Explore Hurghada: Egypt’s Red Sea Gem for Scuba and Snorkeling Adventures

Contents

Hurghada | Introduction

If you ask me what else Egypt has to offer besides pyramids and temples, I would answer without hesitation: the Red Sea. The Red Sea boasts world-class water clarity and coral diversity, making it a must-visit destination for beginner divers and ocean lovers alike. Whether you're snorkeling for the first time or a seasoned diver with certifications, you'll find something that suits you here.

Hurghada is located on Egypt’s eastern coast, facing the Red Sea. Originally a humble fishing village, it began rapidly developing its tourism industry in the 1980s. Today, almost the entire city revolves around vacationing and diving—it’s not an exaggeration to call it “Egypt’s Maldives.” It’s not as chaotic as Cairo or as sacred as Luxor. It’s simply a place of sunshine, glass-clear waters, and schools of tropical fish. Perfect for a short, recharging getaway. If you have more time, you can also join a local tour from here to Luxor to get a taste of history before coming back to relax some more.

The best time to visit is from October to April, when the weather is most pleasant—not too hot or too cold—just right for zoning out by the beach or diving in to spot fish.

Hurghada | Itinerary Planning

Hurghada is ideal as a relaxation stop in your Egypt itinerary, especially if you’ve just had an intense schedule exploring Cairo or Upper Egypt. The pace here feels like salvation. Red Sea travel doesn’t demand a packed agenda. Just book a sea-view hotel and embrace the beauty of doing nothing. The sea breeze, bright sun, and salty air naturally slow you down. This isn’t a place where you rush to fit things in—here, you surrender your time to the sun and sea.

It’s recommended to spend 2 to 3 days in the Red Sea area. You don’t need too many activities or bucket-list check-ins. Ideally, choose a beachside resort, plan one day out on the sea (snorkeling or diving), and leave the rest for true relaxation. Here's a suggested plan:

Day 1: Arrive and check in to your hotel. Enjoy the beach, pool, and resort facilities. Consider an evening stroll around the New Marina area.
Day 2: Join a full-day Red Sea excursion including snorkeling, intro diving, or island hopping, with lunch served onboard.
Day 3: Add some sunbathing, spa time, or a desert safari adventure, depending on your time and energy.

Hurghada | Transportation

Getting to Hurghada

The easiest way to reach the Red Sea is by plane. Hurghada International Airport (HRG) is the main airport along the Red Sea coast. There are plenty of flights from Cairo, Luxor, and various European cities. Domestic flights take about an hour.

However, this airport has a pretty bad reputation online. We read many reviews beforehand—stories about security staff secretly opening luggage, people offering to carry your bags then demanding tips, chaotic queues with unclear flow… It really made us question whether we were stepping into a disaster. Fortunately, maybe we were lucky—our experience went smoothly, with no horror stories. Still, the airport’s process is more complicated than usual, with at least 3–4 security checkpoints.

Getting around the city

Transportation within the city mainly relies on cars. Most diving or sea tours include pickup and drop-off, so just confirm in advance. At other times, you can use Uber or the Middle East’s popular ride-hailing app, Careem. Our experience varied—some drivers refused to pick us up or tried to overcharge. But even if that happens, cancel and try again; we eventually found honest and friendly drivers. If you don’t want to take risks, pre-booking a transfer—especially to and from the airport—is the safest bet.

Hurghada | Accommodation

Hurghada offers a wide range of accommodations, from all-inclusive five-star resorts to budget apartments. The main areas include:

City Center (near New Marina, Sheraton Street): The liveliest area with restaurants, supermarkets, and exchange shops. Convenient for first-timers and those who want to explore or join sea tours.
Sahl Hasheesh & Makadi Bay: More upscale resort areas. Though farther from the city center, they offer tranquility, higher-quality hotels, and usually have their own beaches and dive spots—great for those who just want to chill and stay in.

If your focus is relaxation + beginner diving, you can’t go wrong with a beachfront all-inclusive resort. If you want easy access to local shops and tour pickups, staying in the city offers more flexibility.

Accommodation Review | Sunrise Holidays Resort

We chose a hotel near the city center, right by the water, called Sunrise Holidays Resort. It’s an all-inclusive resort and felt very easy and convenient.

The rooms are clean and simple—not fancy but comfortable. The balcony faces the sea directly, giving you a sparkling view of the Red Sea.

Its biggest advantage is the location—just steps from the beach. There’s a lagoon-like seawater pool and direct access to the sea. From the beach, you can even spot the white Al Mina Mosque in the distance, giving a true Red Sea vacation vibe. Some guests snorkeled right in the waters beside the hotel.

The hotel has several restaurants and a lounge for food and drinks, plus a buffet option. During the day, many people just sunbathe, snack, or read on beach chairs—the overall atmosphere is relaxed and peaceful.

Overall, Sunrise Holidays is a hotel where you don’t need to leave to have a great time. If you’re looking to spend 2–3 days by the Red Sea mostly zoning out, occasionally joining a tour, but mainly soaking up the sun and sea, this is a great choice.

Hurghada | Attractions & Activities

Must-Do | Activities | Diving Experiences

The Red Sea is a diver’s paradise—clear waters, diverse fish, well-preserved corals, and a huge variety of dive sites for all skill levels.

If you’re short on time, try an Intro to Diving program, which is perfect for beginners without a license. These courses include one-on-one guidance from professional instructors. They teach you step by step: how to use the oxygen tank, how to breathe through the mouthpiece, equalize pressure, and communicate underwater. You’ll never be alone during the dive. If you’re certified, the Red Sea is also a great place for advanced courses, fun dives, or even earning your PADI or SSI certificate here—an unforgettable experience.

Due to time limits, we chose the simplest beginner program. Though the price was surprisingly low, the experience was good.

A somewhat shabby minivan picked us up early in the morning. It was windy and cold, so we wore jackets to avoid freezing on the boat. But once we boarded, everything felt on track. The water clarity was astonishing. You could see corals from the boat. The trip included two dives at different sites. Some people only did the first dive and spent the second sunbathing on the boat. In between, we snorkeled, swam, and soaked up the Red Sea beauty.

The crew gave an introduction to the boat, followed by diving instruction: how to use the gear, control your breathing, wear the equipment, and hand signals like OK, up, down, slow down, etc. Diving isn’t just “jumping in”—you have to really understand the instructions.

You enter the water from the boat’s edge, guided by the instructor. It’s a bit nerve-wracking at first. But with the gear secured and slow, steady breaths, your body naturally adjusts. Try to stay horizontal and kick gently—the instructor helps control your depth and buoyancy. They also take photos during the dive.

I had a slight cold that day, so the dive wasn’t perfect, but still an amazing experience. The underwater visibility, coral, and colorful fish made it feel like entering another world.

Back on deck, we lounged in the sun after snorkeling. Lunch was warm and simple onboard—nothing fancy but comforting.

Attractions | New Marina | Al Mina Mosque

In the evening, take a ride to New Marina. This area is lined with waterfront restaurants, bars, and souvenir shops—perfect for sunset views and dinner. On weekends, you might find live music or shisha stalls, mixing Middle Eastern and European tourist vibes.

Al Mina Mosque is the largest mosque in town. It’s only a 3–5 minute walk from New Marina and highly visible. Completed around 2012, its white façade and tall minarets look stunning in the sun. Lit up at night, it’s a great place to take photos or stroll around at dusk.

Activities | Desert Safari Adventure

If you have a full day to spare, consider a desert safari for a change of scenery. 4WD sand bashing, experiencing Bedouin tent culture, and watching the sunset and stars in the desert—it’s a touristy but fun experience.