Image: Destination image
DESTINATION / EGYPT
The best value diving in the world with the legendary SS Thistlegorm wreck
Image: Destination image
Visibility
35m
Water Temp
25C
Max Depth
40m
Current
Moderate
Difficulty
Beginner
Best Season
Mar-Apr-May-Sep-Oct-Nov
Certification
open water
Budget
$ Budget
Sharks
Manta Rays
Whale Sharks
Turtles
Coral
Macro
Pelagics
Dolphins
Depth: 16-30m | Intermediate
A WWII supply ship sunk in 1941 loaded with trucks, motorcycles, rifles, and other wartime cargo, now an underwater museum teeming with marine life.
WWII artifacts, cargo holds, schooling batfish
Depth: 10-40m | Intermediate
Iconic Ras Mohammed wall dives where currents bring in pelagics past vibrant soft coral-covered walls.
Schooling barracuda, snapper, occasional hammerheads
The Red Sea offers three completely different itineraries — north, central, and Deep South. The Thistlegorm in the north is the world's most famous wreck: trucks, motorcycles, rifles, and Wellington boots still scattered in the holds eighty years later. The Brothers Islands deliver oceanic whitetips on nearly every dive and soft coral walls rivaling Fiji. The Deep South is hammerhead territory — remote, pristine, barely dived. The Red Sea is also incredible value: a seven-night liveaboard costs what two days in the Maldives would.
Best months: Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov. Peak: Oct-Nov. Water: 21-29C.
open water certification recommended. Minimum 0+ dives.
$80/day average. budget tier. Liveaboard: available.
Ras Mohammed dives best from Mar, Apr, May, Sep, Oct, Nov, with the peak season running Oct to Nov. During these months you can expect the calmest seas, the clearest water, and the highest chance of encountering the marine life this destination is known for. Water temperature sits at 21-29C, so a 5mm wetsuit is recommended for the cooler water.
For divers who are flexible, the shoulder months just outside peak season offer nearly identical conditions at 20-30% lower prices and with far fewer boats on the water. The only periods to avoid are the wet or cyclone windows - check the seasonal calendar below and on the dive operator websites before locking in flights.
Visibility at Ras Mohammed averages 35 meters, which ranks among the clearest dive destinations in its ocean. Early morning dives consistently deliver the best visibility and the most active marine life, which is why local operators schedule most boat departures before 9am.
Getting there: Fly into Sharm el-Sheikh (SSH). From the airport, dive operators and hotels usually arrange transfers - budget 30 minutes to several hours depending on whether your resort or liveaboard is based on the mainland, an offshore island, or a distant atoll.
Time and money: The local timezone is UTC+2. A day of guided diving averages $80 at this $ Budget tier destination. Liveaboard safaris are available for multi-day trips to remote reefs.
Who this suits: With a Beginner difficulty profile, a beginner-friendliness score of 5/5, and a minimum of 0 logged dives recommended, Ras Mohammed is an excellent match for newly certified divers as well as veterans. It is also family-friendly, with options for non-divers.