Best Time to Dive the Red Sea: Seasonal Guide

When is the best time to dive the Red Sea? The honest answer: there isn’t really a bad month. Every season gives you something different: warmer water or clearer visibility, busy reefs or quiet boats, a hood or a shorty. Our guide walks you through each season in Sharm el-Sheikh, so you can plan your next diving trip with confidence.

SpringMarch – May

Water22–25°CMarch cooler, late May warmer
Air25–32°C
Visibility25–30m
Wetsuit5mm

SummerJune – August

Water27–30°C
Air33–40°C+
Visibility20–30mAugust sometimes lower due to plankton
Wetsuit3mm full or shorty5mm if you feel the cold

AutumnSeptember – November

Water26–28°CSeptember still warm, November cooling
Air28–35°C
Visibility25–35m+Often the best of the year
Wetsuit3–5mm5mm with a hood towards November if you feel the cold

WinterDecember – February

Water22–23°C
Air18–24°C
Visibility20–35mOften crystal clear
Wetsuit5mm, plus a hoodSome people also use a semi‑dry or dry suit

Diving in Sharm el-Sheikh Season by Season: What You’ll See

Spring: March–May

Spring reefs are busy. Big schools, barracuda, trevally, turtles and napoleon wrasse are all active, and whale sharks show up on the offshore sites, Ras Mohammed especially, most often in May. If you’re diving in April around the full moon, keep an eye out for schools of iridescent emperor fish, one of the more specific spring sightings. The sun is already strong by May, so don’t skip reef-safe sunscreen and something to cover up with on the boat.

Sunlight over a coral reef in the Red Sea at Sharm El Sheikh

Summer: June–August

Summer keeps the same cast, big schools, barracuda, trevally, turtles, plus eagle rays more regularly, and the occasional whale shark offshore. The water is at its warmest, which is also why the air above it gets genuinely hot: hydration and sun protection matter more here than at any other point in the year, arguably more than the wetsuit choice itself.

Autumn: September–November

Autumn is where visibility tends to peak, often 25 to 35 metres or more. Reefs stay full: big schools of jacks, turtles, whitetip reef sharks, napoleon wrasse, moray eels and eagle rays. October in particular is the month we’d point most people towards if they asked us to pick one: warm water, excellent visibility, a climate that’s finally comfortable, and marine life still going strong. By November the water is noticeably cooler than in September, and how much that matters really depends on you: some divers stay comfortable in a 3mm right through the season, others feel it and are better off switching to a 5mm with a hood.

Winter: December–February

Winter reefs are quieter, but the water is often at its clearest. You’ll still find turtles, barracuda, trevally, napoleon wrasse and moray eels. If you’re arriving from a UK, Italian or northern European winter, 22°C water tends to feel a lot warmer than it sounds on paper. This is also the windiest stretch of the year, so it’s worth packing a jacket or fleece to keep on the boat. A 5mm suit with a hood is fine for the water, or if you’re someone who feels the cold, you can opt for a semi-dry or dry suit. A tip from our team: bring two suits you can swap between dives to stay drier. For example, two 5mm suits and two hoods, alternating between dives.

Camel Dive Club instructor in a full wetsuit and hood on the dive boat, ready for a winter dive in the Red Sea

High Season or Low Season? Both Have a Case

High season in Sharm el-Sheikh covers October and November, plus Christmas, New Year and Easter. These weeks bring the liveliest atmosphere on the boats and around the dive centre, but they also mean booking ahead if you want a specific date or course slot.

January (past the first week) and February are our quieter months. Air temperatures drop, so surface intervals are colder than the rest of the year, and the wind can be more of a factor. What you get in return is smaller boats, more one-on-one time with your instructor or guide, and a Naama Bay that feels less like a resort town and more like the place we actually live in. Neither season is the “right” one. It depends on what you’re trying to get out of the trip.

What’s the Best Time to Dive the Red Sea for You?

If you want the fewest people on the boat and don’t mind a light jacket between dives, January or February is worth considering, especially to escape a colder winter back home. If you love warm water without a thick wetsuit, June to August delivers, along with the best odds of spotting an eagle ray. If visibility matters most to you, or you want the best overall balance, October is hard to beat. And if you’re coming for a whale shark, May and June are the months we’d flag first, though nothing in the ocean is ever guaranteed.

In the end, the best time to dive the Red Sea is the one that fits what you’re looking for, because the reef doesn’t really have an off season. Come and see it for yourself.

Best Time to Dive the Red Sea: FAQs

What is the best month to dive in Sharm el-Sheikh?

October is the best all-round month to dive in Sharm el-Sheikh. The water is still 26–28°C, visibility often reaches 25–35 metres and the summer heat has eased. After 40 years diving these reefs, it is also the month our team recommends most often. If you want quieter boats, choose January or February; for whale sharks, aim for May or June.

Can you dive the Red Sea in winter?

Yes, you can dive in Sharm el-Sheikh all year round, and winter is one of the clearest seasons. From December to February the water stays around 22–23°C and visibility often reaches 20–35 metres. A 5mm wetsuit with a hood is enough for most divers, or a semi-dry or dry suit if you feel the cold. It is also the windiest time of year, so bring a warm layer for the boat.

What is the water temperature in Sharm el-Sheikh throughout the year?

The water in Sharm el-Sheikh ranges from about 22°C in winter to 30°C in summer: 22–25°C in spring (March to May), 27–30°C in summer (June to August), 26–28°C in autumn (September to November) and 22–23°C in winter (December to February). As a guide, wear a 3mm full suit or a shorty in summer, 3–5mm in autumn, 5mm in spring and 5mm with a hood in winter. If you tend to feel the cold, go one step thicker in spring, summer and autumn, or consider a semi-dry suit in winter.

When is visibility best in the Red Sea?

In Sharm el-Sheikh, visibility is usually best in autumn, especially October, when it often reaches 25–35 metres or more. Winter can be just as clear, at 20–35 metres. Summer is still good at 20–30 metres, although plankton can sometimes reduce it in August.

When can you see whale sharks in Sharm el-Sheikh?

May and June give you the best chance of seeing a whale shark in Sharm el-Sheikh, mostly on offshore sites such as Ras Mohammed. There are occasional sightings through the summer too, but nothing in the ocean is ever guaranteed.

When is the least crowded time to dive in Sharm el-Sheikh?

January (after the first week) and February are the quietest months to dive in Sharm el-Sheikh. Boats are smaller and you get more one-on-one time with your instructor or guide. The busiest periods are October and November, plus Christmas, New Year and Easter, when it is worth booking ahead for specific dates or course places.

Is winter a good time to learn to dive in the Red Sea?

Yes. In January and February there are fewer divers on the reef, the water is often at its clearest and you get more time with your instructor. At Camel we keep a maximum of 3 students per course. The water is around 22–23°C and surface intervals are cooler than the rest of the year, so bring a warm layer for the boat.

Found your season? Start planning your next dive holiday.

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Best Time to Dive the Red Sea: A Seasonal Dive Guide