Can you swim from the public pier area in Hurghada without a boat guide, and which direction is allowed?

To the left of the pier (facing the sea) is a small buoyed-off area — cramped, wavy, murky water with few fish; not worth going back after trying once.

Swimming to the right of the pier, toward the Makadi hotels, was not allowed — that zone is reserved for hotel guests.

Standing on the pier facing the sea, the right side is where all hotel guests swim, while the left side (toward Sahl Hasheesh) has been off-limits for a while.

You can swim from the pier freely — no guide required, travelers usually just get there by car or taxi, and there's a hotel nearby that's also accessible without a guide.