18 July 2024
There are many excellent dive sites around Hurghada and El Gouna, not least the wrecks around the Sha'ab Abu Nuhas reef (Carnatic, Ghiannis D, Kimon M and Chrisoula K). Read on for recommendations of who to dive there with, buying a visa, flying to Hurghada, security and everything you need to know before you go.
Tourists need a visa to visit Hurghada. You can get this on arrival by payment in Sterling, US Dollars or Euros. The cost is US$25 at approved bank kiosks within airport arrival halls, before reaching immigration. There's no need to buy a visa from an agent in arrivals who often charge more than the US$25 for the visa. However, the queues for the agents will be shorter - you may wish to take this option to speed things up. Your passport should be valid for a minimum period of 6 months from the date of entry into Egypt. Buy your visa at the first Egyptian airport you land in - if going via Cairo buy in Cairo. You will need the visa before getting your connection.
There are direct flights to Hurghada from most European countries. If you can't get a direct flight then fly to Cairo with EgyptAir and change there. As long as you book straight through you shouldn't have any problems with the transfer. If you do this buy your visa in Cairo airport: don't wait until you get to Hurghada.
Compare prices and availability of Liveaboards out of Hurghada
Enhanced security measures are in place to protect the Hurghada resort areas. Security forces are situated at the airport, at check points around the perimeter of the town and throughout the Governorate. Routine security checks are being performed throughout the airport (allow up to two hours just to get through them all). You are always advised to take out comprehensive travel and medical insurance before you travel. See the Egypt Foreign Travel Advice page for more details.
Hurghada and El Gouna are just 25 km (about half an hour) apart, with Hurghada the most southerly. There are many, many dive centres from which to choose. Tell us about your favourite.
Hurghada Dive Centres and Liveaboards • El Gouna Dive Centres • Further Reading
For other areas see Sharm El-Sheikh, the Brothers and Southern Egyptian Red Sea, Dahab, Saudi Arabia, Jordan or Sudan .
Find a flight to Hurgada. Leave out the dates to see which days the flights go:
Egypt Divers 5 star diving center SSI & PADI is based in Hurghada providing all diving programs, snorkeling and water sports activities.
Hurghada diving packages and diving courses is our profession and passion - tailored to make your holiday fun like never before. Introducing you to the ultimate experience in boat or shore dives, our professional instructors are ready to share all their knowledge and experience with you. Our instructors speak English, German, Russian and French.
Egypt Divers
Coral Beach Hotel
Hurghada
Egypt
Tel/WhatsApp: +20119599593
info@egyptdivers.com
www.egyptdivers.com
Egypt Divers
Tia Heights
Makadi Bay
Egypt
Tel/WhatsApp: +20119599593
info@egyptdivers.com
www.egyptdivers.com
"Marvellous experience, nice team. Thanks Egypt Divers for showing my wife how to dive and thanks for convincing her to go diving finally. Good boat, delicious food. definitely diving again with you guys next holiday."
Inn Shapiro, 19 March 2018
Golden Dolphin has 10 cabins for 20 divers. She offers both northern wreck diving itineraries and southern trips to the Brothers and Daedelus reef.
Excellent value option with a range of itineraries featuring shark encounters and wreck dives.
"Follow your dream ... Live your dream ... Come to the Red Sea with DIVERS DREAM TOURS on board of our M/Y AML HAYATY. Full-Charter and groups. Our aim is simple ... to only give our very best!"
Egypt
Tel: 00 32 494 277949
E-mail
Web: diversdreamtours.com
Dive UK Hurghada are a British company offering full diving holidays including accommodation, daily diving, PADI Courses, PADI IDCs, trips to Luxor and Cairo and swimming with dolphins from a private speedboat. Specialise in teaching nervous/anxious people and children
Dive UK Hurghada
New Marina
Hurghada
+20109 815 90 87 (WhatsApp, Viber)
info@diveukhurghada.co.uk
"Just done a weeks diving with Dive UK Hurghada and wow. I have dived for many years in Hurghada with various operators and Steve is very different. There is no rush, in depth briefings, he has all brand new equipment. An all round very relaxed atmosphere, we visited a different site every dive and what amazed me was Steve’s knowledge of the sites. We see so much including several turtles, lots of Octopus, Dolphins and a Manta Ray. I will now not dive with anybody else in Hurghada, Steve really offers a top service and you only pay what’s quoted, I’ll be back to do my Wreck course for sure later in the year. He was there early to pick me up every day and organised a day trip to Marsa Alam also. Steve is a true professional and a true gentleman. I only wish I had meet Steve earlier, if you want to dive in Hurghada give him a shout at Diveukhurghada.co.ukOne thing I found very good was he only does small groups. No more than 4 divers at a time which I was very happy with, he also does private trips to Luxor and Cairo which I will be doing on the next trip.
