Learn to dive in Egypt's Red Sea

Do you want to learn to dive in Egypt? The Red Sea is a classic scuba diving destination, famous for thriving coral reefs, solemn shipwrecks, and powerful pelagics including sharks. And, while many divers are drawn to the currents and super-sized wildlife, some areas also boast calm conditions and great visibility, making them ideal for potential scuba students coming here to learn. As a result, new divers are spoilt for choice with a variety of exciting destinations that are perfect for learning or continuing their underwater education.

Keep reading for all the essential information you’ll need before learning to dive in Egypt's Red Sea. 

First made famous by Jacques Cousteau, Egypt's Red Sea is one of the planet's most exciting diving destinations. This region boasts nearly every underwater environment you can imagine, as well as lovely seaside resorts and a wealth of land-based cultural attractions, including the Great Sphinx, the pyramids of Giza, and Cairo's Egyptian Museum, along with less crowded sites like Mt Sinai, the Valley of the Kings, and St. Catherine's Monastery. 

If you want to earn your scuba certification while on holiday in Egypt, you're in luck. Students can choose from hundreds of outstanding dive centres and resorts throughout the country, and destinations that are ideal for beginners, with excellent underwater conditions, easy-going currents and crystal clear water. Once you're certified, stick around for a few extra days of diving to polish your new scuba skills. You'll soon be ready to explore Egypt's more challenging diving areas.

Are you looking for a dynamic dive centre where you'll get to know your fellow travellers and make a new dive buddy or two? Or, do you prefer a laid-back course with a quiet resort atmosphere? No matter what your personal travel style or learning preference, you'll find it here. 

Divers have been traveling to the Red Sea for decades, and you'll find its resorts and hotels surprisingly well-connected and experienced when it comes to working with new divers. You'll also find Egyptian hospitality incredibly friendly, with warm welcomes, endless cups of hot tea, and some of the most upbeat boat crews you'll ever dive with!

Travelling with your family or friends who don't dive? Don't worry – most sites you'll visit during your course have areas that are shallow enough to swim and snorkel. Snorkelling day trips are also available, taking adventurous non-diving guests to some of the region's loveliest reefs – home to kaleidoscopic coral, clouds of tropical fish, and the occasional sea turtle chomping away at the reef. And of course, there's plenty to see on land.

Whether you're brand new to scuba diving or hoping to take your underwater education to the next level, you're guaranteed to find what you’re after in Egypt. And, if you’re an experienced diver who’s ready to get back in the water, don’t forget that you might need a quick review – especially if it’s been a few years since your last dive!

• Discover Scuba Diving – take your first breaths underwater and explore in the shallows
• Open Water – learn all the basics of diving and dive with a buddy to depths of up to 18 metres
• Advanced – learn navigation and deep diving, plus three specialities of your choice
• Specialities – wreck, tec, nitrox, and underwater photography are this region’s top picks
• Go Pro – divemaster and instructor courses get divers ready to work in the water

Because Egypt's Red Sea boasts calm conditions and good visibility all year round, you have plenty of options for learning, along with hundreds of outstanding dive centres to choose from. And no matter where you decide to spend your holiday, you’ll enjoy a wide variety of sites right at your doorstep.

Struggling to settle on just one of these dream destinations? No worries! All of Egypt's diving hotspots are well-connected via domestic flights and bus routes. Most resorts and dive centres are happy to help with services like transfers – just let them know where you want to go next, and trust them with all the details.

Sharm has been a favourite amongst divers for decades, and as such, it boasts some of Egypt’s best dive resorts and scuba centres. From Sharm El Sheikh, divers have access to sites including kaleidoscopic reefs, coral-encrusted walls, and even a few shipwrecks. Day boats head to Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran, famous for their impressive coral cover, swarming tropical reef fish, and chance encounters with larger marine wildlife. But, the "local sites" around Sharm, just a few minutes from the shore, often boast just as much life – minus the long boat ride.

This area’s calm conditions make it a great place to learn, but there's plenty to see for students who stick around after their Open Water course, too. Some of Sharm's most famous sites include the coral encrusted walls of Tiran and satellite reefs of Ras Mohammed – known for crystal clear water and big fish like tuna buzzing past lucky dive groups. All-day adventures to the SS Thistlegorm wreck also depart from here, giving metalheads the chance to make two or three action-packed dives on this legendary and historic site. 

