Where to go scuba diving in Egypt: Egypt is home to some of the best diving locations in the world. Our temperate Red Sea waters, colorful coral formations, diverse marine life and scores of historical shipwrecks draw visitors from around the world. Last week, we broke down what it takes to become a certified scuba diver and where to go to get licensed in Egypt. Today, we map out some of the best locations to check out in Egypt once you’ve taken the plunge and have a license on hand. You can access any of these sites by booking with a dive center, hotel or resort near the locations.

BUT FIRST, A FEW THINGS TO KEEP IN MIND-

REMEMBER- Diving can be taxing on our environment: Before you head off to your nearest dive center, consider that every dive, no matter how careful you are, places strain on our natural marine ecosystems. Overcrowding at popular dive locations have already left many of our once pristine ecosystems severely damaged. Most dive sites in the Red Sea can sustainably host 5-20k visitors annually, but some of our most popular sites are seeing well over 200k divers a year, according to experts we’ve previously spoken to.

Noise, solid waste pollution and damage from deliberate and accidental contact with marine animals and our coral reefs are all sadly inevitable byproducts of a growing global interest in scuba diving. Make sure you patronize reputable organizations (go to part I of our scuba diving guide for our picks for the most highly recommended centers), and avoid touching or hunting any kind of marine life to minimize any impact.

A lot of diving spots in Egypt are accessible for all skill levels, but remember: Open Water Divers are only permitted to go down to a maximum depth of 18 meters, while divers with an Advanced Open Water license are permitted to go down to 30 meters and are better equipped at handling conditions like strong currents and poor underwater visibility. We’re breaking down these spots for you according to what experienced divers recommend is most suitable for beginners, beginners with some experience, and more advanced divers.

GOT AN OPEN WATER DIVING CERTIFICATE? If you’re still early on in your diving career — even if you’ve been certified — it’s important to take some time to further acquaint yourself with the underwater world and the gear on your back before diving too deep. Planning shallow dives with less challenging conditions is typically the best way to start out.

Don’t knock your local house reef: Although dive centers’ house reefs might sometimes be overlooked in favor of some of the flashier and more far flung sites in the Red Sea, they are excellent training grounds to build up your confidence away from crowds at more popular sites. Red Sea Diving Safari’s Marsa Shagra and Ducks Diving’s El Quseir house reefs are among the better locations where convenience and healthy marine ecosystems coincide — in part because they’re spared the traffic concentrated at other more popular sites.

If you’re staying in Soma Bay, Ras Abu Soma is one of the best dive sites to check out. Hard and soft coral structures line the 2 km long reef, where you can get as many as five separate dives completed without going over ground you’ve already covered. Notable wildlife at Ras Abu Soma include spectacularly large fan coral (also known as sea fans), clown fish and moray eels. The most convenient way to reach this site — which can be tailored to all levels of certification — is through Orca Dive Club at The Breakers Lodge in Soma Bay, which overlooks Ras Abu Soma.

Dahab is a great spot for shore dives: If you’re looking to untether yourself from a resort facility, try out something a little more independent in Dahab. Sites like Eel Garden, Canyon and Bells in Dahab are all great shore-based options that do not require you to stay at a set resort or hotel to explore. Most dive operators in Dahab will organize at least one group dive everyday at any of these easily accessible sites and are often open to adding more dives depending on demand.

Eels at Eel Garden: Eel Garden is named after the garden eel population residing in the soft sandy bottom of the shallow sea floor close to shore. Although you’ll get to see hard and soft coral species along the reef near the entrance of your dive, what makes this straightforward dive unique are the eels, ghost pipefish and stingrays lining the sea floor.

A crack in the reef leads to a 50 meter deep underworld at Canyon : Besides the intricate coral reef structures and the small fish that inhabit them, the main draw for this site is a 54 meter deep canyon that splits the reef in two. The entrance to the canyon can sometimes be dominated by schools of glistening pipefish. If you’re lucky, you might also catch an octopus or moray eel inside.