Was recommended by a friend who meet Steve in Hurghada and loved diving with him."
Kevin Nichols, 2021
Chloe's Diving Center Hurghada offer daily diving excursions, diving courses, water activities and diving safaris in Egypt's Red Sea. Based at the Mercure Hurghada Hotel.
Mercure Hotel
Hurghada
Egypt
Tel, WhatsApp, Vibe: +2 0122 159 0220
info@chloesdiving.com
"Din toate excursiile pe care le-am făcut anul acesta in EGIPT, de departe cea mai frumoasa experiență a fost cea de scuba. Adrenalina maxima oferita de personalul de pe vasul Chloe. Cu siguranta recomand!"
Mihaela, 3 August 2021
Egypt Divers 5 star diving center SSI & PADI is based in Hurghada providing all diving programs, snorkeling and water sports activities.
Hurghada diving packages and diving courses is our profession and passion - tailored to make your holiday fun like never before. Introducing you to the ultimate experience in boat or shore dives, our professional instructors are ready to share all their knowledge and experience with you. Our instructors speak English, German, Russian and French.
Coral Beach Hotel
Hurghada
Tel: +201119599593
info@egyptdivers.com
"Marvellous experience, nice team. Thanks Egypt Divers for showing my wife how to dive and thanks for convincing her to go diving finally. Good boat, delicious food. definitely diving again with you guys next holiday."
Inn Shapiro, 19 March 2018
New Son Bijou Diving Center
close to Triton Empire hotel,
Hilton PLAZA hotel & Arabia Azur hotel
Hurghada
Egypt
Tel: +20 12 822 188 56
Mobile: +20 122 3245 296
Skype: ahmed.bijou7
E-mail: info@newsonbijou.com
"This was my 7th return to New Son Bijou Diving Center and again it was great diving holiday! We were also lucky to dive twice with big group of playful dolphins for entire dive. The boat was never crowded and we dived in small groups and got a chance to know each other, and dive with people who share the same interest for adventure. Before each dive we had briefing - got a lot of informations and advice from Ahmed, owner of DC and diving instructor. On a daily basis we were changing dive sites, which is important if you dive 5 days in a row. Everything is high quality and they organize things very well and try to accommodate all your needs, and have good equipment. Diving equipment was well maintained and some as also new. Over the night it was washed, safely stored and next day delivered to the boat for no extra charge. Lidija and Ahmed also arrange a transfer, a driver who was picking us up in the morning and returned after dive. Ahmed made great photos and at the end of vacation everybody got them on CD as a present. Best dive spots, great instructor and a beautiful boat, fantastic food - freshly daily prepared, relaxed atmosphere and very professional equipment. Also saw a lot of cute turtles, beautiful eagle rays, sting rays, moray eels, lionfish, crocodile fish, stonefish, incredible corals and so much more again. Would recommend this dive centre to anyone of any level visiting Hurghada and looking for a relaxing enjoyable dive experience. Thank you for the most amazing time! Can't wait to see you again!
"
Ivana, Serbia, 2016
A 5 star PADI diving center in the Red Sea in Egypt. They offer all levels of diving from beginner tasters to advanced levels: bubble makers, open water, advanced and specialty courses up to the level of dive master and dive instructors. We have daily recreational dives, snorkelling, live-abroad and Dolphin House trips. They offer night dives, wreck diving and nitrox. Their instructors speak Arabic, English, German, Russian, Polish and French. Open year round.
