In 1983, Egypt declared Ras Mohammed a protected area, at the southern tip of Sinai. More than forty years later, its name remains the most common selling point for boat trips offered in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Our old page stacked promises: crystal-clear waters, guaranteed sharks in spring, nearby wrecks located within the park. We rewrote it for the diver who truly prepares their outing, with what we have been able to verify and what remains impossible to decide from here.
What level should you dive at Ras Mohammed?
Ras Mohammed welcomes both supervised beginners and experienced divers, but not on the same sites or the same days. The park is almost always dived from a boat, often along drop-offs, with currents whose strength varies from one outing to another. Your level matters less than the site chosen in the morning.
Here is our chart, filled with what we were able to verify in October 2026 from official sources.
| Criterion | What we know | What remains to be verified on site |
|---|---|---|
| Level | Sheltered sites for supervised beginners, more challenging drop-offs and drift dives | The site chosen on the day and the planned depth |
| Current | Variable depending on site and day | Strength on the day, impossible to decide from here |
| Season | Diving all year round, no official dated temperature records found | Recent water temperature and recommended wetsuit thickness by the center |
| Supervision | Day trips from Sharm el-Sheikh or liveaboards | Group size, guide per group, required surface marker buoy |
| Fallback plan | Several sites within the park | Sheltered site planned if current or sea conditions worsen |
The current decides more than the photo. Clear water tells you nothing about the speed at which you are moving along the drop-off, nor your ability to stay close to your buddy when the flow speeds up at a point. And the park occupies the southern tip of Sinai, between the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. In short, the drop-off of the day is chosen on site. Ask the center how they decide the site when the current strengthens, and what they offer beginners on those days.
If you are coming out of a first level, say so before booking. The center can then place you on a more sheltered outing, or advise you to wait for a calmer day rather than join a group already experienced in drift diving.
What does Ras Mohammed National Park protect, and what does entry cost?
Ras Mohammed was declared a protected area in 1983, under Law 102 on protected areas, by decree 1068 of the same year. The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) assigns it 850 square kilometers in the South Sinai governorate, according to its official list of protected areas. The entry fee, however, remains to be verified.
Yet, we found no official dated fee schedule for this entry fee. The amounts circulating come from agency websites or forums, often undated, sometimes in dollars and sometimes in Egyptian pounds, and we do not copy a figure that cannot be linked to the EEAA. Ask the center if entry is included in the price of the outing. And what amount appears on the ticket. If the center cannot answer, you learn something about how much care it puts into the rest of the organization.
The protected status has a direct consequence for you, since France Diplomacy reminds that coral collection and damage are penalized in Egypt.
The rule applies to resting on the reef. We detailed elsewhere why you should never touch marine life, even to stabilize yourself.
Shark Reef, Yolanda Reef, Jackfish Alley: what do you really dive?
Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef form the most cited dive in the park: two connected pinnacles, which centers often chain together in a single drift along the drop-off. Jackfish Alley, another recurring name in programs, is also located in the park according to the centers that offer it. Conditions at these sites change with the current.
The name Yolanda comes from a cargo ship. According to Divernet, this 72-meter vessel was carrying bathroom equipment when it ran aground on the reef in the early 1980s, then it slipped into the blue during a storm in the mid-1980s. British divers found its bow in May 2005, between 145 and 160 meters. On the reef, mostly scattered sanitary fixtures remain. The rest pertains to trimix diving and technical exploration.
For Jackfish Alley and Anemone City, no official dated description has been found, so ask the center about the planned depth, the type of entry, and the drift direction before boarding.
But the wildlife is not reserved. Sharks, barracudas, or schools of jacks may pass by, or not, and no season guarantees them at a given site. The corals, however, remain in place (we discuss this in our article on the resilience of Red Sea corals).
Should you combine Ras Mohammed and the Thistlegorm?
The SS Thistlegorm is not located in the Ras Mohammed park; it rests in the Gubal Strait, further northwest. Many day trips from Sharm el-Sheikh combine it with a dive at Ras Mohammed. The day is long and demanding.
This British cargo ship was sunk on October 6, 1941, by two German bombers, and the explosion of its munitions killed nine men according to the Thistlegorm Project. The wreck descends to a maximum depth of 32 meters. Cousteau located it in the 1950s. Recreational diving rediscovered it only in the early 1990s, after the passage of the boat Poolster. Thus, depth alone already excludes some of the lower levels, depending on your body’s limits.
The possible current in the strait and the depth make the Thistlegorm a dive to prepare for, with a precise briefing on the descent point, ascent along the line, and conduct to follow if the dive group separates.
Combining the two therefore has a cost. You spend long hours at sea, you chain two dives including a deep one, and you return late to Sharm. If you insist on the Thistlegorm, ask if there is a dedicated trip or a cruise, where the second dive is done without rushing. Also bring your dive surface marker buoy, useful if you surface far from the boat.
Visa, security, hyperbaric chamber: what to check before Sharm el-Sheikh?
With a French passport, a visa for Egypt is mandatory. You can apply for it on the official e-Visa portal of the Egyptian Ministry of Interior, which requires submission at least seven days before departure, or obtain it at the airport, and a special Sinai visa exists. Sharm el-Sheikh has two hyperbaric chambers.
According to the entry and stay sheet from France Diplomatie (updated September 21, 2026), the visa costs 30 dollars for a single entry and 60 dollars for multiple entries, payable in cash at the airport. The special Sinai visa applies if you arrive directly in Sharm. It is no longer sufficient if you go to Cairo. The passport or identity card must remain valid six months after your return to France. With the identity card, plan for two photos.
Regarding security, the sheet from September 21, 2026 recommends, for the coastal area of South Sinai which includes Sharm el-Sheikh and Dahab, to favor accommodations in secure hotels.
However, a nearby hyperbaric chamber is useless if your insurance does not cover recompression. France Diplomatie lists two in Sharm el-Sheikh. Check which one your center calls in case of an accident, and if your contract covers treatment and evacuation without advance payment on your part.
To place Ras Mohammed within a broader trip, our guide to diving holidays in Egypt compares the departure bases, and our page on diving at Tiran covers the other major outing from Sharm. In short, a well-prepared day at Ras Mohammed will cost you a visa, diving insurance, and a bit of flexibility in the schedule. Would you book it that way?
FAQ
Can a beginner dive at Ras Mohammed?
Yes, provided they are supervised and inform the center before booking. The current varies depending on the site and the day, so ask which sites are reserved for beginners. The final decision lies with the professional on site.
Is the Thistlegorm part of the Ras Mohammed park?
No. The wreck lies in the Gubal Strait, at about 32 meters deep according to the Thistlegorm Project. Many day trips from Sharm el-Sheikh combine it with a dive at Ras Mohammed.
How much does entry to the Ras Mohammed National Park cost?
We did not find an official dated price list. Ask the center if the entry fee is included in the trip price and what amount appears on the ticket.
Is there a hyperbaric chamber in Sharm el-Sheikh?
Yes, France Diplomatie lists two in its fact sheet updated on September 21, 2026. Check which one your center calls in case of an accident and that your insurance covers recompression.
What visa is required to dive at Ras Mohammed?
A visa is mandatory with a French passport. You can apply through the official e-Visa portal at least seven days before departure or obtain it on arrival, for 30 dollars for a single entry according to France Diplomatie. If you arrive in Sharm el-Sheikh and stay within the governorate, a special Sinai visa exists.
Sources
- Protectorates declared in the framework of Law 102 of year 1983 (Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency, accessed in 2026)
- Egypt: travel advice, security (France Diplomatie, updated September 21, 2026)
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