Where to snorkel and see live coral reefs in Sharm el-Sheikh?

The swaying floating pontoon near the reef is kept on purpose: as long as the reef is alive, no permit is issued for a permanent pontoon. Once the reef dies, a stationary structure will be approved.

Divers report several moray eels of different sizes living in coral columns to the right, toward the Sharm Plaza hotel, at around 10m depth. A large moray was also spotted about 10m to the right of the pier, resting in coral at similar depth.

A December 2025 report notes morays were so numerous it stopped being exciting; also seen were lionfish, clownfish, crocodilefish, stonefish and stingrays, but no mantas, turtles, Napoleon wrasse, sea hares or sharks. Coral was especially attractive to the left of the pier, past the buoys, toward the iron pier.

The reef near the Grand hotel is now often reported dead — three years ago it looked decent. A downside is the immediate drop-off right from shore (depth starts almost at the beach).

The reef along Sharm's coastline is fairly uniform, and without scuba gear it's hard to appreciate it. Fish (reportedly 1200+ species) live even on dead coral, but truly vibrant 'live' reef with soft corals and polyps isn't visible from shore — for that you need a yacht-based dive safari to actual dive sites, not a regular snorkeling excursion like White Island.

At Sharm Club, the reef still has a wide variety of fish, but the corals have noticeably paled and are turning grey in places.

Reef condition worsened after unusually warm water of about 31°C or more: large branching corals were hit especially hard, and many on the seabed died. Fish may still be present, but corals are continuing to decline.

Practical snorkeling tip: borrow good-quality mask and fins from friends rather than cheap ones, wear water/coral shoes to protect feet from coral, a buff for your head, and a rash guard or wetsuit top — your back burns quickly while snorkeling.

Swimming right near Barcelo hotel leads to a great reef. Going straight and left leads to Gharqana reef, also quite interesting. For swimming to the far reef, go with at least one other person — the area is remote and unpopulated.

Reef quality varies noticeably by hotel area: at Novotel the reef is mediocre, near Swissotel it's essentially dead, and the further you swim toward Movenpick, the livelier the reef gets.

Near Radamis hotel the reef is excellent with plenty of fish. At Novotel there's essentially no reef.

At Fanadir reef, after 11am the water level over the reef drops, making it harder to swim over it.

If you want both shore entry and access to a reef for snorkeling in Sharm el-Sheikh, Reef Oasis Beach and Sentido are recommended. Continental Plaza is also mentioned as an option, though it is considered weaker in other respects.

Another cause of reef damage is direct harm from tourists: corals are broken by hand and damaged when people stand or walk on them. This is especially serious because corals take years to grow but can be destroyed very quickly.

The reef to the right of the beach, past the lighthouse, is one of the best spots in the area. The section directly off the pier and especially to the left is almost entirely dead. The beach itself has deteriorated over the years with added yachts and a fenced shallow zone.

Feeding fish in the Red Sea is harmful and should be avoided — including with eggs, despite the popular myth. Fish that are fed stop performing their natural role in the reef ecosystem (cleaning corals), which accelerates coral death.

Wildlife here regularly includes sea turtles — there is a large seagrass field to the left of the reef where they graze. Squid pass in schools, guitarfish and large numbers of aggressive surgeonfish are also present. Dugong sightings are occasionally reported. Moray eels, rays, and barracuda are rare rather than common.

Currents near the reef in open water can be strong and uncomfortable, so fins are recommended and swimmers should be confident in their ability. The reef in Sharks Bay is well-suited for beginners but may feel underwhelming for experienced snorkelers.

Going straight from the pier (not to the right) leads to a livelier reef with many fish, rays, and even octopuses. Entry is allowed only with masks and during set hours: 10:00–12:00 and 14:00–15:00.