخصصات التي يؤهلهم لها، وإدارة برنامج مساعد مدرب المدربين لإعداد الجيل القادم من مدربي المدربين.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Red Sea Blue Paradise

Advanced Open Water Diver

08 Feb 2026

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Egypt

Instructor Evaluation - IE

08 Feb 2026

Die Instructor Evaluation (IE) ist der letzte Schritt der zweistufigen Instructor-Ausbildung von SSI. Divemaster oder gleichwertige Professionals müssen zuerst den Instructor Training Course (ITC) erfolgreich abschließen, in dem du lernst, wie man

- Theorielektionen zu leiten
- das Training in begrenzten Gewässern zu leiten
- Open Water Diver und verschiedene Specialty Programme wie Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy und mehr zu unterrichten
- Entwickle Fertigkeiten im Umgang mit Schülern und in der Kommunikation

Bist du bereits ein erfahrener Instructor bei einer anderen Organisation? Möglicherweise kommst du für eine verkürzte Ausbildung in Frage, bei der du nur bestimmte Teile des Instructor Training Course (ITC) absolvieren und anschließend eine Instructor Evaluation (IE) bestehen musst. Kontaktiere ein SSI Training Center in deiner Nähe, um mehr zu erfahren.
Du bist bereits als Assistant Instructor bei einer anderen Organisation zertifiziert? Dann kannst du deine berufliche Laufbahn bei SSI fortsetzen. Setz dich mit einem SSI Training Center in deiner Nähe in Verbindung, um deine Möglichkeiten zu erkunden.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Egypt

Instructor Evaluation - IE

11 Feb 2026

Die Instructor Evaluation (IE) ist der letzte Schritt der zweistufigen Instructor-Ausbildung von SSI. Divemaster oder gleichwertige Professionals müssen zuerst den Instructor Training Course (ITC) erfolgreich abschließen, in dem du lernst, wie man

- Theorielektionen zu leiten
- das Training in begrenzten Gewässern zu leiten
- Open Water Diver und verschiedene Specialty Programme wie Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy und mehr zu unterrichten
- Entwickle Fertigkeiten im Umgang mit Schülern und in der Kommunikation

Bist du bereits ein erfahrener Instructor bei einer anderen Organisation? Möglicherweise kommst du für eine verkürzte Ausbildung in Frage, bei der du nur bestimmte Teile des Instructor Training Course (ITC) absolvieren und anschließend eine Instructor Evaluation (IE) bestehen musst. Kontaktiere ein SSI Training Center in deiner Nähe, um mehr zu erfahren.
Du bist bereits als Assistant Instructor bei einer anderen Organisation zertifiziert? Dann kannst du deine berufliche Laufbahn bei SSI fortsetzen. Setz dich mit einem SSI Training Center in deiner Nähe in Verbindung, um deine Möglichkeiten zu erkunden.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Egypt

Instructor Evaluation - IE

16 Feb 2026

Die Instructor Evaluation (IE) ist der letzte Schritt der zweistufigen Instructor-Ausbildung von SSI. Divemaster oder gleichwertige Professionals müssen zuerst den Instructor Training Course (ITC) erfolgreich abschließen, in dem du lernst, wie man

- Theorielektionen zu leiten
- das Training in begrenzten Gewässern zu leiten
- Open Water Diver und verschiedene Specialty Programme wie Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy und mehr zu unterrichten
- Entwickle Fertigkeiten im Umgang mit Schülern und in der Kommunikation

Bist du bereits ein erfahrener Instructor bei einer anderen Organisation? Möglicherweise kommst du für eine verkürzte Ausbildung in Frage, bei der du nur bestimmte Teile des Instructor Training Course (ITC) absolvieren und anschließend eine Instructor Evaluation (IE) bestehen musst. Kontaktiere ein SSI Training Center in deiner Nähe, um mehr zu erfahren.
Bist du bereits bei einer anderen Organisation als Assistant Instructor zertifiziert? Du kannst deine berufliche Laufbahn bei SSI fortsetzen. Setz dich mit einem SSI Training Center in deiner Nähe in Verbindung, um deine Möglichkeiten zu erkunden.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Egypt

Instructor Evaluation - IE

10 May 2026

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to:

• Conduct academic sessions
• Lead confined water training
• Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more
• Develop student management and communication skills

Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more.
Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

