Top 4 Diving Spots in Sharm El Sheikh for Advanced Scuba Divers

From Straits of Tiran to SS Thistlegorm, you'll want to dive in these spots.

2 min readApr 24, 2019By Theodora Sutcliffe

A sunny diving spot in Sharm El Sheikh in Egypt

Hi, I'm Theodora!

A freelance writer and recovering nomad, Theodora divides her time between Britain and Bali. With bylines including CNN, BBC, the Guardian, Discover, Lonely Planet, and National Geographic Traveler, she’s working on a book, still blogs once in a while at EscapeArtistes.com, and spends far too much time on Twitter.

From one of the world’s best wreck dives to tornadoes of schooling fish, there is plenty for advanced scuba divers to love about Sharm El Sheikh. The Red Sea’s spectacular visibility makes marine life easy to spot, while Sharm’s strategic position means there are wrecks aplenty to explore. Here are some dive options.

Why you are seeing these recommendations

SS Thistlegorm

SS Thistlegorm is a popular spot with advanced divers.Photo Credit: Avantgarde Design / Shuttertstock

The SS Thistlegorm sank during World War II carrying a diverse cargo of war materials—most of which are still preserved onboard. A dive into its holds yields the eerie spectacle of Norton motorcycles and trucks surrounded by marine life, while locomotives are still visible on the sand. The overhead environment makes this a challenging dive.

Straits of Tiran

Straits of Tiran can be visited on a diving tour.Photo Credit: Rob Atherton / Shutterstock

Often beset by swirling currents, the Straits of Tiran are home to four distinct reefs—Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas, and Gordon—all with pristine coral. Thomas Reef offers schooling fish, a coral wall, and even the occasional shark, while a number of wrecks can be dived when conditions permit.

Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park and the surrounding desert lands.Photo Credit: Alexandree / Shutterstock

Closer to Sharm El Sheikh than the Straits of Tiran, Ras Mohammed National Park holds a wealth of dive sites. Shark and Yolanda Reef are a popular combo, both for the vibrant coral and the surreal sight of bathroom fittings from a wreck littering the sand. Other top sites include Jackfish Alley, Anemone City, and Ras Zatar.

Ras Umm Sid

Fish of Ras Umm Sid.Photo Credit: Anna segeren / Shutterstock

Sharm El Sheikh’s signature advanced dive sites, including Ras Umm Sid, require a substantial boat journey from the city proper. Ras Umm Sid delivers a gorgeous landscape of gorgonian sea fans, pretty coral, and fluttering reef fish, plus the chance of big pelagics—all within shouting distance of the lighthouse.