Diving in Sharm el-Sheikh — Ras Mohammed, Tiran & Wrecks

Overview

Ras Mohammed National Park protects some of the healthiest reef systems in the northern Red Sea. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef form a twin-site dive where you drift along a wall teeming with soft corals, glassfish clouds, and barracuda schools, ending at the scattered cargo of the Yolanda wreck — including the famous bathtubs and toilets at 18 meters.

The Strait of Tiran offers four named reefs — Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, and Gordon — each a submerged pinnacle rising from deep water with strong currents that bring nutrients and large pelagics. Jackson Reef is the most popular, with a wall dropping into the abyss and regular sightings of turtles, eagle rays, and reef sharks.

The SS Thistlegorm is a British cargo ship sunk by German bombers in 1941, resting at 30 meters in the Strait of Gubal. Its holds are filled with wartime supplies — motorcycles, trucks, rifles, railway wagons, and Wellington boots. It is among the most famous wrecks in the world and is typically visited as a full-day boat trip or liveaboard stop.

Local sites around Naama Bay and the Ras Um Sid area offer more sheltered conditions for training and night dives, with healthy hard coral gardens and macro life.

Because Sharm is boat-led, the daily plan depends heavily on weather, marine-park permits, and the mix of divers on board. Treat the advertised site list as a likely route rather than a guarantee, especially for Tiran or Thistlegorm days. A good operator will explain pickup time, boat capacity, emergency oxygen, guide ratios, and whether rental equipment is inspected before departure. Newer divers should book a local or Ras Mohammed day before committing to stronger-current itineraries, while wreck-focused divers should confirm whether penetration is included or the plan is external only.

Who Is This For

Sharm suits divers who prefer boat-based diving with organized day trips. Beginners can train on sheltered house reefs and join Ras Mohammed trips once certified. Intermediate divers enjoy the Tiran reefs and local walls. Advanced divers explore the Thistlegorm interior and Tiran in current. The town also caters well to non-diving companions with resort amenities. It is especially practical for groups with mixed goals, because training dives, scenic reef days, resort time, and longer wreck or national-park trips can be planned from the same base.

Best Season

Year-round. Summer is warmest and calmest. Winter can bring wind and choppy seas, occasionally closing Tiran trips. The Thistlegorm is most comfortable April–November. Pelagic encounters at Ras Mohammed peak in autumn.