The Best Scuba Diving in Hurghada: A Local Guide

Hurghada is one of the easiest places in the world to dive well. The water is warm all year (22C in winter, 29C in summer), visibility usually sits between 15 and 30 meters, and the reefs start shallow enough for a first-timer while the wrecks go deep enough to excite a divemaster.

The short answer

If you only have one day: a 2-dive boat trip around Giftun or El Fanadir (from 65 EUR, lunch and pickup included). If you have three or more days: mix reef days with Abu Nuhas wrecks and a Dolphin House morning. If you are not certified yet: this is one of the cheapest, calmest places on earth to do your PADI Open Water.

Our honest favorites

• El Fanadir - a long, easy wall 30 minutes from the marina. Turtles like it, and so do we for relaxed drift dives.
• Abu Ramada - locals call it the aquarium. Clouds of fish over a bright plateau, perfect for photos.
• Shaab El Erg (Dolphin House) - a horseshoe reef where wild bottlenose dolphins often rest. Often, not always - anyone promising dolphins is lying to you.
• Abu Nuhas - four classic wrecks on one reef. The Giannis D alone is worth the longer boat ride.
• Umm Gamar and Careless Reef - for experienced divers who like walls, caves and blue water.

When to come

There is no bad season. Summer brings bath-warm water and calm seas. Winter mornings can be windy, but visibility is often at its best and the boats are quieter. March to May and September to November are the sweet spot.

What it actually costs

A daily 2-dive trip is around 65 EUR including tanks, weights, guide, lunch and Hurghada hotel pickup. Full equipment rental adds 10 EUR per day. Multi-day packages bring the per-day price down - see our prices page for the full list.

One piece of advice from the field

Tell your guide the truth about your last dive. Nobody judges a two-year gap - we plan an easy first reef and stay close until your buoyancy comes back. The divers who struggle are the ones who pretend.