Independent Guide to Red Sea Dive Centres (Egypt)

Editorial Notice: 100% Independent

How2Scuba has no commercial affiliation with dive centres in Egypt. We do not sell packages, liveaboard berths, or take booking commissions.

The Three Red Sea Diving Hubs

Egypt offers the highest value-for-money coral reef and wreck diving within 5 hours of Europe. The country is divided into three distinct operational styles:

1. Hurghada — Daily Day Boats & Northern Wrecks

Hurghada is a massive resort city with large dive centres operating full-day wooden dive boats with sun decks, buffet lunches, and compressor stations on board:

• Style: Two morning dives on offshore reefs (Abu Ramada, Giftun Islands) and afternoon wreck trips.
• Top Draw: The departure port for many northern Red Sea liveaboards travelling to the SS Thistlegorm and Abu Nuhas wrecks.

2. Sharm El-Sheikh — Ras Mohammed & Tiran

Located at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Sharm offers world-class wall diving:

• Ras Mohammed National Park: Sheer vertical walls (Shark & Yolanda Reef) dropping hundreds of metres into the abyss, swarming with barracuda and jacks in summer.
• Straits of Tiran: Pristine coral pinnacles subject to strong tidal currents (Jackson, Gordon, Woodhouse, and Thomas reefs).

3. Dahab — Laid-Back Shore Diving

An hour north of Sharm, Dahab is a bohemian Bedouin town with zero boat diving:

• Style: Everything is shore-based. You ride in open-top 4x4 pickup trucks to shore sites like the Canyon and Dahab Blue Hole.
• Best for: Relaxed, unhurried progression diving, technical freediving, and budget travellers.

3 Essential Checks for Egyptian Dive Centres

1. Verify CDWS Card / Licensing: The Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) strictly regulates Egyptian dive centres. Check that the centre displays an active CDWS compliance certificate.
2. Hyperbaric Chamber Cover: Egypt has dedicated hyperbaric chambers in Hurghada, Sharm, and Dahab. Ensure your dive centre registers you with the local chamber network (a mandatory small fee of €1–€2/day).
3. Ask About Lunch & Marine Park Fees: Daily boat trips usually add €7–€10 for freshly cooked buffet lunch and €5–€10 per day for national park entry permits (Ras Mohammed / Giftun). Verify whether these are included in your quote.