What unusual fish can you spot snorkeling in Sharm el-Sheikh?

While snorkeling, you may see a long, slender fish that can be mistaken for a needlefish; it is more likely a Tylosurus garfish or a flute fish.

Walking along the pier, the water is clear enough to spot various marine life: a large surgeonfish, rays, a well-known big Napoleon wrasse, and turtles.

Near the shore at the Mercury hotel area there are a couple of decent spots to watch fish without swimming far out.

The largest concentration of fish and small rays gathers under a piece of the pier where a plastic fragment is tied — that spot has plenty of them.

At the Concorde hotel there's plenty of fish right off the shore — you can step out of your room and start watching them immediately.

Another unusual sighting while snorkeling at depth: a large fish with turtle-like fins and a forked tail that darts past quickly like a torpedo.

On the right side, if you swim out to the last buoy, you may encounter a large and aggressive titan triggerfish; people note that it can be seen quite close, not only in deeper water.

At the pontoon in Conti, you can spot plenty of marine life without swimming far from it; fish and rays also come into the shallows there.

A moray eel is among the unusual creatures people report spotting while snorkeling in Sharm el-Sheikh; one was visible in an underwater photo.

Another unusual fish you may spot while snorkeling is a pufferfish, also described locally as a boxfish/trunkfish.

Near the reef by the buoys, a single snorkeling session yielded 4 lionfish, a large stingray roughly 70–80 cm across with a tail twice its diameter, a spotted eagle ray about 30–40 cm in blue polka dots, and schools of small neon fish. An empty shell the size of two palms was also found on the reef floor.

To the left of the pier, beyond the buoys, there are live corals and fish — not abundant, but worth seeing. A snorkel mask is essential; bring one or buy it locally.

Near the lifeguard raft, unusual fish around 10–15 cm long have been spotted: dark-colored with long transparent fins and a distinctive white ring with a dark center near the tail — resembling a pelican in silhouette. They tend to gather right under the raft.

The variety of fish in Sharm el-Sheikh is comparable to the Mercury hotel area. Marine life is consistently present, though gentle sea entry points are not available at every beach.