Best spots for snorkeling with fish near the shore in Hurghada

Near Sunrise Ramla there's a sunken ship spot with lots of fish. Following the line of flags/buoys and swimming a bit further, you can spot stingrays, moray eels, and colorful fish.

The reef along most hotel beaches is fairly similar — around 80% dead and grayish, though fish can be found everywhere. The liveliest, most colorful reef is in Ras Um Sid bay.

Near the Sunrise Ramla resort there's a great, lively reef with a wide variety of fish. Swimming right from the pier (toward where yachts dock) is especially beautiful — mantas, barracuda, and stingrays have been spotted, along with lots of colorful fish.

At the Aladdin resort, Jasmine beach is often windy with waves, so it's better to swim at Aladdin's own beach (two cleared entry points). Fish are best spotted at Jasmine beach in the morning before the wind picks up, and near the pier closer to the Alibaba hotel.

At the Jolie Ville hotel, entry into the sea is sandy everywhere, and close to shore there's a large ring of mostly dead (partly living) coral with plenty of fish around it. Near the pier you can spot surgeonfish and lionfish, and the bay is usually calm.

A deeper section between the Inn and Majestic beaches is recommended for shore snorkeling: there are fish and enough depth for longer mask swims, although the reef is said to be less colorful and with more limited variety than top spots.

Another shore-snorkeling reference point is the seagrass beds opposite Imperial when entering from Shams beach. The grass starts at about waist depth; swimmers recommend heading left toward the deeper patches. Various fish are seen along the way, with early morning, after lunch, and around 4 pm near the pier mentioned as the best times.

The beach at the Pyramisa hotel is worth visiting for shore snorkeling — visitors have spotted a small stingray and large schools of fish of various sizes. According to locals, it rivals paid snorkeling excursions. The sunken columns area nearby also has abundant fish.

The Labranda hotel in Makadi Bay (now rebranded as Jazz Palmareva) has a lagoon with a very gentle, gradual entry — great for families and beginners. However, fish are rarely spotted there.

In Hurghada itself, Zahaby beach offers the best shore snorkeling with fish visible right among swimmers throughout the day. Access is through hotels located on this beach.

In Sahl Hasheesh, the spot known as the 'sunken columns' is worth visiting — there are plenty of fish and good snorkeling right from the shore.