Sharm el-Sheikh Travel Guide: Sinai's Premier Dive Destination

Everything you need to visit Sharm el-Sheikh — Ras Mohammed, the Thistlegorm wreck, visa rules, and when to go.

Sharm el-Sheikh sits at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba. It is one of the world’s most visited dive destinations, built around consistent access to Ras Mohammed National Park and a cluster of exceptional offshore sites. Beyond diving and snorkeling, the city offers beach resorts, a modest nightlife strip, and easy logistics from European airports.

Getting There

Sharm el-Sheikh International Airport (SSH) receives direct charter and scheduled flights from Europe and the UK, including easyJet from Newcastle and Glasgow (from August 2026) and TUI from East Midlands and other UK airports. Domestic flights connect from Cairo in approximately one hour; fares start at around EGP 700–1,200 if booked in advance. The bus from Cairo takes seven to eight hours on the East Delta Bus Company service and is a reasonable overnight option; tickets cost approximately EGP 120–180.

Visa Rules — Read This First

If you are flying directly to Sharm el-Sheikh and plan to stay within Sinai, you do not need a pre-arranged visa. A free 15-day Sinai-only stamp is issued on arrival at the airport and at land border crossings from Israel (Taba) and Jordan (Aqaba ferry). This stamp is not extendable and does not permit travel to mainland Egypt. To visit Cairo, Luxor, or anywhere outside Sinai, you need a full Egyptian e-visa applied for before travel (currently $30 USD per person, as of 2026). See our Egypt visa guide for full details.

Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed is the defining reason to dive in Sharm. The national park covers the southern tip of Sinai, where strong currents push cold, nutrient-rich water up along the reef walls. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are the headline sites — the marine life density, coral coverage, and visibility (commonly 20–30m) are exceptional. Day boat trips from Sharm take approximately 45 minutes. The park has a separate entry fee of approximately $10–15 per person (paid at the park gate, as of 2026), in addition to your dive operator’s costs.

A two-dive day trip to Ras Mohammed from Sharm typically costs $70–100 per person including tanks, weights, and the boat ride. Equipment rental is $15–25 extra if you need it. You can browse Sharm el-Sheikh tours, dive trips, and excursions to compare operators before booking.

SS Thistlegorm

The SS Thistlegorm sank in October 1941 after a German air raid. The wreck lies in the northern reaches of the Sinai coast, roughly one hour by speedboat from Sharm. Its cargo — motorcycles, trucks, locomotive parts, and military equipment — is intact and accessible at 16–32m depth. Marine life has made it a reef in its own right. Day trips from Sharm typically depart early morning (around 07:00) and cost approximately $85–120 per person for two dives.

Recommended Dive Operators

Oonas Dive Club (Naama Bay) — one of the longest-established centres in Sharm, consistently good guides, multilingual team, and well-maintained equipment. Two-tank dives from approximately $80.
Camel Dive Club (Naama Bay) — PADI Gold Palm resort, strong reputation, popular for courses and day trips alike.
Sinai Divers (Naama Bay) — well regarded for Thistlegorm trips specifically and for technical diving instruction.

Naama Bay and Shark’s Bay

Naama Bay is the original tourist hub: a curved beach with hotels on one side and a promenade of restaurants, dive shops, and bars on the other. Evenings are lively by Red Sea standards. Shark’s Bay, a few kilometres to the north, is lower-key — smaller hotels, quieter beach, and a more relaxed pace. Both have direct reef access from the shore.

Good dining options in Naama Bay include La Luna (Italian, mains approximately EGP 200–400), Tam Tam (Egyptian food in a Bedouin tent setting, mains approximately EGP 120–250), and Grill House (solid grilled meat and seafood, mains approximately EGP 150–300). Most hotels along the Naama Bay strip have acceptable in-house restaurants — useful for early-morning dive days.

Where to Stay in Sharm

Budget (approximately $35–60/night): Camel Hotel in Naama Bay — attached to Camel Dive Club, convenient, popular with solo divers. Sharks Bay Camp for a quieter base.
Mid-range (approximately $90–160/night): Hilton Fayrouz Resort (Naama Bay, good beach, consistent standard), Grand Rotana Resort & Spa (Shark’s Bay, quieter zone, own beach).
Upmarket (approximately $200–350/night): Four Seasons Resort Sharm el-Sheikh — the best property in town, on its own beach at Ras Nasrani, with a house reef accessible from shore.

Best Time to Visit

October through May is peak season and the most comfortable for diving — water temperatures are 22–26°C and air temperatures stay in the mid-20s. Summer (June–September) brings air temperatures of 38–42°C. The sea remains warm and swimmable year-round, and some dive operators offer reduced rates in the shoulder months. Eid holidays and European school holidays drive peak pricing in December–January and late March.

Nearby

Dahab is 100km north on the Gulf of Aqaba coast — a completely different atmosphere, slower and more backpacker-oriented, and worth considering for a combined Sinai trip. The journey by minibus takes approximately 1.5 hours and costs EGP 60–80; shared taxis make the same journey for slightly more.