Scuba Diving Sharm El Sheikh
Tours & tickets

Hand-picked by our editors — only the best 5 dive experiences from 47 reviewed.

Open today 07:00 – 16:00
Attendance: Moderate — autumn transition
Arrive early for calmer sea conditions and better visibility.
Instant confirmation Free cancellation Mobile voucher Certified PADI instructors Small group sizes
Tickets

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Ras Mohamed & White Island Snorkeling and Diving Adventure 8 hr
Guided Experience

Ras Mohamed & White Island Snorkeling and Diving Adventure

★ 4.9 (1677)
€36
per person
Instant Mobile voucher Flexible — change up to 24h

Full-day Red Sea yacht cruise with two guided dives, coral reef snorkeling, and White Island visit

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Red Sea Beginner Scuba Diving Adventure 8 hr
Guided Experience

Red Sea Beginner Scuba Diving Adventure

★ 4.8 (1463)
€46
per person
Instant Mobile voucher Flexible — change up to 24h

Explore vibrant coral reefs and tropical marine life on two guided dives perfect for first-timers.

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Prices from verified partners. Availability updates in real time at checkout. Free cancellation policies apply where shown.

What you'll do

Inside a tour, step by step

  1. 01 2 hours

    Theory Session

    Classroom instruction and equipment setup

  2. 02 3 hours

    Confined Water

    Skill practice in shallow water

  3. 03 4 hours

    Open Water Dive

    Guided exploration of Red Sea reefs

Highlights

What you'll see inside the attraction

The landmarks, rooms, and views travelers on this tour remember — all visible on a single visit.

Yolanda Reef

Features the remnants of the Yolanda shipwreck and vibrant coral growth.

Shark Reef

A famous drop-off known for high fish density and strong currents.

Ras Mohamed Gate

The iconic entrance marker welcoming divers to the protected area.

Anemone City

A slope covered in thousands of anemones and clownfish.

Shark Observatory

A high cliff viewpoint offering panoramic views of the dive area.

Head to head

Scuba Diving Courses Sharm El Sheikh vs Liveaboard Diving Trips: Making the Right Choice

They complement each other; most visitors who do both call liveaboards the more immersive experience while daily scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tours provide superior learning foundations. Choosing the right path depends on whether you prioritize structured certification or remote exploration.

Feature Top pick Daily Courses Liveaboard Trips
Logistics
Remote offshore travel;Flexibility
Fixed multi-day itineraries;Access to Remote Reefs
Distant deep-water sites;Cost
1,200–2,500 USD (all-inclusive);Accommodation
Onboard cabin berths;Skill Level Focus

Verdict: If you are obtaining your first certification, scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tickets offer the necessary convenience, whereas those seeking deep-sea exploration should book a scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tour on a liveaboard vessel.

How your ticket works

Book your ticket in 3 steps

  1. 01

    Book online

    Choose your ticket, select your date, and reserve in under two minutes. Secure checkout handled by our verified partner.

  2. 02

    Receive your mobile voucher

    Instant confirmation by email, with a mobile voucher you can save offline. No printing, no queuing at a collection desk.

  3. 03

    Show & enter

    Arrive at the entrance, show your voucher on your phone, and walk in. Most tickets include priority or skip-the-line access.

Plan your visit

Everything you need to know before you go

Practical details for your visit straight from our verified partners — hours, access, rules, and how to get there.

Open today · 07:00 – 16:00
Opening Hours
07:00–16:00 daily
Address
Ras Mohamed National Park, South Sinai, Egypt
Entry Status
Conservation fee of 15 USD applies for non-Egyptian adults
Best Arrival Window
07:00–10:00 to avoid heat and crowds
Storage
Limited availability at most dive centers
Navigation
Accessible via boat or vehicle to park gates
Mon
07:00 – 16:00
Tue
07:00 – 16:00
Wed
07:00 – 16:00
Thu
07:00 – 16:00
Fri
07:00 – 16:00
Sat
07:00 – 16:00
Sun
07:00 – 16:00
Main entrance

Park Gate

Ras Mohamed National Park

Main entrance checkpoint

Address
Ras Mohamed National Park, South Sinai, Egypt
Storage
Limited availability at most dive centers
Navigation
Accessible via boat or vehicle to park gates

How to get there

🚕
Taxi · Variable · Variable

Most hotels offer direct shuttle services to dive centers.