The Desert Rose Hotel
Safaga Road
Hurghada
Tel: +201007191944
info@redsealife.com
Elbrenses hotel
Hurghada
Egypt
Tel: 0020101858656
E-mail
"We went with this company in January 2016 to take our open water, part 1. We were really impressed with the totally professional approach, the patience the dive masters and instructors showed, friendly and didn't leave our sides, always ready to answer our sometimes silly questions,most importantly we felt safe and comfortable at all times, occasionally they had a few snorklists on the boat and they're looked after in the same professional manner, the prices were pretty good as well.
The kit we hired was clean and well maintained, they taught us how to care for it and we had the same gear for the two weeks we were with them, the fresh food was well prepared daily and plentiful we are returning early in 2017, for our advance and wreck qualifications."
Ian Robinson, November 2016
In front of Empire Three Corners Hotel
"Empire Inn Hotel"
Beside Diana Hotel
Beside Luxor Hotel
Hurghada
Egypt
Email
" Near to Triton Three Corners up the road by Cacao Bar, Dahar. They have their own boat and all paperwork is up to date and correct. The instructors and guides are good (I'm a DM). I've dived regularly with them for a few years now and would not change company. Safe, flexible, knowledgeable and helpful. And the price is the price - no add ons for food/water/coffee etc. A really nice day for non divers too as the boat is comfortable and big."
Maryse Dare, 2015
The Sea Serpent Fleet is a "luxury class liveaboard diving operation", providing diving services throughout the Egyptian Red Sea. The fleet comprises M/Y Grand Sea Serpent,
M/Y Obsession,
M/Y Sea Serpent,
M/Y Excellence,
M/Y Contessa Mia,
M/Y Miss Nouran and M/Y Dreams.
Ceramic Building, Hurghada
Tel: +20 65 344 7307
Fax: +20 65 344 7307
info@seaserpentfleet.com
Will pick you up from the Hurghada area on diving days. Have very full boats with snorkellers as well as divers. May insist on a check dive no matter how many dives you've done, how recently you dived or how well qualified you are. Although they do offer trips to the Abu Nuhas wrecks (Carnatic, Ghiannis D, Kimon M and Chrisoula K), this depends on having 6 divers who wish to dive them. If you go with a smaller group than this it is pot luck whether you will be able to dive them or not, even if you request it before your arrival. They will also dive the El Mina wreck in Hurghada harbour, but again this is an extra and is only available if enough divers wish to do it.
Aquarius Diving Club in Hurghada
Marriot Resort
Tel: +20 65 3441336
Fax: +20 65 3446970
E-mail: info@aquariusredsea.com
"
Aquarius schools are located in Hurghada, Hamata, Makadi Bay, Sahl Hashish and Sharm El Sheikh. The daily diving costs are fair and the more you dive the cheaper they are. The staff are friendly and helpful.I will dive again with Aquarius."
Ilona Wilhelm, Germany, 2012
Run by a Belgian couple
14 El Dahar Street
Hurghada
Egypt
E-mail: bvr@village.uunet.be
"Next time in Hurghada I dive with blue paradise for sure. I got sick and had a daytrip ordered. They refused my money!
"
Paul Nelissen, Belgium, February 2011
Voodoo Divers offer daily diving, all PADI Courses and Live Aboards. Dutch owned.
Voodoo Divers
Bella Vista Hotel
Sekalla
Hurghada
Egypt
center@voodoodivers.com
"I went out diving with Voodoo divers in April. Very nice people! The guides seems to know everything about the Red Sea. I felt very confortable and safe with them. Also the equipment was like new! I certainly would dive there again.
"
Henk, 2007
Euro-Divers
Grand Hotel,
Hurghada,
Egypt
"Learned to dive with them in 2005, dived with them again 2006. 1 weeks diving cost (2 x dives daily meal on boat...incl. hire of Scuba equipment: Approx. £160 pw. Well run centre: Very professional,and friendly. (In my caes..very patient too!!) Would dive and recommend them to anyone!!
