Is it safe to swim from the beach in Sharm El Sheikh, or should you use a pontoon?

From messages by 4 participants in 1 source · Last activity: 41 days ago

TL;DR

At Sharm El Sheikh’s reef-front beaches, an intact pontoon is usually the safer way to enter the sea: the shallows can have coral, sea urchins and surgeonfish. Wear reef shoes if walking in from shore.

What the community said

Swimming in from shore at a reef beach can be difficult and risky: surgeonfish may be in the shallows, while sea urchins can hide between boards or rocks. Reef shoes are essential for a beach entry.

Reef shoes

Check the condition of the pontoon before swimming: some may be partly submerged or damaged and may not extend beyond the reef wall. If so, use another intact pontoon instead.

Pontoon

For diving from a yacht, a typical target price is up to USD 30–32 for the boat trip plus around USD 10–12 for a scuba dive. Only book a shore dive after confirming the exact entry location.

USD 30–32 yacht trip; USD 10–12 dive