Is the reef and underwater world in Sharm el-Sheikh worth it?

At a resort with two beaches, one served by a floating pontoon and one by a fixed pontoon, guests reported never seeing a red flag at the floating pontoon; the fixed-pontoon beach was reportedly closed only occasionally. Tides do not affect swimming from the pontoons. Currents are present but were manageable for a confident-swimming family. The reef was considered fairly lively, with more fish in the morning; a ray was spotted from a distance.

One review of the Grand hotel: over the last two years the reef there has become quite poor, even though the traveler otherwise likes the hotel. There's also no proper shore entry point — when the red flag is up, you can't even lie in the water near the shore.

One traveler's August experience: red flag was up every single day from the pontoon, with a very strong current making swimming unsafe (kids could only wade waist-deep near shore). The family went to the neighboring Rixos hotel for its aquapark and sea access instead.

Some guests report that beaches at Rixos and Steigenberger hotels frequently fly a red flag — one visitor experienced this on 5 out of 7 days of their stay.

Contradicting the usual report, one visitor said that at Seagate last year the red flag was up almost the whole stay — they managed to swim in the sea only once (via the pier), spending the rest of the time at the aquapark instead.

Magawish beach is excellent — fine sand, almost no waves, and clear water (unlike some beaches with no sand where entry is only via a pontoon).

One traveler compared the local reef to Ras Mohammed National Park: after visiting Ras Mohammed, the regular beach reef feels much less impressive, though first-time visitors may still enjoy it.

According to one report, the red flag goes up every morning, changes to yellow around 11 AM, and turns green by around 2 PM or later.

The reef in Fayrouz Bay is described as very beautiful: there are no buoy restrictions, so you can swim freely along the reef, and larger marine life is common; one report even mentions a huge manta on the very first swim. Compared with the reef at Continental, the fish there were said to be noticeably bigger. The best time is morning, though, because wind often picks up later and the red flag goes up. In central Malikia Bay, travelers also reported swimming with turtles.

Many travelers consider Nabq a poor area for swimming and snorkeling not only because of frequent red flags, but also due to low tides, very long piers, strong wind, and currents. Even when the sea is open, swimming along rope-marked lanes by the drop-off reef after a long walk on the pier is often described as uncomfortable.

The quality of boat and snorkeling excursions in Sharm can vary a lot by operator: some trips stop in open-water snorkeling spots with abundant fish and striking coral, while cheaper street-booked tours may snorkel close to shore and drop guests on crowded islands where people wait for loungers. The lowest-price option may mean a noticeably weaker itinerary.

Two manta rays and a large Napoleon wrasse were spotted at the fixed pontoon. A sizeable moray eel and a pufferfish were seen at the blue pontoon. Manta encounters are rare even for repeat visitors to Sharm.

Sharks Bay is a sheltered, wind-protected cove. Across many visits in May and October, the red flag was never raised there.

Sea Beach is best avoided: it is windy year-round, the pier is about a kilometre away, and the red flag is up almost constantly.

The reef near El Fanar and Hadaba Bay is excellent — moray eels, turtles, and a wide variety of Red Sea life can be found there. Swimming beyond the pontoon makes a significant difference.

Nabq Bay tends to have a red flag up all the time. Guests staying there should plan to travel elsewhere to swim.

Baron beach rarely flies a red flag — even when the neighbouring Albatros beach is closed, Baron stays open.

A wild, unequipped beach beyond the large rocks to the left (when facing the sea) gives access to a spectacular, expansive reef. You swim over corals to reach it — fins and a mask are essential.

Red flag conditions are most common in the mornings — after 4 PM the flag is typically lifted. Visitors heading to the reef in the afternoon report seeing rays, octopuses, and large sea turtles from the pier and along the way.

When your beach has a red flag, the nearby Seagate area usually has a yellow flag and is open for swimming.