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Explore Sharm el Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh is an extremely popular diving and holiday destination located on the southern coast of the Red Sea in the Sinai Peninsula in Egypt. It is a large, bustling city which rises out of the desert and borders on the sparkling turquoise waters and an exhilarating variety of dive sites. There are numerous dive centres and dive resorts to choose from here, and there are options for beginner divers up to experienced tec divers. For the avid underwater photographers, there is a variety of creatures to spot, and for the divers hoping to be wow-ed by large pelagic species there are many opportunities to spot these. There are over 30 dive sites which are all so different for divers to explore. There are world renowned coral reefs, world famous wrecks and much, much more.

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Diving in Sharm el Sheikh

One of the factors that makes Sharm El Sheikh such a popular diving destination is the variety of types of diving. There are spectacular reef diving in Ras Mohammed National Park, thrilling drift dives at the Straits of Tiran, one of the best wreck dives in the world; Thistlegorm, easy and relaxing dives from the shore in Sharm and many Liveaboard options to experience Sharm el Sheikh in a different way. There are a lot of dive centres and dive resorts which cater to all levels of diving, many offer dive courses and some also offer technical diving opportunities. The large majority of the dive sites are reached by boat and so it is mostly boat diving in this region, but there are some shore dives available here as well such as Naama Bay and also up north in Nabq, should that the type of dives divers prefer.

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Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Sharm el Sheikh

If holiday go-ers are visiting Sharm El Sheikh for the purpose of diving, then the great news is that this is possible year round! It’s one of the many reasons why the Red Sea is so popular for diving. Even though the outside temperatures can reach extremes of 45 degrees Celsius in the summer, the water temperatures stay moderate and pleasant; between 19 degrees Celsius and 29 degrees Celsius. There are no extreme weather conditions here which affect diving negatively, and even on the windiest days the visibility still stays above average, ranging between 10 metres and 30 metres. 

If divers are hoping to avoid the crowds then they need to avoid the high season which runs from March to May. However, May is the month with the highest marine life visitors and this month is the highest chance to spot Whale Sharks, Sharks, Manta Rays, Sea Turtles, Eagle Rays and Dolphins, so this needs to be kept in mind.

Top Wildlife Sightings in Sharm el Sheikh

The reefs here are alive and thriving, with every colour of the rainbow and all shapes, sizes and textures. There are numerous species of hard and soft corals and these attract large schools of fish which swim around the corals as though a confetti cannon went off. Keep an eye out for the adorable Anemone Fish protecting their vibrant homes and the tiny pops of colour that come in the form of Nudibranchs. These reefs also attract larger species such as Napoleon Wrasse, Sea Turtles, Manta Rays and Dolphins. At the Straits of Tiran divers should keep an eye out in the blue as a Manta Ray may fly by or a Whaleshark may pop out and surprise divers. Ras Mohammed is home to Grey Reef Sharks, Blacktip Reef Sharks and on lucky days, Hammerhead Sharks.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

16k Sightings
J
453
F
478
M
836
A
1.2k
M
1.4k
J
1.5k
J
2.5k
A
1.6k
S
1.5k
O
2.1k
N
1.8k
D
981

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

6.6k Sightings
J
158
F
213
M
380
A
486
M
573
J
625
J
1.1k
A
651
S
549
O
893
N
624
D
344

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

5k Sightings
J
123
F
152
M
224
A
222
M
357
J
448
J
939
A
527
S
453
O
758
N
522
D
320
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

3.8k Sightings
J
65
F
107
M
226
A
313
M
334
J
328
J
551
A
420
S
393
O
503
N
342
D
232

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

3.3k Sightings
J
75
F
72
M
104
A
153
M
295
J
419
J
753
A
392
S
329
O
387
N
211
D
146

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

876 Sightings
J
6
F
19
M
6
A
85
M
120
J
116
J
187
A
67
S
47
O
91
N
83
D
49
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

847 Sightings
J
13
F
35
M
38
A
35
M
88
J
53
J
147
A
125
S
76
O
95
N
85
D
57

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

17k Sightings
J
601
F
764
M
1.2k
A
1.4k
M
1.5k
J
1.4k
J
2.3k
A
1.7k
S
1.5k
O
2.3k
N
1.7k
D
1.1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

16k Sightings
J
511
F
641
M
1.2k
A
1.4k
M
1.3k
J
1.2k
J
2.1k
A
1.6k
S
1.4k
O
2.2k
N
1.8k
D
1.1k

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

15k Sightings
J
540
F
685
M
1.2k
A
1.3k
M
1.3k
J
1.2k
J
2.1k
A
1.4k
S
1.3k
O
2k
N
1.5k
D
949

