1. World-class underwater life without the price tag of far-flung tropics

- The northern reefs (Ras Mohammed, Tiran) and southern sites (Elphinstone, Rocky Island) are on nearly every “top-ten dives” list for good reason: 1,200+ fish species, 200+ coral types, warm 20–28 °C water and visibility that regularly tops 30 m .

- Wreck enthusiasts can fin through the WWII cargo ship SS Thistlegorm, a bucket-list dive that sits only 30 m deep and can even be snorkeled from the surface on calm days .

2. Water sports that don’t require a scuba certificate

- Kitesurfing Meccas El Gouna, Dahab and Ras Sudr combine steady thermal winds with shallow, butter-flat lagoons—ideal for first-timers and pros alike .

- Parasailing, wake-boarding, semi-submersible submarine rides and glass-bottom boat cruises let non-swimmers get eye-level with reef life .

3. Desert-and-sea combo you won’t find in the Caribbean

- Quad-bike or camel into the Eastern Desert, canyon through the Coloured Canyon near Nuweiba, or summit Mount Sinai at dawn and be back on the beach for lunch .

- Bedouin dinners under impossibly starry skies add cultural depth to a classic beach break.

4. A resort town for every travel style

- Sharm El-Sheikh: Vegas-by-the-Sea—nightlife, huge spas, family resorts, and Ras Mohammed on the doorstep.

- Hurghada: Biggest choice of hotels and dive operators; golf courses, marinas and an international airport with budget flights from Europe.

- El Gouna: Venice-like canals, boutique hotels, eco-friendly policies, perfect for couples.

- Dahab & Nuweiba: Backpacker vibe, cheap beach huts, windsurf cafés and zero crowds.

- Marsa Alam: Southern frontier—pristine reefs, dolphin houses (Sataya, Samadai), national parks and five-star eco-lodges .

5. Year-round sunshine that’s a three-hour flight from Europe

- 350+ sunny days, water temperatures that dip only to ~22 °C in January, and almost no rain mean high-season prices don’t spike around Christmas or Easter the way they do in the Mediterranean .

6. Value for money

- All-inclusive four-star resorts routinely run US $70–120 per night for two, including meals, airport transfers and often a couple of dives—hard to beat anywhere else with this caliber of reefs .

7. Easy add-ons to Egypt’s “must-sees”

- Fly into Cairo, see the Pyramids, hop a 50-minute domestic flight to Hurghada or Sharm, and you’ve tacked a week of reef time onto a cultural holiday without extra visas or long layovers .

In short, Egypt’s Red Sea Coast is the rare destination that satisfies both hard-core adventure seekers (think 40 m wreck dives and 2 a.m. mountain climbs) and poolside margarita-sippers—often within the same resort. Add affordable pricing, short flights from Europe/Middle East, and year-round dependability, and it’s easy to see why the region keeps drawing repeat visitors who originally “just came for the diving.”

Relax on stunning beaches with crystal-clear waters