Instructor Evaluation

SSI Service Center Egypt

Instructor Evaluation - IE

13 May 2026

The Instructor Evaluation (IE) is the final step of SSI’s 2-Step Instructor Training Approach Divemasters or equivalent-level professionals will have to successfully complete the Instructor Training Course (ITC) first where you’ll learn how to:

• Conduct academic sessions
• Lead confined water training
• Teach Open Water Diver and various Specialty programs like Enriched Air Nitrox, Diver Stress&Rescue, Perfect Buoyancy and more
• Develop student management and communication skills

Already an experienced instructor with another agency? You may be eligible for shortened oboarding options where you will only have to complete certain parts of the Instructor Training Course (ITC) followed by passing an Instructor Evaluation (IE). Contact an SSI Training Center near you to learn more.
Already certified as an Assistant Instructor with another agency? You could continue your professional journey with SSI. Get in touch with a local SSI Training Center to explore your options.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Abu Ramada North

Not far from Shaab Sheer we can find Shaab Claude. Shaab Claude sits amidst a chain of 3 block groups, each about 5 to 10 minutes by boat far from each other.

3,659
Logs
2,201
Divers
17.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ El Mina, wreck

Russian built Minesweeper wreck located just outside Hurghada marina. The carrier of the El Mina came to an abrupt end in early June 1970th when the port of Hurghada was attacked by Israeli aircraft during the first days of the 6 Day War. It was hit by an Israeli missile and sank where she was anchored in 30m.

4,481
Logs
3,390
Divers
28.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ El Fanadir, North

1 hour to the south of El Gouna you can find the Fanadir reefs. It is a wall full of spectacular marine life. Above the wall is a plateau which is about 20m wide, then the wall drops off to over 70m deep. There is one big pinnacle full of glass fish and moray eels.

10,902
Logs
6,299
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Umm Gamar

The big brother to Shabrur Umm Gamar, this site is about 1h20min to the southeast of El Gouna. This site is great for all levels of divers, beginners to experienced, recreational and technical. Drift dives occur very often here. There are nice plateaus and pinnacles on the east and west side and there is a small nice cave on the east side as well.

7,084
Logs
4,268
Divers
24.0 m
⌀ Depth
24.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Dolphin House

Dolphin House (Gota Shaab el Erg) lies to the west of the main reef, Shaab El Erg. Here the reef forms a channel into the open sea where the dolphins often like to swim in and out. Be aware, the channel can cause a moderate current.

8,078
Logs
4,413
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Small Giftun / Police Station

One of the famous dive sites in Hurghada is Small Giftun Drift, also known as the Polics Station. It offers a great wall drift dive finishing with a coral garden plateau and stunning coral reef with lots of marine life of varying types.

17,968
Logs
9,047
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ El Fanadir, South

1 hour to the south of El Gouna you can find the Fanadir reefs. This site features a wall which is full of marine life. After the wall sits a Plateau which is about 20m wide and then there is a drop-off to over 70m depth. On the plateau you will find some pinnacles to explore.

9,705
Logs
5,772
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Carless Reef

About 2 hours southeast of El Gouna is one of the most beautiful reefs of El Gouna. Since the reef is located in the open sea, there are often strong currents. This gives the possibility for many predators to inhabit the reef and corals, due to the great living conditions.

3,178
Logs
1,974
Divers
21.0 m
⌀ Depth
24.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Marsa Abu Galawa

1 hour south of El Gouna is Marsa Abu Galawa. It is a nice bay with a drop off full of beautiful hard corals. In the bay you find nice coral blocks and inside there is a shallow sea gras area.

6,346
Logs
3,924
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ El Sakhwa

This dive is about 1 hour south of El Gouna. The mooring lines are located on the inside of the small bay. From the bay is a wall going outside till you reach some nice reef blocks in the shallows where you will find a drop off going down to 40m. There you can find a small canyon.

1,377
Logs
963
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Shabha

Under 1h from El Gouna to the south you can find the beautiful reef block of Shabha. The top of the reef starts just under the water’s surface and extends all the way to the sandy bottom just 14m deep, making this a shallow dive. To circle the entire reef will take you about 1h. On the east side there are also some pinnacles.

1,377
Logs
1,008
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Shaab Iris

Shaab Iris is located in the Abu Nugar region, which is about 1.5 hours from El Gouna and consists of a main reef and many coral blocks. The average depth is 14m.