🚗
Car · Ongoing · Fuel costs vary

Access via the main Sinai road leading directly to the national park.

Dress code

Participants in scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh should wear modest clothing when transiting through public areas. Rash guards or wetsuits are provided for water activities.

Bags & security

Security checkpoints at Ras Mohamed National Park may inspect bags. Keep valuables in waterproof cases during scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh boat trips.

Photography

Underwater cameras are permitted during scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tours. Always maintain neutral buoyancy to protect the reef while filming.

Accessibility

Most dive boats have ladders, but scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh may require physical mobility for entry. Inform operators of mobility needs before booking.

Mobile phones

Mobile signal is inconsistent at sea. Use waterproof pouches to keep devices dry on scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh vessels.

What to bring

  • Sunscreen
  • Swimwear
  • Towel
  • Sunglasses
  • Certification card
  • Logbook
  • Personal medication

Not allowed

  • Spearguns
  • Knives (outside dive gear)
  • Chemical sunscreens
  • Gloves
  • Harpoons
  • Collecting shells
  • Touching coral
  • Flash photography in caves
  • Drones without permit
  • Alcohol

Families & strollers

Minimum age requirements for junior scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh typically start at 10 years old. Certification levels are age-dependent.

Food & drink

Lunch and soft drinks are generally included with full-day scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tour packages. Hydration is vital in the Red Sea climate.

Pets

Pets are prohibited on all boat-based scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh excursions. No boarding facilities exist at the park entrance.

Good to know

Always ensure your scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tickets include necessary park permits. Verify your medical fitness for PADI courses prior to arrival.

Meeting point

Where to find us

Park Gate

Ras Mohamed National Park

Main entrance checkpoint

Get directions
Around your visit

Everything else worth knowing

Best time to go, insider tips, nearby landmarks, and the cancellation fine print — flip through to skim what matters to you.

Best time to visit

How crowds, weather, and events shift across the year.

Spring

Mild air and warming water temperatures attract many to scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh.

Summer

High temperatures make early morning the best time for scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh.

Autumn

Optimal visibility and warm water make this a peak season for scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh.

Winter

Cooler air but stable water temperatures allow for comfortable scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh year-round.

Helpful tips for your visit

Small details that turn a good visit into a great one.

Hydration

Drink plenty of water before and after your scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tour.

Sun Protection

Wear long-sleeved rash guards to prevent sunburn on the water.

Ear Care

Clear your ears frequently during descent to avoid pressure issues.

Buddy System

Always stay close to your dive partner during scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh dives.

Equipment

Check your gear thoroughly before leaving the boat deck.

Nearby landmarks

Non-bookable sights within a short walk — free to visit, easy to pair.

Yolanda Reef

0 min

Famous dive site known for wreckage and coral diversity.

Shark Reef

0 min

Renowned vertical wall dive with strong currents.

Old Quay

15 min

Historical wooden structure near the park boundary.

Cancellation policy

Flexible, no hidden fees.

Cancellations made 48 hours prior to scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tours are eligible for a full refund. This policy excludes the mandatory 15 USD conservation fee for non-Egyptian adults.

Where to stay

Hotels & districts near the attraction

Hand-picked options within walking distance — pick a district for vibe, or a specific hotel for convenience.

Naama Bay Hotels

luxury

Resort area with many dive center partnerships.

Sharks Bay Resorts

mid-range

Convenient access to northern dive sites.

Old Market District

budget

Local guesthouses near the southern tip.

