Unforgettable Experience: Scuba Diving in the Red Sea (Hurghada, Egypt)
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While Egypt is known for the desert, the Pyramids, ancient temples, and cruising down the Nile, one of the most unforgettable experiences in the country is heading to the coast of the Red Sea. Scuba diving in the Red Sea Egypt is one of the best ways to experience an entirely different side of the country — one filled with crystal-clear water, vibrant coral reefs, and some of the most incredible marine life in the world.
It honestly feels like stepping into a completely different country once you reach the coast. I based myself in Hurghada for scuba diving, and it quickly became one of my favorite experiences from my entire Egypt trip.
The Red Sea is known for having some of the best scuba diving in the world, which is why so many travelers specifically come here to dive. Originally, I planned to just snorkel the coral reefs, but once I found out you could try scuba diving in Egypt without certification, I immediately signed up.
If you’ve ever thought about scuba diving but weren’t ready to commit to full certification yet, Egypt is honestly one of the best places to try it for the first time. Many dive shops offer beginner “discover scuba diving” experiences where you can safely dive with an instructor (no certification required).
Not only is it a great way to test whether getting scuba certified is something you’d enjoy before investing the time and money into certification, but it also gives you a completely different perspective of the Red Sea reefs compared to snorkeling. Being able to descend below the surface and swim directly alongside the coral, fish, and underwater caves makes the experience feel far more immersive and unforgettable.
If you’re planning a trip to Egypt, I genuinely think scuba diving in the Red Sea should be on your itinerary, even if you’ve never considered diving before.
My Experience Scuba Diving in the Red Sea
We met at at the dive centerto gather all of our gear. You can bring your own gear if you want but they do have some available to you if not. After we gathered our gear, we headed to the boat which was a short walk away.
The boat was absolutely beautiful and an experience all on its own. We rode the boat out for about an hour and then we stopped for our first reef.
The group went in 2 waves since those that were not certified had to be accompanied by one of the staff members. While those snorkeling were able to go out due the entire time of the scuba diving waves if they wanted. I went down with my guide and one of the people at my party with her guide.
We held onto the arm of our guide and they would signal to us how to adjust our gear and guided us throughout our dive. They monitor the depth and duration underwater to make sure that you are safe. The maximum depth is 12 meters. The time underwater is between 20-30 minutes.
After the first dive, there is lunch on board as the boat travels to the next diving spot. On the boat: there was coffee, tea, lunch, water, and soft drinks available. There was plenty of food. The day we went we had a selection of Mediterranean food and it was delicious!
After lunch, we stopped for our second dive, which was even more beautiful than the first. We spent about 20-30 minutes on that dive again which felt even more comfortable than the first because we had some experience. After that, we all got on the boat and took the ride back to the dive center to turn in our gear.
The boat ride alone was worth the trip because the water is so clear and you can just sit all the sand dune cliffs around the ocean.
The price to dive in Egypt was actually not bad. I booked an “introductory dive” which cost me about 70 USD, but there are cheaper options on Get Your Guide with amazing reviews. This price included my gear rental, lunch, both dives, and a full day out on the water (about 8 AM-4 PM). It was hands down worth the price for this day. Scuba diving in Egypt is a must add to your Egyptian travel itinerary.
The amazingly clear water of the Red Sea is not to be missed! If you’re not interested in scuba diving, be sure to check out another adventure on the coast of Egypt. There are some great other activities like swimming with the dolphins, snorkeling, or stick to the desert for a quad ride.