"
Kelvin Leathem, 2007
I.M.E.I. Diving Center
Sheraton Road - Roma Hotel
Hurghada
Egypt
Phone: +20 (0)65 448141/2/3
Fax: +20 (0)65 448144
GSM +20 (0)12 2460380
info@imeidivers.com
Prince Diving Center
Dr. Sayed Koryem street
El Dahar
Hurghada
Red Sea
Egypt
Mobile: Ibrahim Oda +20-(0)12-248 4015
Mobile: Annika Wasstrom +20-(0)12-705 1216
E-mail: info@prince-diving.com
"Small diving center in downtown Hurghada. Friendly and professional, small diving groups, very nice staff. Good prices, as all fees and lunch and drinks where included in the price. The day boats where a little bit more basic than with the big companies, but the atmosphere much nicer.
"
Anna-Karin, Finland, 2008
Gulf Divers
Beirut Hotel
Hurghada
Egypt
Tel: +20 65 3550130
Fax: +20 65 3546680
Mobile: +20 12 221 9936
E-mail: info@gulfdivers.com
"Have just done my divemaster internship in Hurghada with a very nice British-run outfit called Gulf Divers at Beirut Hotel . I am in no way connected to them - they just did a really good course, very professional, in a town where the majority of the 200 other dive centres leave a lot to be desired from a safety and professionalim aspect.
Good value for money - 5 day pack (10 dives) 150 Euros with lunch included (2005).
"
Julie Cunningham
Emperor Divers have agents around the world.
Hurghada Hilton Resort,
Safaga Rd,
Hurghada, Egypt
Tel +20 65 444854, Fax +20 65 444854
Email
| Portugal, Escape Travel | ||
| Canada, Fly & Sea Dive Adventures | Netherlands, Eigen-Wijze Duik Reize | |
| Czech Republic, Kapr Divers | Norway, Natureventyr AS | |
| Denmark, Atlantis-Reisjer | Singapore, SDA Travel Tel: 0065 226 5187 | |
| Espagne, WWT | South Africa, Reefcomber Tours | |
| France, Utramarina | Sweden, Dyk & Resespecialisten | |
| Germany, Emperor Divers Direckt | UK, Regal Holidays | |
| Israel, Yambetava Travel & Diving | USA, Turtlehead Tours | |
| Italy, Nosytour | Taiwan, Pioneer Travel Service |
DiveProdigy Diving Center
villa #14
El Hadaba
Hurghada
Egypt
Tel: +20 12 169 5753
Fax: +20 65 3444470
E-mail: diveprodigy@gmail.com
"40 Euros for a perfect daily dive, wish it didn't end! Nice and friendly atmosphere, professional guides and instructors, everything was tip-top! During my three days diving with them we saw at least 5 turtles on different days, several eagle rays, plenty of HUGE morays, lionfish of various types, stonefish, and of course all the myriad smaller citizens of the reefs. Paul, one of the dive guides, knows the reefs and points out tiny details that would otherwise go unseen. He also knows to take it easy and does not rush one around the reef and back to the boat. It's the best, no comparison needed. Just come and dive!
"
Alyona Kurochkina
Colona Divers
School Street (near Roma Hotel)
El Hadaba
Hurghada
Egypt
Tel: +20 10-0213-8409
E-mail: info@colona.com
"I do like Colona Divers in Hurghada and El Gouna, been diving with them since 2009. Lots of Scandinavians as instructors and clients. Very safe operation.
"
Jaana Nyström, Finland, November 2018
Easy Divers
Hilton Plaza
Hurghada
Egypt
Mobile: 0020 (0)122305203
E-mail: info@easydivers-redsea.com
Offer Egypt sightseeing tours, Nile River cruises, desert safaris and Red Sea diving holidays. Specialise in land and sea combination packages.
Egypt Online Adventures
Airport Zone
Bldg. 115
Suite 12
Hurghada
Egypt
Office: +20 1118440051
Email: terri@egypt-o-adventures.com
Operating in the Egyptian Red Sea since 1989, Tornado Marine Fleet provide "luxurious" liveaboard vessels.
Sheraton Road
Hurghada
Egypt
E-mail: info@tornadomarinefleet.com
The Pro Diving Club
El Serafy Village,
Sheraton Road,
Hurghada,
Egypt
Tel: +20-65-444714
Fax: +20-65-442664
Blue Dolphin Divers
Golden 5 Hotel
Hurghada
Egypt
Offer PADI dive courses.
