Are there sharks in the Red Sea and are they dangerous for swimmers?
Based on 2 discussions with 2 participants · Last activity: 7 days ago
TL;DR
Sharks exist in the Red Sea but stay in deep water and near reefs. Attacks are extremely rare and were linked to specific incidents (animal carcasses dumped at sea). Coastal areas near Sharm el-Sheikh and Marsa Alam are generally safe.
What the community said
Last year a swimmer encountered a shark in the Red Sea — the incident was caught on video but ended without injury. It's advisable to swim when divers are also in the water as an added safety measure.
1 day ago Red Sea — swim when divers are present
Sharks are present in the Red Sea but stay in deep water and avoid reefs. Coastal zones near Sharm el-Sheikh and Marsa Alam are calm. One isolated attack did occur, but the shark was caught immediately afterward.
2 days ago Sharm el-Sheikh, Marsa Alam — coastal zone is safe
Past shark attacks in the Red Sea were linked to animal carcasses (sheep) being thrown overboard during Ramadan, which attracted predators to shore. These incidents recurred over several years in June and early July. Sharks naturally prefer fish and do not hunt humans — following basic water safety rules is the key precaution.
2 days ago Historically higher risk period — June / early July