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The Red Sea Diving Guide
1 May 2024
The Red Sea has some of the best diving in the world. With over 1000 species of fish and 150 species of coral, it is rich in life. As the Red Sea has few storms, her corals are intricate and beautiful. They are also resistant to bleaching. Turtles are common, as are sharks if you take a southern liveaboard.
Diving in the Red Sea. Photo credit: Tim Nicholson
Best time to dive the Red Sea
The average water temperature ranges from a low of 20oC in February to 31 oC in September in the far south. The winds are often weakest during full moon. Low season is December to February because of the cooler water, and June to August because of the heat, which makes for quieter dive sites. For the offshore islands like Egypt's the Brothers or St John's, the summer months are the calmest with the highest likelihood of hammerhead sharks in Egypt. Oceanic White Tip sharks are more likely in the winter months you are more likely to see in Egypt, as ar hammerhead sharks in Sudan. Likewise for the Djibouti whale sharks when the best time to go is from November to January. Warmer water in summer lures the hammerhead sharks further north into Egypt. September to November is the time to see manta rays in Sudan, and thresher sharks in both Sudan and Egypt.
Red Sea Liveaboards - Book now & pay later
Currents in the Red Sea are normally, like the wind, from north to south. But there are many exceptions to this.
The Red Sea is part of the Great Rift Valley: a trough running from Israel to south of the equator. This immense crack in the Earth's surface makes for an extremely deep sea, reaching nearly 3000 m. It also explains small islands like the Brothers dive site. Steep-sided and far from land, they were probably thrown up by volcanic actions as the rift opened.
Best Places to Dive in the Red Sea
The ten best dives in the Red Sea, according to divers' votes, are:
Do I need a Wetsuit to Dive in the Red Sea?
Yes. The dives are often an hour long. In the summer months a 5 mm web site is recommended. During January and February, if you are prone to getting cold, you'll need a 7 mm suit with hood.
The Red Sea borders many countries - learn more about diving in:
Egypt | Djibouti | Jordan | Saudi Arabia | Sudan | Israel | Eritrea.
Red Sea Diving Map
Diving in Egypt
Egypt is a popular diving area with good reason: it has some beautiful dives.
You will need to buy a $25 tourist visa when you arrive. If you have no dollars you can pay 25 Euros or 25 pounds. The Egyptian parliament though want to raise the entry fee to $60.
Diving in the Red Sea. Photo credit: Tim Nicholson
How much to tip in Egypt?
Egypt has a culture of tipping. Tip everybody at least 10% unless you receive bad service. If you have no Egyptian pounds you can tip in Euros, dollars or pounds. As a rough guide, per person, tip as follows.
Driver taking you to the hotel: 20 LE (Egyptian pounds)
Dive guides/boat staff: 10% of dive costs
Waiters: 10 LE per meal (they don't receive any service charge included in the bill)
Housekeeping: 10 LE per night
Luggage porter in hotel: 10 LE per bag
Taxi: funnily enough taxi drivers aren't generally tipped, but at least 10 LE if they have been helpful
Restaurants outside your hotel - service charge is often added but this doesn't go to the staff: tip the waiters as well.
When tipping do so discretely, fold in the palm of the hand and pass across for example.
Don't be surprised if an Egyptian asks you to convert a number of coins to a bank note. The banks will only exchange notes and so people need a friendly tourist to change their foreign tips for them.
Read more on diving Egypt.
Find deals on Egypt liveaboards. Book now & pay later.
Diving in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
The fledgling diving tourist industry in Saudi Arabia has been curtailed by the impossibility of getting a tourist visa. Diving is still available for foreign workers and Saudi nationals.
PADI and BSAC qualification cards are no longer recognised in Saudi Arabia: you need a Saudi-issued, Arabic language dive permit to dive
Diver in Saudi Arabia. Photo credit: Captain Victor Organ.
The main diving areas are around Jeddah and Yanbu. There are also some good reefs south of Jeddah. Some of the shore dives in Jeddah have been heavily spear fished (even though spear fishing is banned) and there are also problems with coastal developments polluting the water in some areas. However there are many more fantastic dives, full of life, and numerous wrecks.
The best diving is via liveaboard. Whale sharks visit Farasan Banks from March to June. You need to bring along a passport, Igama or Saudi ID and your Saudi Dive Permit.
The top hotels in Jeddah have contacts with the dive shops and can arrange instruction for beginners and recreational dives for qualified divers. Many offer private beaches from which to shore dive.
More on Diving Saudi Arabia
Diving in Djibouti
Djibouti is at the foot of the Red Sea. It is famous for whale sharks. You dive Djibouti from a liveaboard.
Djibouti sits on the junction between the African and the Arabian tectonic plates and you can dive in this crack at Goubbet at La Faille
Djibouti Liveaboard - Book now & pay later.
More on Diving Djibouti
Diving in Jordan
Jordan is at the north end of the Red Sea. It has a Red Sea coastline of just 15 miles. The coral is in good condition and you will often see turtles and napoleon wrasse. It's not the place to go to see sharks though. Most of the dives can be done as shore dives.
Photo copyright Tim Nicholson
More on Diving Jordan
Diving the Sudan
Sudan's most famous dive site is the wreck of the Umbria. This huge shipwreck is a spooky castle of a dive, covered by corals and loaded with 36000 aircraft bombs, cars and wine bottles. Manta rays, whale sharks and, at night, tiger sharks visit. You'll probably be alone on the wreck due to the small numbers of divers visiting the country.
The wreck of the Umbria. Photo copyright Tim Nicholson
Another great Sudan dive site is Sha'ab Rumi South with its awe-inspiring hammerhead sharks.
Sudan Liveaboards - Compare Prices Online
More on Diving Sudan
Diving Israel
Israel's Red Sea diving is around Eilat. Highlights include Moses Rock and the wreck of the Satil. The diving is shore diving.
More on Diving Israel
Diving Eritrea
Eritrea is very little dived. One of its best dive areas is the Dahlak Islands. "Outstanding visibility, crowded with fish and bold coral formations, and NO PEOPLE!"
More on Diving Eritrea
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