Are there sharks in Sharm el-Sheikh and is it safe to swim?

In Sharks Bay, do not feed fish in the water, including with eggs or other food: food draws schools of fish and may attract sharks closer to the pier. Feeding can also increase the risk of fish bites.

According to the discussion, shark nets are no longer used at Egyptian beaches because they degrade water conditions. Remains of an old net and metal posts may still lie on the seabed near the buoys, so avoid swimming right up to them.

Additional seabed hazards vary by spot: sharp dead coral formations and sea urchins can be present, along with less-friendly small fish swimming around swimmers' feet.

From the pontoon, depth and reef start immediately, with buoys marking the swim limit so you can't go far. Sharks generally don't come close to the reef, making an encounter in this zone unlikely.

At the Pickalbatros hotel, swimming is allowed in the corridor between two lines of buoys: one closer to the reef and another farther out over deeper water. Lifeguards whistle swimmers away if they approach the reef within this zone, especially in waves; guests are asked to sign a personal-liability waiver before swimming.

When swimming by the reef in Sharm el-Sheikh, the bigger risk is often strong current rather than sharks: at some reef entry points there is a safety rope, and swimmers are advised to hold on firmly or they may be carried along the shore toward the neighboring hotel.

Cone snails in the Red Sea are far more dangerous than they look — and more lethal than most sharks. The cardinal rule for anyone entering the water is simple: do not touch anything. This applies to beginners and experienced divers alike; observe the underwater world without making contact.

Reef sharks near Sharm el-Sheikh shores are common but typically small and non-threatening. More aggressive species are extremely rare. For context, global shark fatalities are only 6–14 per year — far fewer than road accident deaths. Don't let social media headlines cause unnecessary panic.

Beyond sharks, snorkelers and divers should avoid surgeonfish and butterflyfish — both are venomous. Moray eels are predators but won't attack unless provoked. There's also a locally notorious aggressive fish sometimes called the 'reef bully' — best to keep your distance.