Red Sea Diving — Reef Dives, Wrecks & Introductory Dives
Certified and introductory diving at Hurghada, through an operator I trust personally.
The northern Red Sea has some of the most biodiverse coral reef systems in the world. The water is warm year-round — between 22°C in February and 30°C in August — and visibility frequently reaches twenty meters or more in calm conditions. The reef walls at sites like the Giftun Islands drop to fifty meters within a few hundred meters of shore. Reef sharks in the blue water, moray eels in the coral crevices, schools of glassfish moving in synchronized masses, Napoleon wrasse larger than a child.
I arrange diving excursions through a small operator in Hurghada that I have worked with and trusted for several years. They are not the largest dive company on the strip. They are the one I would send my own family to.
For certified divers: the site selection is planned around your certification level and your preferences. For those without certification: an introductory dive at a shallow, clear site with a dive master one-to-one. Many clients who come to Hurghada unsure about diving have their first underwater experience this way and immediately begin planning a PADI course for their next trip. The Red Sea at five meters has genuine interest.
What is included
Included
- Private boat (your group only)
- Experienced dive master for all dives
- All diving equipment (BCD, regulator, wetsuit, mask, fins, tank)
- Snorkeling equipment
- On-board catering (lunch and refreshments)
- Site briefings and dive planning
Not included
- Transport Luxor–Hurghada (arranged separately)
- Hotel accommodation (arranged separately)
- Reef-safe sunscreen (bring your own)
- PADI certification courses (available separately)
- Gratuities
Certification levels and what they unlock
- PADI Open Water
- Dive to 18m with a certified buddy or dive master. Reef sites, shallower wrecks.
- PADI Advanced OW
- 30m, wreck and navigation specialties. Full Abu Nuhas wreck field access.
- Rescue / Divemaster
- Full depth independence. SS Thistlegorm available as full-day trip.
- No certification
- Introductory dive with dive master, 5m depth, shallow reef sites.
Arrange a diving day
Tell me your certification level, any preferred dive site, and your dates. I will respond within 24 hours with a specific proposal.
Common questions
- Do I need a PADI certification to dive?
- No. An introductory dive supervised one-to-one with a dive master allows someone with no prior certification to go underwater. The depth is limited to approximately five meters, the site is chosen for calm and clear conditions, and the marine life at that depth on the Red Sea reef is genuine — coral gardens, reef fish, and sometimes sea turtles.
- What sites do you typically visit?
- For certified divers: the Giftun Islands reef wall (excellent shark sightings in the blue water), Abu Nuhas wreck field (four cargo ships at different depths, accessible to Advanced Open Water and above), and Sha'ab El Erg (resident spinner dolphin pod, shallower reef flat for a second dive). For introductory divers: shallow, clear sites on the Giftun reef flat.
- I have not dived in over a year — should I do a refresher?
- I strongly recommend it. A Scuba Review — a shallow-water exercise with the dive master — brings back the muscle memory before you go to depth. The operator is experienced with this and will not make you feel self-conscious about requesting it. It makes the main dive significantly better.
- What certification level do I need for the Abu Nuhas wrecks?
- PADI Advanced Open Water or equivalent (NAUI, SSI, CMAS Advanced). The wrecks sit at 20–30 meters. The dive master will check your certification card before the briefing.
- Is reef-safe sunscreen required?
- Yes, the operator enforces this policy — standard chemical sunscreen is harmful to the coral and is prohibited on board. I recommend bringing your own reef-safe sunscreen. If you do not have it, it is available at the harbor in Hurghada.
- Can I take a PADI Open Water course with your operator?
- Yes — the operator I work with offers PADI certification courses. The Open Water course is four days including confined water practice and four open-water dives. If you are interested in getting certified for a future trip, I can arrange this.