Is Hurghada Good for Snorkelling?
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Snorkelling in Hurghada is an amazing activity to enjoy whilst you’re on holiday whether you’re travelling solo, as a couple or with your family, it’s a great activity for everyone involved.
Being that Hurghada is surrounded by the beautiful Red Sea, it has so much activity and amazing marine life to offer for Hurghada snorkelling that it will be one of the best experiences whilst you’re in Egypt. Whilst we were there, we stupidly forgot to take a camera for water photography so we apologise for the lack of images in advance!
Get your mask and snorkel on and look forward to looking out for beautiful colourful fish as well as maybe even spotting turtles, rays, sharks and potentially even dolphins!
Is Hurghada Good for Snorkelling?
In short, yes Hurghada is absolutely amazing for snorkelling and has one of the most vibrant and booming marine life that you will be astounded when snorkelling in Hurghada.
There are a lot of different sites that are great for all different levels of snorkellers as well so it really does give you a range of sites no matter what your level of snorkelling is.
In terms of marine life, depending on the season your Hurghada snorkelling trip falls on will depend on what you have a chance to see.
From parrotfish, clownfish, angelfish, turtles, manta rays, stingrays to bigger fish where you may even have a chance to see sharks or dolphins. Hurghada is a really exciting place to go snorkelling so we do really recommend it!
Best Time for Snorkelling in Hurghada
If you’re planning to go snorkelling in Hurghada then you may want to avoid July and August as they are the busiest times for boat trips so you will find that the trips are very crowded!
However, if you don’t mind that then you might be happy to go snorkelling in Hurghada during this time to cool off. Make sure to wear plenty of reef safe sun-cream as it is the hottest time of year.
If you can, it would be better to go snorkelling in Hurghada between April – June because the water is still warm or between September – November.
For us, we think that the best time to visit Hurghada for snorkelling is October because this is the ultimate time to see some of the best marine life in the Red Sea. During October, you can have a chance to see dolphins, turtles, rays, eels and even a possibility to see oceanic whitetips and reef sharks!
Best Snorkelling Tours in Hurghada
There are so many different tours available to go snorkelling in Hurghada and they will take you to different areas to enjoy the different snorkelling spots which gives you chances to see different marine life.
We’ve popped some of the best tours for snorkelling in Hurghada below so take your pick!
Best Hurghada Snorkelling Spots
There are so many amazing spots to go snorkelling in Hurghada that it can be difficult to know which one to choose or if any of them is worth your time.
Paradise Island (Giftun Island)
We got to enjoy some time snorkelling around Paradise Island when we visited Hurghada and it was such an amazing experience. If you have time on your trip to Hurghada, we really recommend visiting Paradise Island not just for snorkelling but also to enjoy the island itself.
The island is beautiful with a gorgeous beach, small bars and plenty of props situated around the island to get some amazing Instagram snaps. It’s an awesome boat trip from Hurghada to see the sights as well as the marine life!
Depending on the time of year, around Paradise Island, you can look out for Parrotfish, Moray Eels, Clownfish, Angelfish and if you’re lucky, you may even get to spot turtles, dolphins or reef sharks.
It’s a great spot for Hurghada snorkelling and you get to enjoy the beauty of the island at the same time!
Best Paradise Island Snorkelling Tours
- Paradise Island Yacht Cruise, Lunch & Snorkelling
- Paradise Island Snorkelling Cruise with Lunch
- Paradise Island Speedboat with Optional Snorkelling & Lunch
Makadi Bay
Staying in Makadi Bay is a great choice because there are some really great snorkelling spots around this area in Hurghada.
There are quite a few good spots to snorkel in Makadi Bay including in front of Stella Makadi area, Makadi Palace reefs. The best area to snorkel in Makadi Bay though is considered to be in front of the Fort Arabesque Resort which is known for the best reefs to snorkel and dive directly from the beach.
In Makadi Bay, you can look out for Parrotfish, Lionfish, Clownfish and also really peel your eyes for hiding reef octopus. You may also be lucky to see various different types of Turtles too!
El Gouna
Another popular area to visit and stay in Hurghada is El Gouna so this is an easily accessible site to go snorkelling for anyone that is staying in this area.
This is a really exciting place to go snorkelling because there have been sightings of Dugongs so that is definitely a marine animal you’d want to tick off your bucket list!
There is also an area called Dolphin House where you can go snorkelling and potentially see wild dolphins which is an ultimate sighting for snorkelling in Hurghada.
Other marine animals that you may see in this area include Turtles, Clownfish, Parrotfish, Rays, Eels and even sharks. If you visit during the right season, you may even get to spot Whale Sharks or Hammerheads. For us as shark enthusiasts, this is an ultimate sighting for us!
Shadwan Island
This snorkelling spot is quite a bit further out from Hurghada and will take between 1-2 hours by boat. However, when we went diving in Phuket, it took us 3 hours to get to some of our dive sites but once you’re there, it is so worth it!
If you’re looking to see big fish when snorkelling in the Red Sea then this is the place you want to go. It will give you the opportunity to see Barracudas, White-Tip Reef Sharks, Tuna, Moray Eels and so much more!
Best Hotels in Hurghada for Snorkelling
If you’re planning to visit Hurghada mostly to take advantage of the snorkelling then you may want to consider staying in one of these hotels that are positioned by some of the best reefs for snorkelling from the beach. When we visited we stayed in a gorgeous hotel in Makadi Bay which has now been renamed Jaz Palmariva Beach which was right on the beachfront!
If these hotels are not quite what you’re looking for then you’ll be able to use our interactive map below to explore the different areas in Hurghada and find the perfect choice for you!
Tips for Snorkelling in Hurghada
If you’re ready to get your Hurghada snorkelling adventure underway then you need to follow these top tips to make the most of your time!
Visit Hurghada during off-peak seasons
To avoid large crowds on the boats and around popular snorkelling spots, try to visit outside of July and August especially so that you can make the most of your time. This will also increase your chances to see some of the more rare marine animals.
Always have a buddy
We get told this for diving as well and it is super important to have a snorkelling buddy. This is for safety reasons so that you can both check on each other and make sure that you’re okay in case anything doesn’t go to plan.
Don’t touch marine animals
Our ecosystem is very delicate and our skin can carry bacteria that is harmful to marine animals. To help protect them, do not touch them under any circumstances unless it is to protect yourself or an emergency.
Use only reef-safe sun-cream
Similar to the above, we need to protect our oceans and sun-cream carries a lot of chemicals. Only use reef-safe sun-cream when it comes to snorkelling or diving.
Listen to your guide
Before you go snorkelling or even diving in any destination, make sure that you listen to your guide. They know the areas well and will know coral that you should stay away from, animal behaviours, information about the currents and so much more. This is incredibly important to make sure you have a exciting snorkelling experience and keep yourself safe in Hurghada.
Is Hurghada Good for Snorkelling?
In short, is Hurghada good for snorkelling? Yes, yes, yes! Hurghada has so many exciting snorkelling spots and a bustling ecosystem that there are so many amazing things to see in the Red Sea!
Whether you’re snorkelling from the beach or going on a guided tour, there are plenty of different animals to see and experience during your snorkelling activity in Hurghada.
We recommend that if you have time in Hurghada to definitely take part in some snorkelling and if you can plan it in advance, take a go pro or underwater camera with you! You’ll thank us later for that!
