Which has better coral reefs for snorkeling/diving: Marsa Alam or Sharm El Sheikh?

Comparing hotels in Marsa Alam in May, a traveler found the sea and reef at Three Corners noticeably more interesting and alive than at Fayrouz, with a greener area — though the food and rooms were worse.

In Sharm El Sheikh, the reefs at Garden Bay and Ras Gamila are also recommended — someone who has seen them says they're just as good as the famous Baron/Sensatori reef; divers arrive there daily from a wild beach on the cape, and you can swim along the reef wall to the left.

Near Port Ghalib (Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort), the reef in May appeared partly damaged; locals attributed substantial coral loss to the previous year's extreme heat. On the plus side, Marsa Mubarak is reachable from this area and is known for frequent large turtle sightings, while dugongs require more luck to find.

Worth checking out the reef near the Baron/Sensatori hotels in Sharm El Sheikh yourself — according to an experienced diver familiar with Sharm's reefs, this particular spot is like an underwater paradise garden.

A traveler who has visited Egypt since 1993 and seen the Red Sea in various regions, including Marsa Alam, notes that the corals near hotels on this coast are still very much alive and vividly colored.

Travelers who have vacationed exclusively in Marsa Alam multiple times describe the reefs there as incredibly beautiful, and are surprised by heated debates defending Sharm El Sheikh's reef quality — suggesting to them that Sharm's reefs may not be as strong as claimed.