Techdive Travels

Egypt

Country Name: Arab Republic of Egypt

Capital City: Cairo

Population: Approximately 114,484,252 as of 2024

Official Language: Arabic

Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP)

Time Zone: Eastern European Time (EET), UTC +2. Egypt does not observe daylight saving time​.

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Sunny beach with umbrellas and visitors relaxing
Rocky coastline with blue sea and mountains.

Diving Overview

Egypt is a top destination for adventure divers, known for its warm, clear waters and diverse underwater environments. The Red Sea offers a mix of vibrant coral reefs, historical wrecks, and dramatic drop-offs, teeming with marine life. The area is particularly famous for its WWII wrecks, like the SS Thistlegorm, which have transformed into thriving artificial reefs.

  • Number of Dive Sites: Over 200
  • Types of Diving: Reef, wreck, drift, wall
  • Marine Biodiversity Highlights: Napoleon wrasse, lionfish, moray eels, parrotfish, and sea turtles.
  • Average Water Temperatures: 21-28°C (70-82°F)
  • Visibility Range: 20-50 meters (66-164 feet)​

Important Information

Optimal Dive Seasons

March to May and September to November

Major Airports

Cairo International Airport, Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Marsa Alam International Airports.

The Travel Tip

Pack a 5mm wetsuit for winter and a 3mm for summer.

Weather Patterns

Hot summers and mild winters, with coastal areas experiencing cooling sea breezes.

Internal Transportation

Domestic flights, trains, buses, taxis, ride-sharing services, and ferries.

Attractions

Pyramids of Giza, Red Sea diving, Egyptian Museum, White Desert, Mount Sinai.

Top Dive Regions

Egypt offers some of the world’s best dive regions, primarily located along the Red Sea. Sharm El Sheikh, renowned for its vibrant reefs and the Ras Mohammed National Park, offers diverse marine life and wreck dives like the SS Thistlegorm​. Hurghada, another popular destination, is known for its accessible shipwrecks and colorful coral gardens​. Dahab, famous for the Blue Hole, provides thrilling experiences for advanced divers​ ​. Marsa Alam, including sites like Elphinstone Reef, is ideal for encountering larger pelagic species and enjoys fewer crowds​. Each of these regions offers unique underwater landscapes and biodiversity, making Egypt a top destination for diving enthusiasts.

Sharm El Sheikh

Renowned for vibrant reefs and the iconic SS Thistlegorm wreck

Dahab

Famous for the challenging and renowned Blue Hole dive site

Marsa Alam

Ideal for encounters with large pelagic species at Elphinstone Reef

Hurghada

Known for accessible shipwrecks and colorful coral gardens

Marine Life

Beneath the Red Sea’s surface, divers can encounter a vibrant array of marine creatures, including colorful corals, schools of anthias, and majestic napoleon wrasse. The waters teem with life, featuring everything from tiny nudibranchs to the elusive octopuses hiding among the rocks, and various species of rays gliding gracefully. Historical enthusiasts will find plenty to marvel at with the numerous WWII wrecks scattered throughout, adding a touch of history to the underwater adventure.

Common Species: Napoleon wrasse, lionfish, moray eels, parrotfish, and sea turtles.

Seasonal Highlights: Increased sightings of hammerhead sharks and whale sharks between May and August​

octopus

Octopus

Groupers

Cuttlefish