Why do lifeguards whistle at swimmers on Red Sea beaches in Egypt and ask for your sunbed/room number?
Based on 1 discussion with 2 participants · Last activity: 15 days ago
TL;DR
Lifeguards on Red Sea beaches whistle when swimmers cross the buoy line toward the reef or deep water, and may ask for your sunbed/room number just to confirm you're a hotel guest, not a stranger — it's routine, not harassment.
What the community said
One traveler said that after swimming past the buoy line, a lifeguard stopped them on return and demanded their room/sunbed number, which felt unpleasant, like being accused of breaking rules.
16 days ago
Another guest said they were never whistled at except once while swimming near a sea turtle and accidentally drifting into deep water — the lifeguard whistled just that one time.
16 days ago
A third commenter explained that asking for your number is a standard check lifeguards use to distinguish hotel guests from outsiders on the beach, not a personal accusation. The whistle is usually meant for people swimming toward the reef, not necessarily you specifically.
16 days ago