Discover the 7 best dive sites in Hurghada, Egypt. From the spectacular Abu Nuhas wrecks to the stunning coral gardens of Giftun Island and Abu Ramada.
Hurghada is one of the most famous scuba diving destinations on the planet, offering a perfect blend of accessible, colorful reef diving and world-class historical shipwrecks. Whether you are taking your very first breaths underwater during a PADI Open Water course or logging your 500th dive, Hurghada's underwater topography has something to thrill you.
While our comprehensive guide on diving in Hurghada gives you a broader overview of the region, this article dives deep into the specific locations you need to request when booking your daily boat trips.
Here are the 7 absolute best Hurghada dive sites you must experience.
Strictly speaking, Shaab Abu Nuhas is a single reef system located just north of Hurghada, but it is famous because it has claimed more ships than any other reef in the Red Sea. Its position right on the edge of the busy Strait of Gubal shipping lane makes it a legendary spot for wreck divers.
There are four main wrecks located here, all sitting in relatively shallow, clear water, making them accessible to advanced recreational divers:
Best for: Advanced divers and wreck enthusiasts.
Shaped like a massive horseshoe, this massive reef system creates a shallow, protected lagoon that serves as a sanctuary for a large resident pod of Bottlenose Dolphins.
Diving at Dolphin House is always a game of luck, but when the dolphins are in a playful mood, they will frequently drop down to interact with divers, swim circles around groups, and ride the bow waves of the dive boats above. Even if the dolphins are resting elsewhere, the reef itself is stunning, featuring a beautiful coral garden teeming with turtles, moray eels, and blue-spotted rays.
Best for: Beginners, snorkelers, and anyone who wants to see dolphins in the wild.
Giftun Island National Park is the crown jewel of Hurghada's local diving, and the dive site known as 'Police Station' on Small Giftun is perhaps its most spectacular wall dive.
The dive starts deep, dropping past a steep wall covered in massive, ancient Gorgonian fan corals. Because this site is exposed to the open sea current, it is a fantastic drift dive area where you frequently spot larger pelagic action—including Napoleon Wrasse, barracuda, and occasionally, reef sharks. As you drift along, the wall eventually transitions into a shallower, light-drenched coral plateau perfect for off-gassing during your safety stop.
Best for: Drift diving and spotting large marine life.
Abu Ramada is an island located a short boat ride from the Hurghada marina. The site known as "The Aquarium" earned its nickname for a very good reason: the sheer density and volume of fish life here is staggering.
The topography features a relatively flat, shallow plateau dotted with coral pinnacles (ergs). Because there is often a mild current, Anthias, Butterflyfish, and Bannerfish gather in their thousands to feed. The light penetration at 10-15 meters is perfect, illuminating the vibrant pinks and purples of the soft corals. It is arguably the best site in Hurghada for underwater photography.
Best for: Photographers, beginners, and relaxing, colorful dives.
Located about an hour's boat ride northeast of Hurghada, Careless Reef (sometimes spelled Carless Reef) feels wilder and more remote than the sites closer to shore.
The reef consists of two massive coral towers that rise up from a plateau at 16 meters, surrounded by a dramatic drop-off plunging into the abyss. Careless Reef was historically incredibly famous for its massive population of Giant Moray Eels. While fewer in number today, you are still guaranteed to spot several large eels free-swimming between the coral blocks. Because the site is completely unprotected from the open sea, it can only be dived on days with exceptionally calm weather.
Best for: Advanced divers looking for dramatic topography.
Not all of Hurghada's wrecks require a long boat ride. The Excalibur (also known as the Susanna) was a 22-meter twin-masted sailing safari boat that caught fire and sank in 1995 just a few hundred meters from the Hurghada shore.
Sitting upright on a sandy bottom at a maximum depth of 22 meters, it is a fantastic, easy wreck dive. Because it is so close to the marina, dive centers rarely plan full day-boat trips here, instead using it for specialized wreck courses or incredibly atmospheric night dives. It is completely encrusted in glassfish, which sway in unison as you swim through the skeleton of the vessel.
Best for: Night diving and wreck training.
Translating from Arabic as "Mother of the Moon," this crescent-shaped island located offshore offers spectacular visibility and a fantastic mix of coral gardens and deep walls.
The eastern side of the island drops off vertically to 50+ meters. Along this wall, divers will find three distinct coral caves/overhangs at around 27 meters, which are often filled with sweeping shoals of glassfish and sheltering groupers. The shallow plateau at the southern tip is famous for its vibrant hard corals and frequent encounters with Free-swimming Morays and Spanish Dancers.
Best for: Deep divers and wall enthusiasts.
When booking your daily boats or choosing the best dive center in Hurghada, it is worth asking their weekly schedule. Dive centers usually rotate their boats through these sites depending on the weather conditions, wind speed, and the experience level of the divers on board on any given day.
Whether you are floating weightless through the engine room of the Giannis D or drifting alongside a turtle at Giftun Island, Hurghada's dive sites guarantee an unforgettable Red Sea adventure.