Discover Scuba Diving Sharm El Sheikh

The best part of this Sharm el Sheikh experience is the quick route from nervous beginner to breathing underwater over Red Sea coral. You start with basic skills in confined water, then head into the sea for an open-water session, either from shore or by boat.

I like the hotel-to-hotel transport, which removes the usual hassle of reaching a marina or beach. I also like that the price includes equipment, lunch, coffee, tea, soft drinks, and a PADI-certified instructor. The main caution is that the advertised format needs careful checking: one section promises a confined-water session plus an open-water session, while another describes two sea sessions.

At a glance

• Pool-to-sea progression: You are scheduled to learn basic skills in confined water before entering the Red Sea.
• Two possible settings: The experience can run from the shore or by boat, with Ras Mohamed National Park and White Island named as possible sites.
• Short underwater sessions: The listed confined-water and open-water sessions are each about 25 minutes.
• Everything essential is supplied: Mask, fins, weights, scuba equipment, air-conditioned transport, and hotel transfers are included.
• Lunch is part of the day: Expect chicken, rice, pasta, vegetables, three kinds of salad, water, coffee, tea, and soda.
• Small-group promise needs clarification: The highlights mention no more than one other participant, while the additional information allows up to 25 people.

Your day begins with a hotel pickup at 8 a.m.

The day starts early, with pickup from your Sharm el Sheikh hotel at 8 a.m. An air-conditioned vehicle takes you to the day’s starting point, then returns you to the same general hotel area after the activity.

That direct transfer matters. Sharm el Sheikh is spread out, and arranging your own way to a beach or boat departure would add time and uncertainty. You can have breakfast at your hotel, meet the vehicle, and let the operator handle the basic transport.

The full outing lasts about seven hours. That is long enough to include instruction, equipment preparation, time in the water, lunch, and the return journey. It is not a quick one-hour tryout, so keep the rest of your day fairly open.

The scheduled start time is 8 a.m., but the exact pickup time may depend on your hotel. Your booking confirmation should provide the practical details. Confirmation is issued at the time of booking.

Learning the basics before entering the Red Sea

The most important part of this experience is the confined-water session. This is where a PADI-certified instructor introduces you to the equipment and basic skills before you attempt the open-water portion.

The included session is listed as one confined-water session lasting 25 minutes. That is not a full certification course. It is an introduction designed to help you understand the mask, fins, breathing equipment, weights, and basic underwater procedures.

For a first attempt, this short practice period can make a real difference. Breathing through a regulator feels unusual at first, and the mask and equipment can take a moment to manage. Starting in controlled water gives you a chance to settle down before facing the open sea.

I would pay close attention to the instructor here. The strongest part of the experience, based on the supplied feedback, is personal support. One parent said an experienced instructor stayed with her daughter throughout the activity, while another beginner felt safer because the instructor was patient and reassuring.

That is exactly what you need from an introductory session. You do not need a long classroom lecture. You need clear instructions, calm supervision, and enough time to ask questions before you enter deeper water.

The wording of the program deserves a quick check before you pay. The main description says you learn basic skills in a swimming pool, but one negative account says the person entered open water without the expected confined-water training. The package details do list a 25-minute confined-water session, so ask the operator to confirm the order and location of the training.

The open-water session and Red Sea scenery

After the initial practice, you enter the Red Sea for the open-water portion. The listed open-water session lasts about 25 minutes. That may sound brief, but for a first underwater experience, it can feel like a full event.

Your reward is close views of coral and tropical fish in clear water. Sharm el Sheikh is known for good visibility, and the Red Sea setting gives this experience more appeal than a basic pool introduction. You are not simply learning how to use the equipment. You are using it in a real marine environment.

The activity may take place from the shore or from a boat. The boat option includes possible visits to Ras Mohamed National Park and White Island. The supplied information does not guarantee a specific site for every departure, so ask which route applies to your booking.

A shore departure is likely the simpler format. You avoid boat movement and spend less time getting to the site. For a nervous beginner, that may be the easier way to focus on breathing, buoyancy, and the instructor’s directions.

A boat outing can make the day feel more like a full Red Sea adventure. It may offer access to marine areas that are not reached from the beach, and the boat provides a natural place to rest between water sessions. The tradeoff is that a boat day usually includes more moving parts, including boarding, waiting, and group coordination.

The listing describes the experience as two sessions from the beach or boat, but the included details identify one confined-water session and one open-water session. This is the clearest point to settle before departure. If you expect two open-water sessions, ask specifically if both are in the sea and how long each lasts.

Equipment, safety, and the group-size question

The price includes scuba equipment, so you do not need to bring your own mask, fins, or weights. That is useful for first-timers who do not yet own gear and would not want to rent pieces separately.

The equipment list is described broadly rather than item by item. You should expect the essential scuba equipment required for the scheduled sessions, but the supplied information does not name every item or describe how equipment is cleaned and prepared.

One poor account raised a serious hygiene concern about shared regulators. I cannot confirm that this applies to every departure, but it is a fair issue to raise before you enter the water. Ask how mouthpieces and regulators are cleaned between users. A professional operator should be able to answer directly.

Group size is another detail worth checking. The highlights say the activity has a maximum of one other participant, which suggests very personal instruction. The additional information says the activity can have up to 25 participants. Those two descriptions do not match.

