Which hotel/area in Hurghada has the best coral reef for snorkeling?

A newer report disputes earlier criticism of Long Beach: its reef is considered good and much more interesting than Dana Beach, where a roughly 250 m walkway leads to a small reef. In this view, some positive Coral Beach reef reviews actually describe the section toward Long Beach.

When choosing a hotel specifically for snorkeling, rely on the most recent reviews: coral bleaching has noticeably changed reef conditions.

Reports on Makadi Bay vary by location: it is described as one of the least windy bays, and some areas have abundant marine life including barracudas, octopuses, and rays. However, Jaz Saraya was reported to have neither a reef nor notable marine life, so choose a specific section or hotel rather than judging the whole bay.

The reef near Magawish is lively with plenty of fish, including one unusually large, bright lime-green coral formation. Sandy cliffs of small islets rise above the water, and the unequipped part of the area feels like walking on an uninhabited island. Compared to the reef near Zahabia hotel, which many tourists specifically travel to for fish-watching, the Magawish reef is considered noticeably better.

At the PR resort the reef was found interesting, but according to reviews from other sources there is an unpleasant smell there, caused by yachts bringing tourists to the reef during the day.

The reef at Hilton was praised for its abundance of fish, including larger species such as Napoleon wrasse and manta rays, although coral condition overall is no longer what it was years ago.

At one hotel (context suggests Concorde) there are two lagoons with beach entry and a separate pier leading to the actual reef. The reef is described as fairly sad/poor, but marine life is present: a moray eel, lionfish, many surgeonfish, and a blue-spotted stingray.

One participant disputes the claim that Long Beach has a great reef, saying that compared to reefs at other beaches, it's not actually that impressive.

Contrary to claims that there's no reef there, the beach at Jaz Star and Spa 5* actually has a reef — two medium-sized patches and one large one (large by Hurghada standards), with plenty of marine life spotted (except turtles).

The Farana reef continues to slowly die off (confirming last year's observations); this year, in search of a livelier reef, some travelers went to Marsa Alam despite the long transfer. It's also noted that in Sharm El Sheikh, the Hadaba area is currently considered to have one of the most alive reefs.

At Rif Oasis Beach Resort the reef is great with lots of fish, but the pier/pontoon is very long and inconvenient.

Makadi Bay has essentially no reef, but has a nice artificial lagoon instead; for reef snorkeling it's better to go to Sharm El Naga.

Sentido hotel shares the same grounds as Rif Oasis Beach (5-star), and its reef was called the best of all — rays kept coming close to shore, though the pontoon there is also long and tiring.

The reef near the Robb (Robinson Club) area is very rich: huge schools of fish, moray eels, manta rays, eagle rays, octopuses, turtles, and even a rare crocodilefish spotted. Much better than the reef at the PR resort, which was unimpressive.

The Safira reef is noticeably better and more colorful than the reefs near Sunrise, Garden Bay, and Tower Bay hotels, where the corals are badly damaged.

In Hurghada you usually enter the water directly from a sandy beach without long pontoons, unlike Sharm El Sheikh, where pontoons stretch for a kilometer but the reef there is considered more impressive.

At one hotel the pontoon is long and tiring to walk, but the reef at the end is great, with plenty of fish.

At another hotel the reef is described as "half-dead" — there is some fish life, but not much; reefs at other hotels are noticeably richer.

The reef near Farana used to be spectacular but has degraded significantly, partly due to constant boat and ship traffic in the area.