Evolutions Dive Center
next to Empire Hotel
El Dahar
Hurghada
Egypt
Tel: 0102063097
E-mail
Dr. Hossam Omar street
Elite Marriott Compound
BPo2 / Postal Code: 84517
Tel: + 2 010 65 33 28 46
E-mail
Offer PADI dive courses.
Hurghada Marina
Hurghada 1
Red Sea Governorate 1965321
Tel: +2 010 911 000 03
E-mail
Italian-Egyptian company.
Blue Smile Divers
1855 El Orouba St
Hurghada 21321
Egypt
Tel: +2012 42 68 476
Fax: +2012 42 68 476
E-mail: info@bluesmileco.com
Compare prices and availability of Liveaboards out of Hurghada
British company offering tailor-made diving holiday packages the Red Sea.
Western Hangar
Lawrence Rd
Mount Batten
Plymouth
PL9 9SJ
UK
Tel: +44 (0) 1752 480 808
Fax: +44 (0) 1752 482 008)
E-mail: info@blueotwo.com
"Had the best weeks diving on liveaboard Blue Fin with Company Blue o Two operating out of Hurgharda. First class all the way from pickup to drop off. The boat was excellent, the food superb and the diving varied, well-organised with safety as a priority. The dive guides were knowlegeable and went out of their way to ensure everbody's requirements on the dining front were met. A good selection of dive sites on the Northern Red Sea itinarary satisfied everyone. The crew were ever helpful ensuring that even this 54 year old diver of questionable fitness never missed one of the four schedualed dives everyday. I have no link with the dive operator. I have never contributed to this sort of forum before, even declinig to fill in standard holiday questionnaires. However I was so impressed with this organisation I feld compelled to comment. I shall be using them again.
"
David Cheesman
Aimed at divers travelling from the USA: on the expensive side and an extremely large boat which is not always an advantage.
15050 Cedar Ave. S. ( Suite # 116 )
St. Paul,
Minnesota 55124-7046
USA
divetrip@bitstream.net
A travel agent with branches in Egypt, UK, Italy, Switzerland and Belgium.
| Country | Telephone |
|---|---|
| Egypt, Diving World Red Sea | +0039 31887381 |
| Belgium, Diving World International | +010 414631 |
| Italy, La Compagnia Del Mar Rosso | +02 38000467 |
| Switzerland, Scuba Swiss | +022 7886316 |
| UK, Diving World UK | +44 (0)171 4070017 |
"I would recommend avoiding Diving world. They short changed me 2 days of a liveaboard on a 7 trip! work that out in cash. No one at airport to meet me, less dives than the Germans already on the boat and delivered to the airport late enough to nearly miss flight and sit 15 rows apart. Rubbish!"
Paul Stow
"Marriott Hotel, Shore based have dived with them several times wonderful operation, never had a hitch. Will be going again"
Stephen Cowdell, 2005
British company offering tailor-made diving holiday packages in the Red Sea, including Hurghada, El Gouna, Safaga, Makadi Bay, Soma Bay and Abu Soma, El Quseir, Marsa Alam, Shams Alam, Hamata, Sharm, Dahab and Nuweiba.
Regaldive
58 Lancaster Way
Ely
Cambridgeshire
CB6 3NW
Tel: +44 (0) 1353 659 999
Fax: +44 (0) 01353 666 128
E-mail
"Don't go close to this one, I used them for 10 day dive pack, but only went 4 days, First dive equipment malfunction on my air console OUT OF AIR AT 8meters, 2nd dive same day Safwat Instructor assured me it would be ok, I'll dive close to you 15 Meters he's off 5 meters in front. Panic dive no fun didn't trust rental gear, plus always trying to get a little more money out of you.... Friend..dive book for you because you're my friend, next day 15 pound for dive book, I never payed it LOL get real.
"
Gregory Pearson, 2011
Tourist Port
Sheraton
Hurghada
Egypt
BOX:29
Tel: (+20) 106-5197-301
info@hurghadadiving.net
Old Palace Resort
Sahl Hasheesh
Hurghada
Tel: 01011042880
E-mail: dev@blueocean-eg.com
Sub Acqua Macadi Bay
SUB AQUA DiveCenter
Sunrise Royal Makadi
Makadi Bay
Egypt
Tel.: +20 65 3 590 600
Fax: +20 65 3 590 600
Email
"Be aware of their hidden cost: three divers totted up a bill of over 1800 euros. They didn't even warn us of all the hidden charges. We are going back to Hurghada but not with these guys. They need black listing. Be aware."
