Do kids need water shoes and swim vests for the beach in Egypt (Red Sea)?

From messages by 5 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 56 days ago

TL;DR

Yes, water shoes are essential because of coral, sea urchins and hot sand, and regular armbands are usually enough for swimming since Red Sea water is dense and buoyant. Swim vests are sometimes available at hotels, but it's best to check in advance or bring your own.

What the community said

Regular swim armbands work fine for an 8-year-old — Red Sea water is very dense and buoyant, so armbands are comfortable and don't get in the way.

swim armbands

Check directly with your specific hotel about swim vests for kids — some provide them for free, others require buying locally or bringing your own.

kids' swim vest

For beach trips it's recommended to bring a spare pair of flip-flops plus mandatory water shoes ('koralki') — footwear for entering the water is a must.

water shoes + flip-flops

Sea urchins and stingrays occasionally show up along the coast — one day the water was covered in urchins, and a child was seen with a bandaged foot after stepping on one, so swimming in water shoes is strongly advised.

sea urchins and stingrays