About

The place, in context

Egypt holds 12 percent of the world's recorded coral species within a single marine corridor. Sharm El Sheikh sits at the confluence of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez, where nutrient-rich currents from the Indian Ocean meet shallow continental shelves, creating visibility that routinely exceeds 30 meters. This geographic accident transformed a Bedouin fishing camp into the Red Sea's primary dive training hub by the late 1980s, when PADI and SSI opened their first Middle Eastern certification centers here. Ras Mohamed National Park, gazetted in 1983 as Egypt's first marine reserve, anchors the region's dive infrastructure. The park's southern tip drops 800 meters within two kilometers of shore, forming vertical walls colonized by gorgonian fans, black coral trees, and pelagic aggregation zones that include barracuda, jackfish, and seasonal whale shark migrations. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef — the latter named for a cargo vessel wrecked in 1980 — serve as controlled-environment sites for Open Water students practicing buoyancy and navigation skills before progressing to drift dives along the Strait of Tiran. Scuba diving courses in Sharm El Sheikh operate under a dual-certification model: Egyptian Ministry of Tourism licensing and international agency standards. A four-day PADI Open Water course includes confined-water sessions in hotel pools, theory modules covering decompression tables and marine life identification, and four open-water dives to 18 meters. Instructors maintain 4:1 student ratios during certification dives, lower than the PADI-permitted 8:1, due to local regulations enacted after a 2004 safety review. Most schools include nitrox theory and Ras Mohamed conservation fees in their pricing, though equipment rental and digital certification cards carry separate charges. The region's dive calendar splits into two windows: March through May, when water temperatures reach 24°C and plankton blooms attract manta rays to cleaning stations, and September through November, when post-summer crowds thin and visibility peaks. Winter months see thermoclines at 15 meters, requiring 5mm wetsuits, while summer surface temperatures above 28°C allow single-tank dives in shorty suits. Shore-access sites like the Gardens and Near Garden eliminate boat transfer time, making them efficient choices for morning certification dives before midday heat.

"Ras Mohamed's southern walls drop 800 meters within two kilometers of shore, forming vertical ecosystems colonized by black coral and pelagic aggregation zones."
Your experience

What a tour day looks like

A step-by-step walkthrough of the visit — what you'll see, how long each stage takes, and the details that matter.

You meet your PADI instructor at 07:00, when the dive center is quiet and the Red Sea reflects pre-dawn violet. After a brief equipment check — BCD inflation, regulator purge, weight belt adjustment — you board a Zodiac for the 25-minute crossing to Ras Mohamed. The boat anchors in six meters over white sand, and you complete your first confined-water skill: mask clearing, regulator recovery, buoyancy control while finning in a slow circle. By 09:30 you descend along a mooring line to 12 meters, where the sand transitions to coral bommies. Your instructor signals: check your air, equalize, maintain neutral buoyancy. A Napoleon wrasse, easily a meter long, glides past at arm's length, indifferent. You practice compass navigation for eight minutes, surface briefly, then descend again to 16 meters for a drift along the reef edge. Anthias swarm in orange clouds above table corals. A turtle surfaces near the boat as you complete your safety stop at five meters. After a surface interval on deck — tea, fruit, logbook signatures — you return for a second dive at Shark Reef. This time the wall drops into blue opacity. You hover at 18 meters, finning gently to hold position against a mild current, watching a school of barracuda form a silver cylinder in the water column above you. Forty-three minutes later you surface certified, PADI card pending upload.

Frequently asked

Frequently asked questions about scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tours

What are the opening hours for scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh?

The park is open daily from 07:00–16:00. These hours apply to all scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh operations within the park boundaries.

Is the conservation fee included in scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tickets?

The 15 USD conservation fee for non-Egyptian adults is typically separate from the price of your scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tickets. Always check your specific booking details for inclusions.

Can I book scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh for children?

Yes, many scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh offer PADI programs starting from age 10. Check with your chosen provider for specific youth certification requirements.

What is the best arrival time for scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh?

We recommend arriving between 07:00–10:00. This window helps you avoid mid-day heat and large crowds during your scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh.

Are there prohibited items for scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh?

Items such as harpoons, chemical sunscreens, and gloves are prohibited at the park. Adhering to these rules protects the ecosystem where your scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh take place.

Is photography allowed during my scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tour?

Photography is allowed, and capturing the marine life is a highlight of scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh tours. Ensure you follow all buoyancy rules to protect the reef.

What is the refund policy for scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh?

Cancellations made 48 hours in advance are eligible for a refund. Note that the conservation fee for non-Egyptian adults is often non-refundable for scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh bookings.

Are there nearby landmarks to visit with scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh?

Nearby attractions include Yolanda Reef and Shark Reef, which are often visited as part of scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh. These sites are world-renowned for their biodiversity.

Do I need experience for scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh?

No, beginners are welcome to join introductory scuba diving courses sharm el sheikh. Instructors will guide you through all necessary safety and skill requirements.