The safest approach is to ask which group-size rule applies to your booking, especially if individual attention is the reason you are choosing this product. The positive accounts emphasize close instructor support, but a larger boat group could still mean that several people use the same departure while being divided into smaller instruction units.

The experience is described as suitable for most people, but no detailed medical or age requirements are supplied. If you have a health concern that could affect scuba participation, ask the provider before booking rather than waiting until pickup.

Lunch and the pause between sessions

Lunch is included, which makes the seven-hour schedule easier to manage. The listed meal includes chicken, rice, pasta, vegetables, and three kinds of salad. Water, coffee, tea, and soda are also provided.

This is not a small snack between activities. You are given a proper midday meal, useful after time in the water and equipment handling. The food also helps keep the day self-contained, so you do not need to search for a restaurant during the outing.

The meal menu suggests several choices, but no vegetarian, vegan, allergy, or religious-diet details are provided. If you need a specific meal, contact Sharm Gate before departure. Do not assume that the listed vegetables and salads cover every dietary need.

The timing of lunch is not specified. If the activity runs from a boat, the meal may be served during the cruise or during a break. If it runs from shore, the arrangement may differ. You can ask when lunch is served if meal timing matters to you.

What the $80 price really covers

At $80 per person, the value depends on what you want from the day. You are paying for more than a single underwater session. The package includes hotel pickup and return, a PADI-certified instructor, equipment, a confined-water session, an open-water session, lunch, and drinks.

That is a reasonable bundle for someone who wants to try scuba without committing to a certification course. A full course requires more time, study, and cost. This experience lets you find out if breathing underwater and managing the equipment appeal to you before making that larger commitment.

The price is less attractive if you expect a full certification lesson or several long sea sessions. This is an introductory experience, not a qualification. The listed underwater sessions are about 25 minutes each, and the program does not include a certification.

Ras Mohamed National Park entrance fees are not included. If your route enters the national park, budget for that separate charge. The supplied information does not state the amount, so ask for the current fee before departure.

Underwater photographs are also extra. That can be tempting in clear Red Sea water, particularly if this is your first time. Still, treat photos as an optional add-on rather than part of the $80 package, and ask about the price before agreeing.

The best fit for first-time visitors

I would consider this experience for a first-time scuba participant who wants a guided introduction without enrolling in a full course. The included equipment and direct hotel transport keep the planning simple.

It also suits a parent considering a new activity with an older child, based on the positive account describing a daughter who received close supervision and later wanted to pursue certification. The key point is that the instructor’s support can shape the whole day, especially if you feel nervous.

You should be comfortable with a day that may involve a boat, a group setting, and shared equipment. If you want complete privacy, a guaranteed one-to-one instructor, or a carefully specified two-session sea program, ask detailed questions first.

This is not the best match if your main goal is certification. It is also not ideal if you need a fully confirmed dietary menu, a guaranteed boat route, or a clearly stated maximum group size before booking.

What to confirm before you book

I would send the operator a short list of questions. These are not fussy details. They address the parts of the program that are described in more than one way.

• Is the first 25-minute session in a swimming pool or another confined-water area?
• Is the second session the only open-water session, or are there two sea sessions?
• Will the activity leave from shore or by boat?
• Is Ras Mohamed National Park included in the route, and what is the entrance fee?
• Does the one-other-person limit apply to instruction, transport, or the whole activity?
• How are regulators and other mouth-contact equipment cleaned between users?
• Are underwater photos available, and what do they cost?

The operator is Sharm Gate, and confirmation is provided when you book. The experience is generally recommended, with a 4.6 rating from 92 reviews and a 90 percent recommendation figure. Those numbers suggest a strong overall record, but they do not remove the need to confirm the details above.

Free cancellation is available if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Cancellations inside that window are not refunded, and changes are not accepted less than 24 hours before the start. Poor weather can also cancel the activity, in which case you are offered another date or a full refund.

Should you book this Sharm el Sheikh scuba experience?

Book it if you want a convenient first taste of the Red Sea, especially if hotel transport, lunch, equipment, and an instructor are worth more to you than a longer sea session. The strongest reasons to choose it are the clear-water setting, the pool-to-sea format described in the package, and the personal encouragement praised in the positive accounts.

Before booking, confirm the confined-water session, the number of open-water sessions, the group size, the departure point, and the cleaning of shared regulators. If those answers are clear and acceptable, $80 is a fair price for a seven-hour introduction.

If the operator cannot explain those points, choose a program with a more precise schedule. For a first underwater experience, clear expectations matter almost as much as the coral and fish.

FAQ

What time does the experience start?

The stated start time is 8 a.m. Hotel pickup is offered, and the activity lasts about seven hours.

Is hotel transportation included?

Yes. An air-conditioned vehicle provides hotel pickup and drop-off in Sharm el Sheikh.

Do I need scuba equipment?

No. Scuba equipment is included, along with the essential gear listed for the activity.

Is instruction included?

Yes. A PADI-certified instructor provides the program, including one 25-minute confined-water session and one 25-minute open-water session according to the included details.

Can the activity take place from a boat?

Yes. The experience is available from shore or by boat. Ras Mohamed National Park and White Island are named as possible boat destinations.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch includes chicken, rice, pasta, vegetables, and three kinds of salad. Water, coffee, tea, and soda are also included.

Are park entrance fees and underwater photos included?

No. The entrance fee for Ras Mohammed National Park and optional underwater photos are not included.