The dive sites of Sharm El Sheikh are qualified as “local dives” because they are all very close to each other, between 10 and 70 minutes by boat.
Around Naama Bay, the main beach of Sharm El Sheikh, there are around thirty sites. Between easy diving in Ras Um Sid, and the current around Ras Nasrani, Sharm will delight all divers and snorkelers, we will never tire of returning!
Dive sites
Ras Nasrani. This extremely popular site is located 9km from Naama Bay. The place is also accessible by 4×4, and they can dive this spot from the edge. It is perfect for snorkeling. You will dive along a beautiful drop off cut by a sandy canyon. The coral is everywhere; the gorgonians are superb. They often do this dive in the current, which can change very quickly. Do not forget to watch the “blue”, tuna, trevally and barracudas are quite common.
The Gardens
The place has 3 major sites: Far Garden, Middle Garden, and Near Garden. The 3 sites are famous for their coral garden.
Middle Garden is between the two. It is easily accessible, protected from the wind, in a bay. It is a gently sloping reef, ideal for beginners. There are beautiful rock formations covered with madrepore. This dive is famous for manta rays in summer.
Far Garden, as the name suggests, is the farthest from Sharm El Sheikh. It is a fringing reef that slopes gently. There are superb coral formations and pinnacles covered with madrepore. A little deeper, it is red gorgonians that cover the coral potatoes. Along the drop-off, many small caves shelter a multitude of “glassfish”. Napoleon wrasse, stingrays, and scorpionfish inhabit the site. Far Garden is a genuinely nice place for night dives.
Near Garden. It is a busy site, close to Naama Bay. We dive along a gently sloping, very colorful reef, covered with magnificent bouquets of alcyonarians, then the drop off becomes steeper, still as colorful. This spot is extremely popular with photographers because, besides the colors, the fauna is extraordinarily rich and very varied. We can observe groupers, stingrays, wrasse, scorpionfish, schools of coach fish, butterflyfish, and a multitude of nudibranchs. Diving is easy, and the place is also exceedingly popular for night dives.
The sites in the south of Naama bay
Tower. This site is located south of Naama Bay. It is spectacular for its underwater architecture. There are large rocky peaks covered with corals. Accessible from the edge, from the start of the dive, you fly over a very impressive deep canyon. Here it is especially the density of fauna that will hold your attention. A lot of parrotfish, glassfish, lionfish, and it is not worth going too deep. Some manta rays are present in summer.
Ras Um Sid. It is the name of the promontory which marks the beginning of the Straits of Tiran. This site is one of the most beautiful in Sharm El Sheikh. It is accessible from the edge. It is an enormous drop off with, in places, forests of magnificent gorgonians. There are lionfish, parrotfish, schools of barracuda and tuna, and a multitude of reef fish. The site is superb for night dives; it is also extremely popular with fans of snorkeling.
Temple. Famous, it is one of the oldest sites of Sharm El Sheikh. The visibility is excellent. It is between Ras Um Sid and Ras Katy. There are large rock formations and a huge rock in the middle of which the top skims the surface. The underwater architecture of the place is the major draw. Napoleon, lionfish, and butterflies, and a multitude of coral fish roam this impressive setting. The site is perfect for night dives and photographers looking for Spanish dancers. It is also excellent for snorkeling.
Ras Katy. This site is near the old town of Sharm El Sheikh. We notice pinnacles covered with coral. It makes the descent on a gentle slope. An abundance of wildlife roams between 5 and 16m, and Ras Katy is perfect for beginners and level crossings. Here again, we like night dives, or at the end of the afternoon.