When thinking about scuba diving, Egypt is one of those places that shouldn’t be excluded in any list. With its northern border framed by the Mediterranean and its eastern border by the beautiful Red Sea, there is certainly no shortage of wrecks and reefs to visit when scuba diving Egypt. Like any place you’d want to go to, however, some seasons are better than others when it comes to visiting the country’s diving spots.
There are a lot of things to consider, from the location, to the weather, and even down to the migration patterns of certain wildlife. To help you make the most out of scuba diving Egypt, we’ve made a summary of the best times to visit Egypt’s many beautiful dive spots.
Source: When is the best time to visit Egypt
The Main Locations
Egypt is a unique place in that it’s mostly a desert country straddled on either side by two large bodies of water, the Mediterranean to the north and the Red Sea to the east. Each of these areas have their own unique features. The dive spots in the Red Sea are known for their abundance of fish, warm waters and excellent visibility. The places here tend to get crowded during the tourist high season, however, especially between July and December, so if you don’t like to dive in crowded areas, it’s best to avoid the Red Sea during this time.
Source: Traveling Egypt and Diving the Red Sea
The dive spots in the Mediterranean on the other hand offer a different sort of environment when scuba diving Egypt. The wildlife here isn’t as abundant as in the Red Sea, but there are more shipwrecks and ancient ruins to explore here, especially around Alexandria’s harbor. Much like the rest of the country, the dive spots on this side of Egypt can be accessed year-round, but it’s recommended to visit here anywhere between April and August, when the temperature is warm.
Source: STRANGEST Discoveries Made In Mediterranean Sea!
The Climate
Egypt tends to have a desert climate, which is typical in the area. It has long, hot summers that are punctuated by cooler winters with a bit of rainfall. If you want to avoid heavy rain while you’re out in the water, scuba diving Egypt between March and October is best. Of course, the visibility underwater is best during the winter months, when the plankton are not in bloom.
The temperature in Egypt’s air is at its highest in August, where it can get to a scorching hot 105°F. You may need to time your travel because of this and visit Egypt outside of the summer months, when the temperatures are more bearable.
The waters in both the Mediterranean and the Red Sea are at their warmest in the peak of summer, in August, where the water temperatures reach about 83°F. The coldest months are between January to mid-April, where the water can get as cold as 68°F. Of course, these are just guidelines, and weather conditions could still vary greatly, so when you’re out scuba diving Egypt, it’s best to contact the local dive operators before going into the water.
The Wildlife
At least 10% of the marine wildlife found in Egypt cannot be found anywhere else, with hundreds more species calling its waters home. Biodiversity is never an issue in Egypt if you’re looking to swim with the wildlife. There are plenty of sharks in Egypt’s waters, and there’s a good chance you’ll be able to swim with them when you are scuba diving Egypt.
Source: Scuba diving in Egypt
Most of the species common there are available year-round, particularly the two whitetip shark species, the reef variant and the oceanic variant. Hammerheads can also be seen here all year but are more commonly seen between May and October. Thresher sharks are more commonly seen during the winter months, between September and January.
Whale sharks also visit the Egyptian waters, and they are most likely to be seen between May and July, and at September to November. Another rare creature you may find in these waters is the fabled manatee, or dugong. Because of their status as an endangered species, they are difficult to find elsewhere, but if you know where their usual habitats are, you can easily find them all-year round in Egypt.
Other creatures you might see while scuba diving Egypt are sea turtles and common dolphins, both of which are very common in the area, with many of them making their appearances year-round, even during the cold winter months.
