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Ras Mohammed National Park [Scuba diving & snorkelling]

Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai Peninsula, Egypt

Close up of a turtle on a bright coral reef

Last updated: 18 March, 2024

This national park, set on the tip of the Sinai peninsular, protects one of the world’s greatest marine ecosystems – a coral reef, just offshore – that’s home to more than 1,000 species of fish, and 200 species of coral. There’s world-class diving, from shark reefs to wrecks, and, with most of the reef close to the shore and just below the surface, world-class snorkelling too. Visibility is excellent – regularly 30m.

Night dives are also possible here, with the possibility of seeing octopus, cuttlefish and the other crawlers of the deep. If you’ve never done one – it’s an entirely different experience.

For serious divers, there are world-class dive sites beyond Ras Mohammed, accessible by 2- or 3-day live-aboards. Check out Big Brothers, Elphinstone Reef, and Jackson Reef.

While you're there

40km from Ras Mohammed is the wreck of the SS Thistlegorm, one of the world’s greatest wreck dives.

First spotted by Jacques Cousteau, she was sunk in 1941. Her cargo holds are easily visible with BSA motorbikes, deck guns, Lee Enfield rifles, army boots and unexploded shells.

Logistics

Price from: £30

Minimum age: 3

Age suitable: 8+

When: All year around

Duration: 1-3 hours

Getting there & doing it

Most big hotels, agencies and dive centres in Sharm el Sheikh offer day-trips to the park (about an hour’s drive, or accessed directly by boat). If self-driving, you can walk from the car park down to the reef.

There are six autonomous areas to explore, each offering different dives and ecosystems. There are no facilities inside the national park, so take with you – and take away – any food and drink that you might need. If you’re snorkelling, remember to wear sunblock or a T-shirt; it’s easy to get sunburnt.

When to do it

Diving and snorkelling are available all year round, seven days a week, on request.

Visit between September and March, ideally. The light is better at this time of year and outside temperatures are lower. Spring (March-May) sees winds that can whip up the sea, reducing visibility. July and August are blisteringly hot.

Who to go with: organised tours

Our selection of the best Viator tours of this attraction or activity

Snorkeling trip to Ras Mohamed & The White Island aboard Luxury Yacht

Sharm el Sheikh

Viator

A trip to the White Island is a must when your visiting Sharm. The Maldives like sand strip which is located in the middle of the Red Sea near Ras Mohamed is truly heaven on earth. And there's no better way to do it than aboard Sina Dream yacht. Throughout the trip you'll also get to snorkel in the most beautiful coral reefs of Ras Mohamed. Sina Dream also offers Premium seafood open buffet which is not available on most boat trips in Sharm. We pride ourselves in providing top notch boating experience for more than 30 years.

Price $85

Min age 0

Rating 4.88 / 5 [444 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Snorkeling Day Trip to White Island and Ras Mohamed from Sharm

Sharm el Sheikh

Viator

A trip to the White Island is a must when you are visiting Sharm. The Maldives-like sand strip, which is located in the middle of the Red Sea near Ras Mohamed, is truly heaven on earth. On our way to the White Island you'll get to snorkel in the world's most beautiful coral reefs. Accompanied by a professional snorkeling guide you'll get to experience the underwater world of Nemo (clown fish), the colorful parrot fish, turtles and much more. Our boat offers a soft all-inclusive basis (lunch, soft drinks, water, coffee, tea). We pride ourselves in providing a top-notch boating experience for more than 30 years.

Price $45

Min age 0

Rating 4.73 / 5 [342 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Excursion to the White Island & Ras Mohammed National Park from Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm el Sheikh

Viator

You will be transferred to and from the port from your hotel in Sharm el Sheikh. From there, take a boat to the White Island, which is part of the Ras Mohammed National Park. The island is nicknamed the "Invisible Island" because it is exposed to the tides and cannot be seen at high tide. During the boat trip you have the opportunity to do one or two snorkeling trips in the Ras Mohammed National Park. Marvel at the colorful underwater world with its diverse fish and corals. You will receive a delicious lunch on board, soft drinks are also included in the price. Upon arrival at the port, you will be driven back to your hotel by air-conditioned transfer bus.

Price €21

Min age 3

Rating 4.52 / 5 [280 ratings]

Tour supplied by:

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Sorkeling Trip to the White Island & Ras Mohammed

Sharm el Sheikh

Viator

Enjoy the most beautiful spots in the red sea and get the chance to visit both the White Island & Ras Mohammed national park in one trip. Here you can find thousands of types of turtles, fish and corals and snorkelling here has to be the most enjoyable and accessible way to observe this underwater paradise. If you take any trip on the Red Sea, let it be to this unique spot. Picked up from hotel at approximately 8.00am. The boat will sail and take you to the National Park of Ras Mohammed to have 2 to 3 stops in different places depends on the weather. One of them will be the magical White Island which is a unique plateau where the two Gulfs of Suez & Aqaba meets each other forming a unique island in the middle of the sea. Walk on the whitest, softest sand! While for the other two sites you will be able to do snorkeling at the most beautiful spots, at the same time you will have the chance to relax on the sundeck to take sunbath & view the beautiful scenery of the Red Sea.

Price £27

Min age 0

Rating 4.49 / 5 [51 ratings]

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