Best snorkelling in Hurghada: reefs, sea temperatures and reef rules (2026)

The best snorkelling near Hurghada is on the offshore reefs, because the reefs in front of the town have been badly damaged by construction. Day boats go to the Giftun Islands, Abu Ramada and the Magawish islands, and to Shaab El Erg (Dolphin House) north of Hurghada. The sea averages about 22°C in February and March and about 29°C in August.

Where is the best snorkelling in Hurghada?

Head offshore. Liveaboard.com notes that the reefs directly in front of Hurghada have been destroyed by hotel building, and a study cited on Wikipedia found Hurghada’s reefs declined by about 50% over three decades. The healthier coral is on the islands and reefs a boat ride away, several of them inside protected areas where HEPCA maintains mooring buoys, so boats tie up instead of dropping anchor on the coral.

Reef or area	Where	What you may see	How to get there
Giftun Kebir and Giftun Soraya	Protected Giftun Islands off Hurghada, about 45 minutes to 1.5 hours by boat	Hard and soft coral, parrotfish, Napoleon wrasse	Orange Bay, Nemo Island and Paradise Island boat trips
Abu Ramada Island	Offshore island in the Hurghada reef area	Coral gardens, firefish, octopus, moray eels, barracuda	Snorkelling and diving day boats
Magawish Islands	Offshore islands in the Hurghada reef area	Moray eels, nudibranchs, rays, turtles, Napoleon wrasse at times	Snorkelling and diving day boats
El Fanadir	Reef off the Hurghada coast	Small life: scorpionfish, lionfish, stonefish, octopus	Diving and snorkelling day boats
Shaab El Erg (Dolphin House)	Horseshoe-shaped reef north of Hurghada, towards El Gouna	Dolphins resting in the lagoon, reef fish	Dolphin House boat trips

Giftun Islands

The Giftun Islands are the destination of the Orange Bay, Nemo Island and Paradise Island trips. Giftun Kebir, the larger island, is closer to the town; Giftun Soraya lies further east. The beach trips stop at one or two reefs for 30 to 40 minutes each, then spend time on a Giftun beach. The area is a protected park and a fee is usually charged, quoted by operators at about $5 to €10 per person.

Abu Ramada and Magawish

Abu Ramada and the Magawish islands have several separate reefs, some with very good coral. Egypt Divers lists firefish, octopus, morays and barracuda at Abu Ramada, and Liveaboard.com mentions rays, turtles and Napoleon wrasse around both. They are mainly visited by dive and snorkelling boats.

Shaab El Erg, the Hurghada Dolphin House

Shaab El Erg is a large horseshoe-shaped reef north of Hurghada. Dolphins use the sheltered lagoon behind the reef as a resting area, which is why trips to it are sold as Dolphin House trips. Sources disagree on the species: Egypt Divers names bottlenose dolphins, while Diving Around names spinner dolphins. HEPCA, the Hurghada conservation association, lists Shaab El Erg as a protected dolphin resting area and maintains its mooring buoys. Sightings are frequent but never guaranteed. Our House of Dolphins by Boat trip (from $33) includes the yacht, snorkelling instructor and equipment, drinks and a buffet lunch.

What is the sea temperature in Hurghada?

You can snorkel in Hurghada all year. The water is coolest in February and March and warmest in August. The figures below are 10-year averages from Seatemperature.info; Climates to Travel gives figures about 1°C lower for most months.

Season	Months	Average sea temperature	Typical minimum
Winter	December to February	22.4 to 24.6°C	20.7°C (February)
Spring	March to May	22.3 to 24.9°C	20.8°C (March)
Summer	June to August	26.6 to 29.1°C	24.6°C (June)
Autumn	September to November	26.3 to 28.1°C	23.7°C (November)

Wind matters as much as temperature on a boat day. Climates to Travel notes that average wind speeds peak in June, and that the hot, dusty khamsin wind blows mainly between March and May. Strong wind brings waves at exposed reefs, so captains may switch to a more sheltered site on the day.

Do I need a wetsuit for snorkelling in Hurghada?

From about December to April, when the water is around 22 to 24°C, many snorkellers find the water cool for a long session. A thin wetsuit or thermal suit lets you stay in longer, and it also adds a little buoyancy. From June to October, with the sea at 26 to 29°C, a rash vest or T-shirt is usually enough and protects your back from the sun.

You do not need to bring your own on our boat trips: the snorkelling equipment on the Orange Bay, Nemo Island, Paradise Island and House of Dolphins trips includes a mask, fins, a vest and a thermal suit.

Reef safety rules for snorkellers

Egypt’s Chamber of Diving and Watersports (CDWS) and the Reef-World Foundation, which runs the UN Environment Programme’s Green Fins initiative, give the following advice to snorkellers and divers in Egypt:

• Do not touch, stand on or kick coral. Contact with hands, feet or fins injures it and can kill it.
• Do not touch or chase fish, turtles or other animals.
• Do not feed fish. It can make them ill or aggressive.
• Use reef-safe sunscreen without oxybenzone or octinoxate, and cover up with a rash vest in strong sun.
• Gloves are not permitted for snorkelling and diving in Egypt.

If you snorkel near dolphins, HEPCA’s dolphin code of conduct applies. It requires a mask, fins, snorkel and lifejacket in the water, a quiet entry without jumping, swimming beside the group and never diving down onto it, and no chasing, touching or feeding. HEPCA describes the code as mandatory and says breaking it is punishable by a fine.

For your own safety, wear the vest, stay close to the instructor and your boat, and tell the crew if you are not a confident swimmer. Currents can be present at exposed reefs even in calm weather.

Which Hurghada boat trips include snorkelling?

• Nemo Island by Boat (from $20): 9 hours, snorkelling with an instructor, Nemo beach, drinks and buffet lunch.
• Orange Bay by Boat (from $25): 8 hours, snorkelling with an instructor, Orange Bay beach, drinks and buffet lunch.
• House of Dolphins by Boat (from $33): 8 hours, snorkelling with an instructor, drinks and buffet lunch.
• Paradise Island by Boat (from $50): 8 hours, snorkelling with an instructor, Paradise beach, belly dance and foam party, drinks.

Can I see the reef without snorkelling?

Yes. The Seascope Semi-Submarine Panorama (from $18) has a lower viewing deck with windows below the waterline, so you can watch the reef and fish while staying dry. Snorkelling equipment, including a thermal suit, is included for anyone who wants to get in the water as well. It suits children, non-swimmers and anyone who prefers not to snorkel.