2,519
Logs
1,819
Divers
13.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Gota Iris

Gota Iris is the last block from Shaab Iris. Shaab Iris is located in the Abu Nugar region, which is about 1.5 hours from El Gouna and consists of a main reef and many coral blocks. The average depth is 14m.

724
Logs
562
Divers
13.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Poseidon Reef

Poseidon is in the south of Shaab El Erg which is about 1h 15min east from El Gouna. Its a beautiful coral garden where you can find often big groups of fish.

1,682
Logs
1,439
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility
Mares

★★★★☆ Ras Abdallah

25 minutes boat ride north of Makadi Bay. Fringing reef along the coast. Reef slope down to 15m depth - plateau down to 22m depth. Steep slope down to about 70m depth. Often light to medium current from the north. Diving is on the outside of the steep slope into the shallow area.

1,257
Logs
927
Divers
14.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Hurghada

Diving from Hurghada is done by boat, this is either by liveaboard of by day boat trips. For this reason there is a large choice of liveaboards which leave from the port here. From the day boat trips all sorts of diving can be done, it is a great location for dive courses, recreational diving and there are also many technical diving opportunities.

The dive sites, visited from the dive centres and dive resorts here, range from easy, but still impressive, for beginner divers with shallow dives to more challenging and deeper sites. However, don’t fret, there is something for everyone. Coral walls? Got it. Drift diving? Got it. Wreck dives? Absolutely. There are some really impressive wrecks here such as El Mina wreck, which is an exciting dive for recreational and technical divers alike. The marine life underwater here is incredibly alive and present which results in a lot of the dive sites being coral rich and providing divers with breathtaking colours, shapes, sizes and all the marine life which comes with this flourishing ecosystem.

The best Months to dive in Hurghada

Hurghada is located on the coast of the Red Sea, which is great news, as the Red Sea and its surrounding climate makes diving possible and pleasant year round. In this region, there are no weather conditions so extreme that it negatively affects diving. The water temperature ranges between 21 degrees Celsius and 28 degrees Celsius with the warmest month being September and the coldest month being February. Visibility usually remains great throughout the year with it ranging between 15 metres and 30 metres, on the best of the best days it can reach 60 metres. The best season, in regards to the least amount of crowds, is from June to August (do be prepared for hot weather though) and between December and March.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

Ocean Dream Red Sea

Villa 55 , Sky Star Compound, 0000 Hurghada, EGY

ROJO DIVE SAFARI

Old Sheraton Marina, N/A Hurghada, EGY

Swiss Wellness Dive Resort

Riviera Serafy Village, 84517 Hurghada, Red Sea, EGY

Tauchen Hurghada

30 Street, Seastr., Al Dahar, 84517 Hurghada, EGY

Anthias Fleet

New Marina, 84511 Hurghda, EGY

Sea Serpent Fleet

Building C3 - New Marina, 11111 Hurghada, EGY

Extra Divers Makadi Bay

Cleopatra Luxury Resort *****, 84511 Makadi Bay, EGY

Scuba Scene Diving Safari

Building E, 1st Floor, Flat 4, 84511 Hurghada, EGY

Red Sea Aggressor II

Hurghada, EGY

RED SEA ONE

5 Sheraton Street, 84517 Hurghada, EGY

Master Liveaboards

Villa 5, Eng Ahmed Rafaat St, 1111 Hurghada, EGY

Orca Diveclub El Gouna

TURTLES INN DIVE CLUB & HOTEL, 84513 EL GOUNA, EGY

Alyses Plongee

GEISUM Hotel, 32123 Hurghada, EGY

Marine Yacht | SSI Dive Center

Villa 1, Meritte Hotel, 1950003 Hurghada, EGY

Ghazala Explorer

New Marina, 84511 Red Sea, Hurghada, EGY

Tauchen unter Freunden

Sheraton Street, 84511 Hurghada, EGY

SUBEX Diving Center Hurghada

P.O. Box 207, 84511 Hurghada, EGY

SSI Service Center Egypt

16 Sheraton Road, Hadaba, opposite Calypso, 84517 Hurghada, EGY

Red Sea Blue Paradise

El Korneesh 14, 84517 Hurghada, Red Sea, EGY

Aggressor Floating Resort - Hurghada

El Madaress Street, Villa No 488, Hurghada, EGY