Introduction

Sharm-El-Sheikh is located on the Sinai. What was once an old fishermen's village has become a famous destination for scuba diving and is now the heart of a vast underwater national park. Naama Bay is located 7 km north of Sharm-El-Sheikh, a bay which is covered with high-standings hotels. Contrary to Hurghada, Naama Bay has a street which links most of the hotels and the harbor. Furthermore, there is a pedestrian walkway between the beach and the hotels, and many restaurants make it an attractive place to walk after the diving. According to certain sources, only 25 % of the visitors of Naama Bay are divers. That suggests that it is possible to enjoy a stay there even without going underwater.

The authorities make a great effort to protect those marvelous sea grounds: buoys are located on all sites (anchoring is therefore strictly prohibited), the number of boats is limited to 3 per diving sites, several places are not accessible anymore (but that's perhaps rather for military reasons)... and it is forbidden to feed fish.

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

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  Jackfish Alley

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 20 m

  visibility : 10-20 m
  description :
  
  This drift dive begins at the bottom of a cliff by swimming through a cave (entrance at 4 m depth, exit at 6 m). They divers usually go down to 20 meters, where there is coral garden. The first half of it is really interesting, while the second part is less attractive. However, it is still worth crossing it, as it leads the divers to a canyon (grounds on the right and reef on the left) where a bit of current is encountered, and some larger fish can be seen (barracudas).
  This dive site presents an interesting and varied scenery, but there are less fish than on other sites. However, we saw there a white tip shark (from a far distance...), a turtle and a napoleon. Dolphins followed our boat on our way back.
  
  
• 

  Jackson Reef

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 25 m

  visibility : 10-20 m
  description :
  
  Huge reef in the middle of the strait of Tiran (80 minutes from Naama Bay), whose top is at a depth of approximately 1 meter, and which has almost vertical walls.
  The west part is indeed very interesting, with great corals from 25 to 5 meters (including a red anemone at 25 m). All these corals (mainly soft) virtually cover each square centimeter of the reef, and are surrounded by huge amounts of small fish. Some larger specimen are seen in the blue... as well as 2 large puffer fish right in the corals.
  The part located on the east side is less interesting, slightly more vertical but with less life. The temperature is a little cooler than on the other diving sites.
  
  
• 

  Near Garden

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 5-25 m

  visibility : 20 m
  description :
  
  Site located at the northern point of Naama Bay, about 10 minutes by boat. The dive starts in the bay, where a huge amount of small fish (including 10 parrots under the boat) and some napoleons can be seen. The very good visibility allows the divers to quickly reach the northern part of the bay, and reach the open sea. There, 3 splendid gorgons located at 20-25 meters are easily found. In the open sea, the visibility slightly decreases, but the fishes remain numerous.
  All together, we saw 4 blue-spotted rays (!), 1 large napoleon, about 6 lion-fish, 1 fish-crocodile...
  It is worthwhile to do some snorkeling in this bay, but be careful with the numerous glass-bottom boats that navigate around there!
  This site is ideal for night diving. It is then useless to go deep (12 meters should be fine). One can see scorpion-fish, lion-fish and even an octopus. At the end of the diving, vigorously shake your hands after turning your diving light off: you will see amazing phosphorescent plankton.
        
  
• 

  Middle Garden

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 2-12 m
  description :
  
  As its name suggests it, Middle Garden is located between Near and Far Garden, very close to Naama Bay. On the sand, at a shallow depth, many large rocks full of life : schools of butterfly fish, a half-dozen lion-fish, groupers, napoleons, parrots, ... Good, easy snorkeling.
            
  
• 

  Sharks Reef

  rating : 3.0

  level : for advanced divers

  depth : 20 m and m

  visibility : 20 m
  description :
  
  Located in the Ras Mohammed park, at the southern tip of the Sinai, Sharks Reef is one of the world's most famous reefs! It is true that one finds there a huge quantity of fish (whole schools of jackfish and large napoleons) and that pelagic are often encountered along the walls. However, this site is extremely crowded, and the diving is rather difficult there: the vertical wall is swept by currents - some of them being really violent, and sometimes tracking the divers into the depths. It is really a dive that should be reserved for experienced divers, and which can be disappointing if no large fish are encountered...
  
  
• 

  Tower - Sodfa

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 10-30 m

  visibility : 20 m
  description :
  
  At 10 meters of the beach, a narrow canyon goes from the surface to more than 30 meters depth, almost vertically. The dive continues then by swimming along the slope toward Sodfa - the next diving site. There is not so much sea life, but the underwater landscape is interesting with several pinnacles. Sometimes, the current allows to see some pelagic: we thus met a guitar-shark and a turtle.
  This dive should not be recommended to beginners, as here the depth can be very attractive... Depending on the current, this drift dive can also be made from Sodfa to Tower.
      
  
• 

  White Knight

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 25 m

  visibility : 20 m
  description :
  
  Located in the north of Naama Bay, at about 40 minutes by boat. Underwater scenery is very interesting, with a canyon running from 12 to 36 meters (and a possibility to exit it at 25 meters), as well as several caves at 12, 22 and 36 m (unfortunately, the last one being too deep for the security rules that apply in Egypt). A lot of small corals, but few fishes (although we saw 1 large napoleon, 2 groupers and a moray eel).
  
  
• 

  Far Garden

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 5-15 m

  visibility : 10 m
  description :
  
  The least interesting of the Gardens, often done as a drift dive. Gentle slope going down to 30 m, with small fish and numerous scorpion fish. You can always spot trevally while looking into the blue... and sometimes, it seems, manta rays. No need to go too far north, there's nothing special here.
  
  
• 

  Ras Nusrâni

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 5-15 m

  visibility : 10 m
  description :
  
  Wall on the edge of a beach, with no particular characteristics. No big fish, but lots of small schooling fish (like glassfish). Strong current, difficult entry and exit.
      
  
• 

  Ras Um Sid

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 25 m

  visibility : 20 m
  description :
  
  Dive site at the foot of a lighthouse on a small promontory. The dive starts in the southern part, well protected from currents and where the buoys are located. Unfortunately, the corals have been badly damaged by divers (this was once considered one of the most beautiful sites in the world...), but there are whole schools of sergeant majors and even a stingray. Moving north, however, we find an extraordinary field of gorgonians between 20 and 25 m, located in a very strong current.
    
  
• 

  Woodhouse Reef

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 5-15 m

  visibility : 10 m
  description :
  
  Next to Jackson Reef, drift dive on the eastern side of the reef. More or less vertical wall (up to 30-35 m), with rather hard corals. Few fish, but a huge humphead wrasse. Mostly interesting for watching the blue, this dive can be disappointing...
    
  
• 

  Yolanda Reef

  rating : 2.0

  type of diving : wreck

  depth : 15 m

  visibility : 5-10 m
  description :
  
  A reef located less than 50 m from Sharks Reef, Yolanda Reef owes its name to a container from a wreck, the Yolanda, a ship that sank in 1981 and carried... WCs, washbasins and bidets! This dive is especially interesting for the unusual cargo, as the coral garden to the south of the reef is not very interesting and the current is often strong (sometimes limiting visibility).