What is the best time to snorkel a reef in Egypt for good visibility, sunlight, and more fish?
Based on 1 discussion with 2 participants · Last activity: 14 days ago
TL;DR
For the best light, snorkel the reef before noon, since after around 12:00 the shoreline can cast shade over the reef. Travelers also note that fish are often easier to see at full low tide, while very early mornings like 7:00 can look gray underwater.
What the community said
A practical compromise is to snorkel later in the morning rather than at 7 a.m., but still before noon: underwater light is better then, while after about 12:00 the reef often falls into the shoreline’s shadow.
14 days ago before 12:00
If your goal is to see more fish, travelers suggest timing your swim for full low tide: fish can no longer stay high above the reef and tend to gather closer to it, making them easier to spot.
14 days ago full low tide
Around sunset, the water can be noticeably deeper because of the tide: one traveler reported a strong high tide in the evening, although the spot is usually much shallower. This changes depth conditions, but it is not the best light for reef viewing.
14 days ago sunset, high tide