Hurghada Water Sports: Snorkeling, Diving, Dolphin Trips and More

Hurghada’s Red Sea coast offers some of the most accessible water-based activity in the Mediterranean and Red Sea basin - reef snorkeling, scuba diving, glass-bottom boat tours, dolphin trips, and adrenaline sports like kitesurfing and parasailing. The variety of operators is extensive, which also means quality varies. Here is what to book, where to go, and what to pay.

Snorkeling

Giftun Island and Orange Bay

The standout snorkeling destination from Hurghada is Giftun Island, a protected nature reserve approximately 7 km offshore. The reef around Giftun and its neighbour Orange Bay holds hard corals, soft coral gardens, and a reliable fish count including parrotfish, wrasse, moray eels, and occasional reef sharks in the deeper channels.

How to book: Snorkeling boat trips to Giftun typically run as half-day or full-day excursions departing from the Hurghada Marina or the marina at El Dahar. Full-day trips (approximately 7 hours including lunch on board) cost from USD 25–40 per person as of 2026, including snorkeling gear. Half-day trips from approximately USD 15–25.

Operators: Hurghada Snorkeling & Diving, Red Sea Waterworld, and numerous GetYourGuide-listed operators all run Giftun trips. Look for boats capped at around 20–30 passengers rather than the large party boats that carry 80+, which are noisy and churn the water around the reef.

Practical: Most trips include multiple snorkeling stops with 30–45 minutes in the water at each. A wetsuit (thin 3mm) is useful from November to April and is usually available to rent from the operator for approximately USD 3–5 if not included.

Beach and Resort Snorkeling

Several Hurghada beach areas have accessible house reef. El Gouna, 25 km north, has better-preserved close-in reef than central Hurghada, though the best corals require a short swim from shore. Sahl Hasheesh, south of Hurghada, has some protected reef accessible directly from the beach.

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Scuba Diving

Hurghada is one of the most dive-accessible Red Sea destinations - dozens of certified PADI, SSI, and CMAS centres operate from the marina and along the resort strip.

Try Dive (Beginner)

A discover scuba session covers basic equipment handling, underwater signals, and equalisation in a pool or shallow bay, followed by a single supervised open-water dive to approximately 5–6 metres.

Price range: From approximately USD 40–60 per person as of 2026, including equipment. Duration: 2.5–3 hours total.

Single/Double Boat Dives (Certified Divers)

The standard format is a 2-dive boat trip - morning departure, two dives at different sites, return by early afternoon. Sites near Hurghada include Abu Ramada Island (good soft coral), Giftun Kebira (reef wall and blue water pelagics), and the Thistlegorm wreck (a WWII British cargo ship - approximately 2.5 hours by live-aboard tender; one of the most famous dive sites in the world).

Price range: 2-dive day trip from approximately USD 55–75 per person as of 2026, including equipment and guide. Thistlegorm trips cost more due to distance - from approximately USD 90–120 per person.

Operators: Jasmin Diving Center and Dive Hurghada are two established operations with multilingual guides and well-maintained equipment. Emperor Divers operates across multiple Red Sea destinations including Hurghada. Always confirm that your chosen centre is affiliated with a recognised certification body (PADI, SSI, or CMAS) and check recent reviews.

PADI Open Water Course

A full Open Water certification course runs 3–4 days: online/video theory, confined water sessions, and four open-water dives to 18 metres.

Price range: From approximately USD 280–380 per person as of 2026, including all equipment and certification fees. The course qualifies you to dive independently worldwide to 18 metres.

Liveaboard Diving

For serious divers, Hurghada is a major liveaboard hub. Week-long trips to the Brothers Islands, Elphinstone Reef, and Daedalus Reef - sites with hammerhead sharks, oceanic whitetip sharks, and manta rays - depart regularly from Hurghada.

Price range: From approximately USD 900–1,400 per person per week for a budget-to-mid-range vessel including all dives, accommodation, and meals as of 2026. Premium operators charge USD 2,000+. Book at least 3–4 months ahead for peak-season departures.

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Glass-Bottom Boat Tours

For non-swimmers or families with young children, glass-bottom boat tours let you see the reef without getting wet. The floor panels typically cover the central section of the boat; fish and coral are visible 1–3 metres below depending on depth and water clarity.

Price range: From approximately USD 15–25 per person for a 2-hour trip as of 2026. Many day trip boats have a glass-bottom section alongside a snorkeling platform, so passengers can choose to swim or watch from the boat.

Practical: Morning departures typically offer better visibility than afternoon (afternoon sun angle reduces contrast through the glass). Check that the tour actually goes to a reef area rather than open water - some budget operators cruise through deep featureless water and call it a reef tour.

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Dolphin Trips

Common dolphins and spinner dolphins are regularly spotted in the open Red Sea channels off Hurghada. Wild dolphin snorkeling trips depart early morning (typically 7–8 a.m.) to reach feeding areas before midday sea traffic increases.

Price range: From approximately USD 25–45 per person as of 2026 for a half-day trip including snorkeling gear.

Ethical note: We recommend trips with operators who observe responsible dolphin interaction guidelines - no chasing or circling, engine off when dolphins are close, no touching. Look for operators that specifically mention non-disturbance practices. GetYourGuide and Tripadvisor reviews can indicate which operators behave responsibly in practice.

Dolphin House (Sha’ab El-Erg): The most reliable dolphin site near Hurghada - a reef area where a resident pod of spinner dolphins rests and is habituated to boats. Most “dolphin trip” operators target this site; it is approximately 30–45 minutes from the marina.

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Kitesurfing and Windsurfing

The wind conditions at Hurghada - consistent northerly winds averaging 18–25 knots from spring through autumn - make it one of the best kitesurfing locations in the Middle East and North Africa.

Kitesurfing lessons: Beginners’ courses (approximately 6–9 hours across 2–3 days) from licensed IKO instructors cost approximately USD 250–350 as of 2026. Equipment rental for certified kiters runs approximately USD 40–60 per day.

Operators: Kite Pro Center, Kitesurfing Hurghada, and El Gouna-based Kite Zone are established schools. El Gouna (25 km north) is considered a slightly superior kitesurfing base due to its lagoon areas and more consistent wind exposure.

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Parasailing and Jet Ski

Parasailing: A 10–15 minute flight towed by a speedboat at 30–50 metres altitude. Price from approximately USD 30–50 per person as of 2026. Available at most large beach resorts along the Hurghada strip.

Jet ski: Rental by the hour from approximately USD 40–60 as of 2026. Available at beach concession stands along the Mamsha waterfront.

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Booking Tips

• Book water sports excursions directly at the marina or via GetYourGuide rather than through hotel desks - hotel concierge commissions can add 30–50% to the same trip.
• Confirm the departure point before booking - Hurghada Marina (near the Old Town) and the Sahl Hasheesh marina are 15+ km apart.
• Morning departures get calmer seas and better visibility. Afternoon excursions are cheaper but sea breezes typically pick up by 1–2 p.m.
• Check equipment quality at dive centres before committing - regulators, BCDs, and wetsuits should be well-maintained.

Our Hurghada diving guide covers the specific Red Sea dive sites in more technical detail. The Hurghada city guide covers where to stay, eating, and transport to and from the resort strip. For broader Red Sea itinerary planning, see our Red Sea and Sinai itinerary if you are combining Hurghada with Sharm el-Sheikh or Marsa Alam.