Alan Pendlebury
You can do many of the same dives from El Gouna as you can from Hughada, especially the wreck dives.
Colona Divers
Three Corners Rihana Resort
Down Town
El Gouna
Egypt
Tel: +20 65-358-0113 / +20 10-0124-3097
E-mail: info@colona.com
"I do like Colona Divers in Hurghada and El Gouna, been diving with them since 2009. Lots of Scandinavians as instructors and clients. Very safe operation.
"
Jaana Nyström, Finland, November 2018
Call centre in Western Europe is open Monday to Friday between 9am and 5.30pm Central European Time. Staff can help you in English, Dutch, French, German and Italian.
Tel: Italy +39 069 8359254
Tel: UK +44 (0) 208 8168725
Tel: Switzerland + 41 445 862868
info@tgidiving.com
"You can get a discount by pre booking on the web. They have a European call centre with a UK number if you want to talk to someone. Very professional and based at the Sheraton Mirimar resort. I took my PADI open water with them so I could dive with my partner who qualified with a different company in Hurghada earlier this year. The Sheraton Mirimar was a superb hotel very clean and friendly with good rooms. The sites we visited were better than those my partner had dived in Hurghada in May. They also endeavour to not go to sites that are crammed with other dive boats, and when planning each days dive take into account where people have dived before. "
Martin Tyrer
Movenpick Resort
"What about the Dive Tribe at the Moevenpick Resort
Spa El Gouna? Divers who use it rate it very highly "
John G C Wood
I and my husband came just back to Finland from a scuba diving trip to El Gouna. We have been diving in Red Sea since 1999 and have +400 logged dives since that. We have been "returning divers" to Red Sea (last time in Egypt before this years trip was in June 2012 = last summer).
Our family members and friends disagreed strongy when they heard that we will again come to Egypt (due to the political instability and image what is spread in international news nowadays) but we said that costal line is "business as usual". Well, unfortunately we ourselves think now that the surface in costal areas is safe and OK for tourists BUT diving with egyptians might be deadly... This is what happened to us:
We were diving around one pinnacle in El Gouna area on Wednesday, July 21st. Both of us carry cameras + camera pointers. Which we strongly believe can use and know how to use - we really appreciate the nature (you can read our articles in some dive publications every now and then). Suddenly an egyptian dive instructor came to us, grabbing our pointers and at the same time kicking/breaking the corals himself...To make this shorter; he returned 3 times even his buddy from his dive company and our dive instructor took him away from my husband. He tried to put air into my husbands BCD (in order to send him into the surface!!!) but since he did not know how integrated HUB works (bless us), he did not get air to the BCD. As he did not succeed, he got more angry and opened my husbands BCDs belt buckets (in order to get his BCD away). My husband was standing on his knees in the sandy bottom, putting his BCD back on him when the instructor attacted once more from behind... My husband was carrying heavy camera (and tried to protect that one) and had only his left hand to try to get this dangerous instructor away...
What we did was; yes, I (wife) was hanging in the instructors feet when I saw that they may come to the surface uncontrolled. And yes, in the last/third attack my husband did rip instructors regulator from his mouth. This made him finish his attack and diassappear... And I say that all of this was selfprotection.
There were several other divers (10-15 pax) and at least 2 other instructors who saw this happening. The instructor who attacted on us is from a dive center called Blue Brothers and the instructor is called Foad (+50 yrs old man). If we would not have been that experienced, he could have killed us, or at least caused a sever diving accident. We think that we were diving just right and correct but even though - lets say that we were doing something wrong - an instructor should NEVER attact a recreational diver underwater and try to cause harm/accident.
All of us came "alive and kickin'" back to the surface but I want to tell the other scuba divers that at the moment it might be dangerous to dive in the Red Sea... Its a pity for all of us!
Nina & Petri Torkkel from Finland, 2013To get you in the mood.
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