INTERMEDIATE LEVEL- These sites are technically viable for all skill levels, but diving there requires some experience beyond the initial Open Water Diver certification, according to divers we spoke to.

One of the most popular dive sites in the country is Bells/Blue Hole, which is actually the entry point to a drift dive (current permitting) that eventually leads to Dahab’s famed 120 meter deep sinkhole, Blue Hole. Your dive starts off with a descent down a 28 meter deep natural chimney and takes you 250 meters across a wall of spectacular coral formations before coming to an end at the entrance to the spacey Blue Hole . Most operators will require an Advanced Open Water certification to allow you to dive this site, though one dive operator we spoke to said divers with an Open Water certificate can dive here as long as they stay above 18 meters.

Over on the Eastern coast, you can catch a boat ride to nearby islands: Spots like Small Giftun and Dolphin House off the coast are easily accessible dive sites with generally moderate conditions where you have a pretty good chance of a dolphin sighting.

Small Giftun island is a marine reserve located an hour away from Hurghada, and has a coral wall that goes down about 100 meters. The drift dive — a dive that involves being carried with the tide or current — also provides a unique experience for more advanced divers, who will be more equipped to swim with the strong currents along the wall.

Dolphin House — about 45 minutes from El Gouna — is where you’ll have a better chance of diving alongside dolphins, but both sites are home to equally delightful coral reefs, if luck isn’t in your favor. Try to schedule a visit with your dive center as early as possible to avoid larger crowds.

Ras Mohammed National Park can’t be missed: Accessible by boat from either Sharm El Sheikh or Dahab, Ras Mohamed National Park is home to some of the most breathtaking coral reef formations in the country. Boasting massive schools of fish, abundant coral and remains of an old wreck, Shark & Yolanda Reef is considered by many to be one of the best dives in the Red Sea. Despite measuring over 800 meters deep, diving Shark & Yolanda Reef is broadly suitable for all levels of divers, provided you stick to your permitted maximum depth. For newer divers, the strength of the current will dictate exactly how you approach the dive, so be prepared for your dive master to amend your plan based on weather conditions.

FOR ADVANCED DIVERS- Book a liveaboard: Once you’ve got your skills as an open water diver dialed in — and possibly even pursued an advanced open water certification — snagging a spot on a liveaboard might be your best option to explore more challenging and remote locations.

The downside? Sailing across the sea with all your food and equipment comes with a large price tag. Reputable liveaboard operators will typically charge between EGP 3-5k per day, usually with a five or six-day minimum for the length of the trip.

If you’re looking for a more high octane adventure, plan a visit to the SS Thistlegorm, the famed 128 meter long vessel brought down by German planes in 1941 while waiting to cross through the Suez Canal. The wreckage from the downed steamboat remains in remarkably good condition with much of its cargo still lying on the seafloor. Once you have your Advanced Open Water license, you can hop aboard a boat from Dahab or Sharm El Sheikh for a single day trip — which will cost you between EUR 105-180 for three dives and a meal, according to several dive centers in Dahab and Sharm — or schedule it into your liveaboard itinerary.

BUT KEEP IN MIND- You can only explore the wreck from outside with an Advanced Open Water diver certificate. If you want to enter the wreck and explore inside, that requires a special wreck diving certificate.

Or maybe venture out to the Brothers Islands for some larger marine life: Located 70 km off the coast of El Quseir on the Red Sea coast, the Brothers Islands(more popularly known as El Akhawein or El Ekhwa) are one of the most remote locations to scuba dive in Egypt. The Brothers, which are actually two distinct islands about 1 km apart, are a hotspot for Oceanic and Hammerhead shark sightings and home to the best preserved coral reefs in the country. Part of the reason why they are in such good condition is because the islands are only reachable by liveaboard boats and see much less traffic than other sites in the Red Sea.

It’s important to keep in mind that conditions at the Brothers are seriously challenging: Choppy waters, large predators and strong currents require you to have an Advanced Open Water license to dive. Many operators will even ask for proof of substantial diving experience — 50 dives, according to SSI — before allowing you on board.

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