Diving in El Gouna

Turtle's Inn, Abu Tig Marina MB2-4-1, El Gouna, Egypt

Dive club located in the Turtle's Inn directly at Abu Tig Marina in El Gouna. Offers SSI, CMAS and PADI courses from one-day introductions to technical diving, with daily boat trips to around 60 dive sites including ten wrecks. Equipped with 150 twelve-litre aluminium tanks, a Bauer compressor and a Nitrox unit.

• SSI
• CMAS
• PADI

Sheraton Miramar Resort & Movenpick Resort & Spa, El Gouna, Egypt

5-star PADI dive centre with two El Gouna locations inside the Sheraton Miramar Resort and the Movenpick Resort & Spa, both with direct marina access. Provides free Nitrox for certified divers, daily boat trips, snorkelling excursions and free transfers within 15 km.

• PADI

Labranda Club Paradisio beach, El Gouna, Egypt

German-run PADI 5 Star IDC centre on the beach at the Labranda Club Paradisio hotel in El Gouna, operating since 2004. Offers recreational through technical and rebreather instruction, free 32% Nitrox for certified divers, and a gas mixing station with helium.

• PADI

PADI Resort dive center based at the Ancient Sands Hotel in El Gouna offering PADI scuba diving.

• PADI

Exposed open-sea reef around one hour north-east of Hurghada featuring two pinnacles that brush the surface with a valley around 16m between them and a steep wall dropping beyond 40m. Famous for moray eels and possible shark sightings. Strong, unpredictable currents and no protected moorings make it advanced-only, dived in good weather only.

Depth

12-40 m

Currents

Strong current

Access

Boat access

A ~3km long narrow reef just north of Hurghada with a sandy plateau on the west side and a drop-off wall on the east. Dived as North and South sections; the east side is the most popular drift dive with medium currents and excellent visibility.

Depth

5-30.5 m

Currents

Moderate current

Access

Boat access

Drift dive east of Giftun Soraya, about 75 minutes by boat from Hurghada. The reef wall descends onto a sandy plateau at 15-24m and continues to ~50m. Known as one of the nicest drifts in Hurghada with strong currents, excellent hard coral, sharks and Napoleon fish.

Depth

14-29 m

Currents

Strong current

Access

Boat access

Medium oval-shaped reef south of the Giftun Islands surrounded by a shallow sandy plateau at 12-15m. Nicknamed The Aquarium for its dense and diverse marine life and excellent visibility over the sandy bottom. Sheltered and calm, ideal for beginners.

Depth

0-16 m

Currents

Mild current

Access

Boat access

A special gotta in the north Hurghada / El Gouna area where the reef top sits at 5m and divers can swim across it, displaying very nice corals. Around 50 minutes from El Gouna by boat; shallow and easy, max depth about 18m.

Depth

5-18 m

Currents

Mild current

Access

Boat access

Huge horseshoe-shaped reef (~7km) between Hurghada and El Gouna with a shallow central lagoon dotted with ergs. The lagoon hosts resident bottlenose dolphins, making it the area's best chance to dive with dolphins. Main reef runs 0-18m leading to a drop-off; suitable for all levels.

Depth

0-30 m

Currents

Mild current

Access

Boat access

Shallow reef in the channel between Big and Small Giftun islands within Giftun National Park, on the western side of Giftun Kebir, 60-90 minutes from Hurghada. Depths typically 5-14m make it a relaxed drift dive suitable for all levels; the nearby Erg Sabina pinnacle rises from a sandy bottom.

Depth

5-30 m

Currents

Mild current

Access

Boat access

Small low-lying island about 90 minutes north of El Gouna in the Strait of Gubal, completely surrounded by reef. The north-east corner is the main dive with a chance to find leopard sharks. Shallow, scenic and suitable for all divers.

Depth

0-20 m

Currents

Mild current

Access

Boat access

Long isolated reef formed by an underwater mountain with a crescent-shaped island on top, about 90 minutes north of Hurghada. The southern plateau (14-24m) holds the moorings and a coral garden; the east side drops as a vertical wall with coral towers full of glassfish, one with a sandy cave at 27m.

Depth

14-36.6 m

Currents

Mild current

Access

Boat access

The PADI Rescue Diver course teaches divers to identify and resolve minor problems before they become emergencies and to manage diver rescues. Prerequisites include PADI (Junior) Adventure Diver with the Underwater Navigation Dive (or Advanced Open Water Diver), Emergency First Response Primary and Secondary Care training within 24 months, and a minimum age of 15 (12 for Junior Rescue Diver).

Certified to 30 m

The PADI Advanced Open Water Diver course builds on Open Water skills across five dives, including required Deep and Underwater Navigation Adventure Dives. Upon certification, Advanced Open Water Divers are trained to dive to a maximum depth of 30 metres/100 feet.

Certified to 30 m

The PADI Divemaster course is the first professional-level scuba course, training divers to supervise dive activities and assist instructors. To start, candidates must be at least 18 years old with at least 40 logged dives and hold Open Water Diver, Advanced Open Water Diver and Rescue Diver certifications plus current CPR and First Aid (EFR) training.

Certified to 30 m

The SSI Scuba Diver program provides everything needed to go open water diving up to a maximum depth of 12 metres. It is a streamlined entry-level certification that can later be upgraded to the full Open Water Diver rating.

Certified to 12 m

The globally recognized SSI Open Water Diver certification qualifies you to dive with an equally or more qualified buddy in conditions equivalent to your training, to a maximum depth of 18 metres/60 feet. Divers younger than 15 are certified as Junior Open Water Divers.

Certified to 18 m

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty (SSI's Rescue Diver program) teaches divers to identify stress, prevent accidents and perform practical rescue and emergency-care techniques. Prerequisites are SSI Open Water Diver (or equivalent), a minimum age of 12, and current O2 Provider, First Aid and CPR training within the prior two years.

Certified to 18 m

The SSI Advanced Adventurer program introduces certified divers to five different SSI specialty programs over five open water training dives and expands the certified depth limit to 30 metres/100 feet. Prerequisite is SSI Open Water Diver (or equivalent) with a minimum age of 12; in 2025 the program was renamed SSI Advanced Open Water Diver.

Certified to 30 m

The SSI Divemaster program is the entry point into professional diving, training candidates to guide certified divers and act as certified assistants for recreational training programs. Prerequisites include 40 logged dives plus Deep Diving, Navigation, Night & Limited Visibility and Diver Stress & Rescue certifications (or equivalent experience), with the Dive Guide rating earned along the way.

Certified to 40 m