The Red Sea is an amazing place to dive and offers incredible diversity with the sights and experiences you can enjoy.
We’ve been exploring these waters for over 30 years and still love every day as if it were the first! There is so much marine life within relatively easy access that it is no surprise it attracts divers to come back time and time again.
Here are 10 natural highlights we think you should look out for when you join us on one of our liveaboard or daily diving boats.
1 Oceanic Whitetip Sharks
Encountering oceanic whitetips is an exhilarating experience. They are known for their bold nature and distinctive dorsal fins and these apex predators often approach divers. The southern Red Sea is a particularly good area to encounter them with interactions typically occuring on deeper offshore reefs. Our Simply The Best itinerary – which takes in the fantastic Big and Little Brothers, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone – offers a great chance to see these amazing animals.
2 Spinner Dolphins
You’re guaranteed to find a smile forming on your face with any dolphin encounter. They always enchant with their playful nature and are such sociable mammals they often greet divers and snorkelers with curiosity. Observing them glide gracefully along brings so much joy. Their presence in the Red Sea is widespread but when you have sites nicknamed Dolphin House (Shaad Samadai, which is easily accessed on day boats from Port Ghalib) and Dolphin Reef (near Fury Shoals) you kind of know you have a good chance of seeing these beauties!
3 Dugongs
It is impossible not to love dugongs! Often called sea cows, these gentle herbivores graze on seagrass meadows, offering serene encounters for lucky divers. Sightings are less frequent, but witnessing their slow, graceful movements is unforgettable. Indeed, ‘Dennis’ the dugong has been a firm Red Sea favourite for many years and still provides a popular highlight to any trip.
4 Anthias Clouds
It is quite a sight to see when ‘clouds’ of brilliant orange anthias swirl around Red Sea pinnacles. These small, energetic fish dart among corals, feeding on plankton carried by currents. Their constant movement is a dizzying display as their synchronised dance takes them around the vibrant reefs. Common across the Red Sea, some of the most special sites are in the north and accessed from our Sharm el Sheikh centre or can be experienced on itineraries such as North & Easy and Reefs & Wrecks.
5 Giant Moray Eels
Giant Moray Eels lurk in crevices throughout the Red Sea’s coral reefs. They are generally nocturnal hunters so shelter by day – but often peek out to observe passing divers. Approaching cautiously reveals their inquisitive nature but it’s worth keep a respectful distance. Although normally non-aggressive they do not welcome feeling threatened.
6 Napoleon Wrasse
The Napoleon wrasse, or humphead wrasse, is a charismatic Red Sea icon recognised by its hump on the forehead. These gentle giants forage among coral reefs, crushing shells and crustaceans with formidable jaws. Curious but shy, they will approach divers – and you won’t be able to miss them! With their prominent forehead and sometimes measuring up to two metres, they are quite a sight.
7 Green and Hawksbill Turtles
Green and Hawksbill Turtles are another favourite of the Red Sea with the beautiful gentle demeanour. Green Turtles feed on seagrasses, while Hawksbills graze on sponges, helping maintain reef health. With such serene dispositions, they allow close observation if approached gently and, similarly to dolphins, are almost certain to bring a smile to your face.
8 Hammerhead Sharks
Daedalus Reef – featured on our Simply The Best and Southern Solitude itineraries among others – is famed for hammerhead shark encounters. This is where to be for anyone seeking pelagic action. Early morning dives often reveal schooling hammerheads patrolling the depths and their incredible silhouettes make them easy to pick out. Sightings can be fleeting, but patience rewards lucky adventurers.
9 Feather Stars
Feather stars cling to Red Sea reef walls alongside colourful soft corals. Their vibrant appearance can take on many colours as they spread their arms to filter plankton. They are crinoids – a type of echinoderm – which makes them relatives of starfish, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers. However, to the visiting diver they are simply a thing of glorious beauty.
10 Glassfish Caverns
Glassfish caverns occur when vast schools of these translucent fish fill hidden grottoes. Their collective movement reflects light to create an incredible spectacle. One of the best places to see this is in Ras Mohamed National Park (as if there wasn’t enough to see there!). A site called Jackfish Alley is renowned producing the goods in two enormous caves which fill with shoaling glassfish.
If you would like any more information on any of the itineraries mentioned or would like to find out how best to witness some of these Red Sea wonders, please contact our team on [email protected]
Find out more about 10 of the wonderful underwater treats that await you in our other destinations – the Solomon Islands, Maldives and Indonesia