1. Ras Mohamed National Park

Ras Mohamed National Park, at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, is a protected marine reserve and a must-dive site for any trip to Sharm El Sheikh. Famous for schooling fish, steep walls and strong currents, it offers some of the most spectacular drift dives in the Red Sea.

Depth & Experience Level

Dive depths at Ras Mohamed typically range from 5–40 m. Many highlights are comfortably enjoyed in the 15–30 m range, but currents can be strong and unpredictable, especially in summer. Advanced Open Water certification and previous drift-dive experience are recommended, particularly for the park’s famous wall dives.

What You Will See at Ras Mohamed

Ras Mohamed is known for its dense coral gardens, dramatic drop-offs and seasonal fish aggregations. In late spring and summer, you can encounter huge schools of barracuda, batfish, snappers and fusiliers, along with hunting trevallies and occasional reef sharks on the blue-water side.

Shark Reef

Shark Reef is a vertical wall that plunges well beyond recreational depths, carpeted with soft corals and gorgonians. You drift along the wall, watching for grey reef sharks and blacktip reef sharks cruising in the blue, while clouds of anthias dance over the reef. Expect depths of 15–30 m on a typical dive, with powerful currents possible during the summer months.

Yolanda Reef & the Yolanda Wreck

Yolanda Reef lies just next to Shark Reef, and the two are often combined in a single drift. The area is famous for the scattered remains of the Yolanda, a Cypriot cargo ship that sank in 1980. Depths range from 10–30 m, and the site is suitable for confident Open Water divers with good buoyancy control.

The Yolanda wreck’s quirky cargo of bathroom fixtures – toilets, bathtubs and sinks – now lies on the reef slope surrounded by hard and soft corals. Look for scorpionfish, moray eels and blue-spotted stingrays among the debris, along with turtles and schools of surgeonfish cruising by in the blue.

2. SS Thistlegorm Wreck

The SS Thistlegorm is one of the world’s most iconic wreck dives and a bucket-list site for wreck enthusiasts. This 128 m British World War II supply ship was sunk in 1941 and rediscovered by Jacques Cousteau in the 1950s. Today it rests in the northern Red Sea, easily reached from Sharm El Sheikh by liveaboard or extended day trip.

Depth & Dive Profile

The Thistlegorm lies between 16–32 m, with the deck around 16–22 m and the sand at approximately 30–32 m. Most dives are conducted as two or three-dive excursions: one to explore the exterior and bridge, and one or two to penetrate the holds. Advanced Open Water certification with wreck and deep-diving experience is strongly recommended.

Highlights: Motorcycles, Trucks & WWII History

Inside the holds you will find an extraordinary time capsule of WWII logistics: rows of BSA and Norton motorbikes, Bedford trucks, train carriages, boots, rifles and spare parts. The wreck is now richly encrusted with corals and home to schooling batfish, giant trevallies, crocodilefish and resident large groupers around the stern.

Currents can be moderate to strong, visibility varies, and the site can be busy, so good buoyancy and situational awareness are crucial. A liveaboard itinerary gives you the best chance to dive the Thistlegorm at quieter times of day with more relaxed schedules.

3. Tiran Island Reefs

Located in the narrow Straits of Tiran, just off the Sinai coast, Tiran Island is ringed by four legendary reefs: Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Gordon. These reefs act as underwater platforms in the middle of a deep channel, attracting pelagic life and offering some of the most exciting drift dives from Sharm El Sheikh.

Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas & Gordon Reefs

Jackson Reef is the northernmost reef and is often exposed to current and swell. It is famous for its rich coral gardens, schooling fish and, in the summer months, possible encounters with hammerhead sharks on the deeper, blue-water side.

Woodhouse Reef is a long, narrow reef best dived as a drift. The eastern side offers impressive walls, overhangs and frequent schools of barracuda and jackfish. This is typically an intermediate to advanced dive depending on current.

Thomas Reef packs some of Tiran’s best topography into a small area. Its drop-offs, deep canyon and rich soft corals make it a favourite with experienced divers. The canyon itself extends beyond recreational depths, so proper gas planning and depth limits are essential.

Gordon Reef is the southernmost and generally the most sheltered. With sloping coral gardens, sandy patches and scattered wreckage from old groundings, it is often chosen for slightly more relaxed dives while still offering excellent reef life.

Big Marine Life Encounters

The Tiran reefs are a hotspot for pelagics. In the right season, divers may see hammerhead sharks, especially at Jackson Reef. Common sightings include dolphins bow-riding the boat or passing by underwater, as well as occasional manta rays gliding above the reef. Large tuna, trevallies and eagle rays are regular visitors, while the reef slopes are busy with anthias, parrotfish, triggers and turtles.

Currents can be strong and changeable, so Tiran is best suited to confident intermediate and advanced divers comfortable with negative entries, blue-water ascents and safety stops away from the reef.

4. Ras Nasrani

Ras Nasrani is a beautiful fringing reef close to Sharm El Sheikh, ideal for those first Red Sea dives or relaxed days between more demanding sites. With easy entry, gentle slopes and vibrant coral gardens, it is suitable for all levels and a favourite for check dives and training dives.

Beginner-Friendly Reef with Easy Conditions

The site usually offers mild currents, good visibility and depths from 5–25 m, making it accessible for Open Water divers and even snorkellers in the shallows. You can enjoy long, relaxed dives following the reef wall or exploring the sandy patches and coral bommies at moderate depths.

Turtles, Moray Eels & Night Dives

Ras Nasrani is known for encounters with green and hawksbill turtles, as well as impressive giant moray eels tucked into crevices along the reef. Schools of goatfish, lionfish and blue-spotted stingrays patrol the sandy areas, while the coral heads are home to glassfish, shrimps and colourful nudibranchs.

At night, Ras Nasrani transforms into an entirely different landscape. Octopus, Spanish dancers, hunting lionfish and crustaceans emerge, providing excellent opportunities for macro photography and relaxed night diving in comfortable conditions.

5. Abu Nuhas Ship Graveyard

Abu Nuhas, a reef in the northern Red Sea, is known as the “Ship Graveyard” for good reason. Its shallow, treacherous position in a busy shipping lane has claimed numerous vessels over the past 150 years, creating a cluster of accessible wrecks now smothered in coral and marine life.

Four Famous Wrecks to Explore

Most liveaboard itineraries focus on four main wrecks at Abu Nuhas, each offering a different experience and depth profile:

• Ghiannis D – A photogenic Greek freighter lying on her port side in 6–27 m. Known for her easily accessible engine room, tilted masts and dramatic silhouettes for wide-angle photography.
• Carnatic – A 19th-century British mail steamer resting on her side between roughly 18–27 m. Her iron ribs are now wrapped in soft corals and glassfish, with anthias pouring in and out of the structure.
• Chrisoula K – Often called the “Tile Wreck” due to her cargo of floor tiles, offering atmospheric swim-throughs and great opportunities for exploring the holds.
• Kimon M – A deeper and more advanced wreck with collapsed sections and interesting penetrations for experienced divers with proper training.

The wrecks sit close together, allowing multiple dives in one day. Depths and conditions vary from intermediate-friendly to advanced, so it is important to follow your guide’s briefing and stay within your training limits.