Is it worth going to Sharm El Sheikh’s “Maldives” spot or El Fanar for snorkeling: how far is the swim, can you actually see rays, and are there time limits from the pier?
Based on 2 discussions with 3 participants · Last activity: today
TL;DR
Travelers say the sandy spot nicknamed the “Maldives” requires about a 100 m swim, and opinions are mixed—some feel the short sandy stop isn’t worth it in the midday heat. Ray sightings are not guaranteed either: one snorkeler saw only one ray in 7 days, and at El Fanar it’s best to confirm same-day pier swimming hours on site.
What the community said
From a beach video: the water to the sandy spit is ankle-deep, at high tide waist-deep at most — there's no real swimming from shore there. Actual swimming is only possible from the pier, where the depth immediately drops to about 25 meters.
today Pier depth ~25 m
One recent review was skeptical about Sharm’s so-called “Maldives”: you need to swim about 100 meters to reach the sandy patch, and the stop there is short—around 20 minutes on a crowded sand area. If your hotel already has a sandy entry and lagoon, the trip may not feel worth it.
today “Maldives” spot, 100 meters, 20 minutes
Keep expectations modest for rays: one traveler reported swimming for 7 days and seeing a ray only once. In other words, this is not seen as a guaranteed ray-spotting location—you need luck and patience.
today 7 days, 1 ray
Travelers specifically ask about how late swimming from the El Fanar pier is allowed. The practical takeaway is that pier access may be time-limited, so it’s best to confirm the day’s cutoff time directly at the beach.
today El Fanar Beach