My diving holiday in Sharm El-Sheikh remains one of the most vivid and rewarding travel experiences I have ever had. Nestled at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Sharm sits where desert mountains meet the Red Sea, a meeting point of two worlds that could not be more different. Above the surface lies an arid, sun-bleached landscape of rock and sand; below it exists one of the most vibrant underwater ecosystems on the planet.
From the moment I arrived, it was clear why Sharm El-Sheikh is regarded as one of the world’s premier diving destinations. Warm, clear water, dramatic reef walls, abundant marine life, and a sense of effortless accessibility make it a place where each dive feels distinct yet connected to the last. Over the course of the holiday, I explored a range of iconic dive sites, each offering its own character, challenges, and moments of quiet wonder.
Far Garden Reef
One of my early dives was at Far Garden Reef, a site that immediately set the tone for the trip. Descending into the water, visibility seemed endless, with sunlight piercing deep into the blue. The reef itself was a maze of coral formations, swim-throughs, and sandy patches where life quietly unfolded.
Soft corals swayed gently in the current, while clouds of anthias hovered above the reef like living confetti. Parrotfish grazed methodically, their crunching sounds faint but unmistakable underwater. Far Garden felt calm and welcoming, a place that allowed me to settle into the rhythm of Red Sea diving and tune my awareness to the small details that make each dive unique.
Fiddle Garden Reef
Nearby, Fiddle Garden Reef offered a different experience. The reef structure here felt more intricate, with coral pinnacles rising from the seabed and forming natural corridors. Swimming between them felt like navigating an underwater city, each turn revealing something new.
Moray eels peeked out from crevices, their jaws opening and closing rhythmically, while schools of glassfish shimmered like liquid metal when disturbed. There was a sense of intimacy at Fiddle Garden — a reminder that not all great dives rely on dramatic walls or deep drop-offs. Sometimes, the magic lies in complexity and life density rather than scale.
Fiddle to Middle Garden Reef
The Fiddle to Middle Garden Reef dive was a beautiful continuation, linking two distinct areas into a single, flowing journey. Drift diving here allowed us to relax and let the current guide us along the reef, conserving energy while absorbing the scenery.
The transition between the two gardens was subtle but noticeable. Coral types shifted, fish populations changed, and the terrain opened up slightly. This dive reinforced one of the things I love most about diving in Sharm El-Sheikh: even sites that are geographically close can feel entirely different beneath the surface.
Hovering weightless above the reef, I felt a sense of timelessness. With slow, controlled breathing and minimal movement, it was easy to forget the world above and exist entirely in the present moment.
Gordon Reef, Tiran
A highlight of the trip was diving Gordon Reef in the Tiran Straits. This site carries a sense of drama even before entering the water, with strong currents and open sea surrounding the reef. Once submerged, the reef revealed itself as a powerful and dynamic environment.
Gordon Reef is famous for its coral-covered slopes and impressive marine life. Large schools of fish moved with purpose, and there was always the possibility of encountering something bigger cruising past in the blue. The energy of the water was palpable, reminding me that this is a place shaped by constant movement.
One of the most striking aspects of Gordon Reef was the sense of exposure — the feeling that beyond the reef edge lay vast, open ocean. It added an edge of excitement and respect to the dive, reinforcing the importance of awareness and discipline underwater.
Woodhouse Reef
Woodhouse Reef, another Tiran Strait dive, offered a more elongated and dramatic profile. The reef stretches like a spine beneath the water, creating a long, rewarding dive that feels almost like a journey rather than a single site.
Here, the coral growth was exceptional, with hard corals forming dense structures and soft corals adding splashes of colour. The sheer scale of the reef made it easy to lose track of time, drifting slowly along and letting the scenery unfold at its own pace.
Woodhouse Reef felt expansive and immersive, a place where patience was rewarded. The longer I stayed still, the more life revealed itself — fish emerging from hiding, patterns forming and dissolving in the water column.
Ras Ghozlani
Back closer to Sharm, Ras Ghozlani provided a more sheltered and relaxed dive. This site felt peaceful, with gentle slopes and rich coral gardens. It was the kind of dive where buoyancy control and observation mattered more than depth or distance.
Ras Ghozlani was full of colour. Brightly hued reef fish darted between corals, and the diversity of species was remarkable. It was a reminder of how resilient and complex reef ecosystems can be when conditions are right.
This dive felt almost meditative, allowing space to slow down and appreciate the subtler aspects of underwater life — the textures of coral, the play of light, and the quiet interactions between species.
Shark and Yolanda Reef
No diving holiday in Sharm El-Sheikh would be complete without Shark and Yolanda Reef, one of the most famous dive sites in the Red Sea. Located in Ras Mohammed National Park, this site combines dramatic geology with historical intrigue.
The dive began at Shark Reef, where steep walls plunge into the deep. The sense of scale was breathtaking. Looking down into the blue, it was impossible not to feel small. The currents here attract pelagic life, and the anticipation of what might appear added an unmistakable thrill.
Yolanda Reef, named after the wreck of the Yolanda cargo ship, offered a surreal contrast. Scattered across the seabed were remnants of its cargo, including the now-iconic porcelain toilets. Seeing these everyday objects resting among coral and fish was strangely poignant, a reminder of how quickly nature reclaims human artefacts.
This dive encapsulated everything I love about diving: beauty, history, unpredictability, and perspective.
Thomas Reef
Thomas Reef, another Tiran Strait site, stood out for its depth and dramatic walls. This was a more advanced dive, demanding focus and respect for depth limits, but the reward was immense.
Descending along the wall, layers of coral revealed themselves like pages in a book. Each depth zone had its own character and inhabitants. The wall seemed to fall away endlessly, creating a sense of awe and restraint — a reminder that some places are meant to be admired, not conquered.
Thomas Reef felt powerful and humbling. It reinforced the idea that diving is not about pushing limits, but about understanding and working within them.
Ras Ghamilla – Tiran
Finally, Ras Ghamilla in the Tiran area offered a fitting conclusion to the trip. The reef here was lively and colourful, with a sense of openness that invited exploration. It felt like a celebration of everything the Red Sea has to offer — healthy coral, abundant fish, and clear, inviting water.
By this point in the holiday, my movements felt instinctive, my breathing calm and measured. Diving had become less about technique and more about presence. Ras Ghamilla embodied that ease, allowing me to simply enjoy the experience without overthinking it.
Final Reflections
My diving holiday in Sharm El-Sheikh was more than a series of dives; it was an immersion into a different way of experiencing the world. Each site — from Far Garden Reef to Shark and Yolanda, from the gardens near shore to the dramatic reefs of Tiran — added a new layer to the experience.
What made the trip truly special was the balance between adventure and serenity. Diving taught me patience, awareness, and respect — for the ocean, for life beneath the surface, and for my own limits. Long after leaving the Red Sea, the memory of drifting weightless over coral gardens and towering reef walls stayed with me, a reminder of how extraordinary our planet truly is.