• Environment – Reef, wreck, wall
• Conditions – Easy currents, good visibility, most boat rides under one hour
• Highlights – Colourful coral reefs, sea turtles, occasional sharks and rays

While Dahab is best-known for its challenging sites like the Blue Hole, it's actually one of the best places to learn to dive in Egypt. Many of the region's most stunning sites enjoy direct access from the shore, comfortable conditions, and plenty of areas shallow enough for mixed groups of divers and snorkellers. But, this area doesn't just cater to beginners. Dahab's plummeting walls, caverns and caves are favourites among experienced divers, tech enthusiasts, and underwater photographers. 

This region feels a bit more off the beaten path than other parts of Egypt, with a relaxed Bohemian atmosphere and plenty of backpacker-friendly accommodations. Dahab also boasts some of the region's most vibrant options for dining, shopping, and nightlife.

• Environment – Reef, wall, cavern and cave
• Conditions – Relaxed currents, good visibility, shore access
• Highlights – Kaleidoscopic reefs, cool macro finds like seahorses, diverse dive sites

Hurghada is one of the country's best-established diving destinations, boasting a lovely seaside resort atmosphere, and easy access to outstanding dive sites for beginners. Hurghada’s bays are sheltered from the strong currents of the central and southern Red Sea, making it an ideal destination for snorkellers, first-time divers, and students hoping to complete their PADI Open Water course in Egypt.

Advanced and adventurous guests will also find plenty of underwater excitement here too, with incredible historic wrecks like the SS Thistlegorm, Dunraven, and "shipyard" sites closeby.

• Environment – Reef, wreck  
• Conditions – Easy-going currents, good visibility, short boat rides
• Highlights – Historic wrecks, colourful reefs, chance encounters with wildlife like dolphins

With plenty of protected dive sites boasting easy access from the shore, Marsa Alam is one of Egypt's best destinations for divers who don't enjoy boat rides. Marsa Alam encompasses a series of sheltered bays, protected from the open ocean and boasting their own unique underwater environment. Divers can explore fringing reefs and sand channels, and massive swaths of seagrass home to rare animals such as dugongs.

This well-connected destination has an international airport, and a well-established marina and tourist district with plenty of resorts and dive centres to choose from. Plus, stunning white sand beaches and short trips to outstanding snorkelling sites accessible from boat or shore. If you're travelling with family or friends who don't dive, this is one of the country's best destinations.

• Environment – reef, wall, seagrass 
• Conditions – calm currents, clear water, shore access
• Highlights – thriving coral, cool wildlife like dugongs, close access to diverse dive sites

If you already have some underwater experience or are hoping to earn a more advanced certification while on holiday in Egypt, you'll find plenty of opportunities for adventure. And, just like any other sport, practice makes perfect in diving. So, sticking around for a few days of leisure diving is a great way to hone your new scuba skills.

Southern Red Sea diving destinations like Rocky Island and St Johns are famous for ripping currents and plummeting walls that drop well below the recreational diving limit. This is also one of Egypt's best shark diving destinations, with pelagic species like oceanic whitetips spotted regularly, while other rare species like schooling hammerheads and shy thresher sharks also make less frequent appearances. So if you're hoping to push your certification to the next level, this is the perfect place to get some experience under your weight-belt!

Visitors who want to learn to scuba dive in Egypt aren't limited to dive centres and resorts. Many of Egypt's Red Sea liveaboards also offer courses, beginning with students' very first breaths underwater also offer courses, beginning with students' very first breaths underwater. Liveaboard dive trips are also a good option for mixed groups of divers and snorkelers or divers travelling with advanced companions – as you're likely to visit a wide variety of sites suitable for all skill and comfort levels. 

Red Sea liveaboards come in all shapes and sizes, letting you hand-pick your dream diving holiday. Choose from intimate voyages with just a handful of guests, luxuriant vessels boasting fine dining and spa services, and relaxed social trips – perfect for making new friends and dive buddies. No matter which type of trip suits you best, all you'll have to do is eat, sleep, dive, and repeat, allowing the expert crew to organise each day's dives and cater to your every need at sea!