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

15k Sightings
J
506
F
638
M
1.1k
A
1.2k
M
1.3k
J
1.3k
J
2.1k
A
1.5k
S
1.2k
O
2k
N
1.5k
D
970

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

15k Sightings
J
499
F
611
M
1.1k
A
1.2k
M
1.2k
J
1.2k
J
2k
A
1.4k
S
1.2k
O
2k
N
1.5k
D
957

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

11k Sightings
J
342
F
353
M
715
A
736
M
961
J
1.1k
J
1.7k
A
1.2k
S
954
O
1.3k
N
949
D
583

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

10k Sightings
J
315
F
359
M
716
A
773
M
887
J
890
J
1.6k
A
1.1k
S
770
O
1.2k
N
907
D
552

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

9.8k Sightings
J
294
F
403
M
755
A
787
M
730
J
811
J
1.4k
A
898
S
817
O
1.4k
N
977
D
559

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

8.2k Sightings
J
262
F
357
M
524
A
636
M
623
J
766
J
1.2k
A
804
S
632
O
1.1k
N
793
D
490

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

8.1k Sightings
J
237
F
286
M
498
A
565
M
648
J
632
J
1.1k
A
770
S
804
O
1.1k
N
878
D
475

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

5.4k Sightings
J
114
F
152
M
392
A
420
M
429
J
462
J
811
A
420
S
378
O
856
N
560
D
366

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

4.6k Sightings
J
130
F
117
M
270
A
355
M
382
J
353
J
608
A
414
S
379
O
697
N
610
D
298

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

4.1k Sightings
J
107
F
114
M
254
A
294
M
264
J
408
J
644
A
322
S
294
O
695
N
474
D
238

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

4.1k Sightings
J
115
F
109
M
227
A
240
M
334
J
430
J
660
A
451
S
337
O
505
N
433
D
248

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

4k Sightings
J
73
F
159
M
302
A
190
M
290
J
296
J
697
A
375
S
285
O
633
N
452
D
275

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

4k Sightings
J
101
F
111
M
214
A
289
M
324
J
375
J
549
A
451
S
316
O
549
N
484
D
258

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

3.7k Sightings
J
85
F
81
M
204
A
208
M
303
J
362
J
622
A
487
S
328
O
497
N
366
D
169

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

3.6k Sightings
J
99
F
84
M
216
A
248
M
256
J
292
J
570
A
403
S
291
O
569
N
309
D
249

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

3.4k Sightings
J
68
F
61
M
172
A
221
M
301
J
364
J
693
A
379
S
236
O
427
N
264
D
206

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

3.2k Sightings
J
72
F
114
M
283
A
262
M
240
J
239
J
455
A
259
S
236
O
461
N
365
D
242

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

3k Sightings
J
63
F
45
M
130
A
249
M
325
J
484
J
605
A
300
S
153
O
242
N
209
D
149

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

2.4k Sightings
J
17
F
32
M
114
A
225
M
246
J
228
J
417
A
206
S
224
O
331
N
208
D
112

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

1.9k Sightings
J
25
F
29
M
145
A
133
M
146
J
144
J
294
A
125
S
169
O
349
N
229
D
109

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

1.9k Sightings
J
46
F
42
M
96
A
143
M
198
J
157
J
307
A
160
S
167
O
260
N
221
D
76

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

1.9k Sightings
J
21
F
37
M
129
A
200
M
203
J
153
J
313
A
168
S
110
O
218
N
217
D
88

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

1.6k Sightings
J
44
F
18
M
85
A
118
M
170
J
111
J
220
A
186
S
134
O
204
N
211
D
116

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

1.5k Sightings
J
68
F
45
M
88
A
132
M
125
J
133
J
225
A
113
S
81
O
240
N
103
D
107

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

1.4k Sightings
J
34
F
13
M
70
A
84
M
121
J
105
J
225
A
150
S
110
O
272
N
189
D
73

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

1k Sightings
J
30
F
74
M
53
A
89
M
84
J
65
J
157
A
94
S
66
O
132
N
120
D
37
Whitetip Reef Shark

Whitetip Reef Shark

971 Sightings
J
24
F
0
M
18
A
72
M
67
J
139
J
176
A
57
S
74
O
160
N
131
D
53

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pipefish

Pipefish

857 Sightings
J
47
F
47
M
71
A
63
M
91
J
50
J
74
A
50
S
36
O
154
N
110
D
64
Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish

674 Sightings
J
3
F
20
M
61
A
40
M
53
J
38
J
118
A
64
S
39
O
91
N
104
D
43

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

601 Sightings
J
16
F
10
M
28
A
50
M
53
J
18
J
88
A
71
S
20
O
149
N
68
D
30

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