Falcon Naama Star

A Sharm El Sheikh diving holiday offers you a spectacular and diverse range of dive sites that are amongst the best in the world. From the famous Ras Mohammed Marine Park, to some of the most renowned wrecks in the Red Sea, the sheer number of sites means that there is something for all divers. Boat diving is the norm in Sharm and there are also some superb house reefs for diving and snorkelling.

Learning to Dive

Sharm is a good destination for novice and learner divers, with many easily accessible coral gardens that offer safe, shallow water and excellent visibility. This area benefits from the shelter of the land, which means conditions are usually calm to moderate and ideal for those new to diving. Our partner dive centres offer the full range of courses and meet the highest possible standards. Qualifying dives are often undertaken from the shore for convenience, where colourful corals and seagrass meadows play host to a wealth of marine life, including turtles.

Find out more about our learn to dive holiday in Sharm el Sheikh.

Qualified Divers

The exciting dive sites of Ras Mohammed Marine Park are what attract the legions of experienced divers to Sharm each year. Situated at the tip of Sinai, where the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba meet, Ras Mohammed’s strong currents and nutrient waters are packed with schools of snappers, barracuda and jacks, coupled with the sharks that come to stalk them. Steep coastal cliffs are mirrored underwater with impressive vertical walls, which drop off 70 metres or more.

The Strait of Tiran separates Tiran Island from the east coast of Sinai and is famous for four large reefs that rise from the depths like vast underwater mountains. Here, the strong currents and dense plankton attract an impressive range of reef and deep sea species providing some exceptional drift dives.

Further west, round the southern tip of Sinai, lie some of the best wreck dives in the Red Sea. The legendary Thistlegorm is the most famous - a 127-metre World War II British supply ship which lies in 30 metre with an amazing cargo of motorbikes, trucks, guns and shells.

Sharm El Sheikh is situated on the most southern tip of the Sinai peninsula. It is a lively resort with a wide choice of bars, restaurants and shops to enjoy in addition to diving.

Getting Around

The resort is centred on Naama Bay where the hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and beach are all within walking distance. The jetty is the busy centre of activity for dive boats. The dive centres provide transport between hotel, dive centre and jetty for dive trips.

Climate

The hottest time of the year is July and August with air temperature of over 30ºC. The coolest time is January with the temperature at around 20ºC. Rainfall is negligible and it is invariably sunny but breezes can be cool.

Time

Egypt is 1 or 2 hours ahead of GMT depending on the season as Egypt does not operate Daylight Saving Time.

Currency

Egyptian pounds or LE.

We recommend that you take some money in cash to Egypt. There is a currency exchange desk available at the hotel.  Please note that Scottish notes are not accepted in Egypt.

Tipping

Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to travellers for personal recognition of the services offered. We would advise that you allow approx. £10 for gratuities for local staff for the duration of your stay.

Flight Information

Flights are available to Sharm El Sheikh (SSH) from a number of UK airports. Please speak to our friendly travel consultants for the latest information.

Flight duration: Approx 5–5½ hours

Transfer: Varies according to hotel. Minimum transfer time approx. 10 minutes, maximum transfer time approximately 30 minutes.

Departure tax:  N/A

Visas

Entry requirements vary from country to country, and it’s important to check the latest visa information well before you travel. Some destinations may allow visa-free entry for a limited period, while others require an eVisa or a visa obtained in advance. To ensure you have the correct documentation for your trip, we recommend checking the official advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or contacting the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

Passports

Before you travel, make sure your passport is valid for the full duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of your destination. Many countries require at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date, while others may have different rules. For the most reliable and up-to-date information, visit the UK Government’s passport guidance or the official travel advice pages for your destination. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

If you’re planning to travel to or via an EU country (with certain exceptions) your UK passport must meet two key requirements, it must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country and it must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.

Vaccinations & Health Advice

Health and vaccination requirements differ depending on where you're travelling. Some destinations may require proof of specific vaccinations or recommend certain precautions to protect your wellbeing.

We’re not qualified to provide you with specific advice on vaccinations and strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare professional before you travel to discuss the inoculations you may need to consider.

For trusted guidance on health and vaccination advice, refer to the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice, Masta Travel Health or Travel Health Pro websites.