From Sharm: Ras Mohammed snorkeling cruise & optional diving

Ras Mohammed is the reason to book this trip: the Red Sea opens into clear water, coral reefs, and plenty of space to enjoy the coast from a boat. I like the two snorkeling stops, since you get more than one chance to find good water, and I like the on-board lunch, which saves you from arranging food during a long day at sea.

The main thing to weigh is the time on the yacht. You spend about four and a half hours sailing, so anyone who tires easily on boats may find the day long. The optional scuba session also needs a careful look, since one recent guest found it more like a short tourist introduction than a full underwater lesson.

Key points at a glance

• Two reef stops: Snorkel at sites such as Shark Reef, Yolanda Reef, South Bereika Bay, Marsa Ghozlani, or Old Quay.
• Ras Mohammed and White Island: The route includes Ras Mohammed National Park, with White Island visited when tide conditions allow.
• Seven-hour schedule: Plan on roughly 25 minutes by coach, 2.5 hours sailing out, time for snorkeling and lunch, then about two hours sailing back.
• Buffet on deck: Expect salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, chicken, and Egyptian kofta, with hot and soft drinks served during the day.
• Optional hotel transfer: Shared pickup normally begins about 60 to 90 minutes before departure, depending on your hotel.
• Extra costs to check: The listed price is $31 per person, while the mandatory marina fee is €5 unless prepaid through the available add-ons.

Why Ras Mohammed makes this boat day worthwhile

Ras Mohammed National Park is one of the strongest reasons to choose a sea trip from Sharm El Sheikh. You are not simply taking a short ride along the shore. The boat heads toward a protected part of South Sinai where coral reefs and fish life are the main attraction.

I like this format because it gives you the Red Sea from two angles. From the yacht, you see the coast and open water. At the snorkeling stops, you trade the broad view for a close look at the reef below the surface.

The water is described as clear and bright, but conditions can change with wind, tide, and weather. That matters at White Island in particular. The visit is not guaranteed because it depends on the tide, so treat it as a pleasant possibility rather than the central promise of the trip.

This is a group boat outing, not a private cruise. You will share the yacht, meal service, guides, and swimming areas with other people. For $31, that shared setup helps explain the low price. You get a full day on the water without paying for a private boat, but you give up some control over the pace.

Getting from your hotel to Watanya Marina

If you choose the transfer option, a shared bus collects you roughly one to one and a half hours before the scheduled trip. The exact pickup time depends on your hotel, and the operator sends the final time through WhatsApp about 24 hours before departure.

The road transfer itself is listed at about 25 minutes, although the pickup period can be longer because the bus may collect people at several hotels. I would keep your morning free and avoid booking another activity too close to the return time.

If you arrange your own way to the marina, go to Watanya Marina in Sharm El Sheikh. The operating center is called Egypt Sunmarine Fleet. Look for a member of the operations team, usually wearing a yellow shirt, and show your ticket.

Check the marina fee before you leave your hotel. A mandatory €5 entrance fee applies unless you have already prepaid it through the add-on option. The national park entry fee of €5 is listed among the inclusions, but the marina fee is a separate point worth confirming.

The 2.5-hour sail toward Ras Mohammed

The outward journey takes about two and a half hours. That is a substantial part of the day, so your enjoyment depends partly on how much you like being on a boat.

The yacht is described as modern and spacious, with an open upper sun deck and an air-conditioned salon below. You can spend time outside for the views and fresh air, then move indoors if the sun becomes too strong or the sea feels rough.

I would treat the sailing time as part of the experience rather than dead time. You are moving away from the marina and toward one of the area’s best-known reef zones. Still, it is sensible to bring sun protection and anything you need to stay comfortable on a long boat ride.

One recent low rating focused on feeling tired after so many hours at sea. That is a fair warning, especially for anyone who prefers short excursions. The schedule is full, and two hours of the return journey can feel long after swimming.

The first snorkeling stop at Ras Mohammed

The exact reef sequence can vary. Possible stops include Shark Reef, Yolanda Reef, South Bereika Bay, Marsa Ghozlani, and Old Quay. The crew chooses among these locations, so you should not assume you will visit every named site.

Each stop is planned as a chance to see coral and fish in clear Red Sea water. The snorkeling portion is listed at about 45 minutes, followed by a further 30 minutes for a boat cruise and marine-life viewing. That gives you time in the water without making the entire day a nonstop swim.

The guides accompany the group and help with safety and basic enjoyment in the water. This is useful if you are new to snorkeling or are not fully confident in open water. You should still be comfortable following instructions and entering the sea from a boat.

The quality of the water can be affected by conditions. Most of the material describes clear water and strong reef scenery, but one April guest found the sea dirty. I would not read that as a normal guarantee of poor conditions, but it is a reminder that no Red Sea outing can promise perfect visibility every day.

The second reef stop and White Island possibility

The second stop gives you another chance to see the reef if the first location is crowded or visibility is less than ideal. It also breaks up the long day. After one swim, you can rest, eat, and return to the water with a better sense of what to expect.

White Island is included in the route when tide conditions allow. This low-lying stop is a popular feature of many Ras Mohammed boat trips, but the tide determines access. If it does not work on your sailing, the reef stops remain the main attraction.

I like having two water stops rather than one rushed swim. You can use the first to get comfortable with the equipment and the second to focus on the marine life. The timing is still limited, so this is not the right choice if you want hours of independent snorkeling.

Snorkeling gear is available when selected through the add-ons. Check your booking carefully rather than assuming equipment is automatically included. The supplied details list gear as an option, which means the base price may not cover it.

Lunch with chicken, kofta, and fresh salads

Lunch is served on the yacht and takes about an hour. The buffet includes freshly cut salads, rice, pasta, potatoes, chicken, and Egyptian kofta. Hot and soft drinks are also available, with waiter service during the day.

This is a practical part of the package. You do not need to leave the water early to search for food, and the meal gives you a proper break between swimming and sailing. Eating on deck also keeps the day centered on the sea rather than turning into another transfer.

The menu is broad enough for many ordinary preferences, but no special dietary arrangements are given in the information provided. If you have strict dietary needs, contact the operator before booking. Do not assume the buffet will meet them without checking.

The yacht has an air-conditioned salon below, which can be useful during lunch if the sun is intense. I would still expect the upper deck to be the more popular place to sit when the sea is calm.

The optional introductory scuba session

Some departures offer an introductory scuba session. One guest specifically praised the instructor for being patient and clear when explaining the basics. That makes the option appealing if you want to try scuba without committing to a full certification course.

Keep your expectations modest. The activity is an introduction for tourists, not a full scuba qualification or an extended technical session. Another guest felt the scuba portion was mainly for amusement and not substantial enough. Both points can be true: it may be a fun first taste, but it is not a replacement for a proper course.

Ask what the scuba add-on includes before paying. The supplied information does not state the exact underwater duration, equipment details, or extra cost. If snorkeling is your main goal, you can enjoy the trip without adding scuba.

Boat comfort, guides, and service

The yacht is presented as clean, well maintained, and spacious, with an open sun deck, an air-conditioned indoor salon, and service for drinks. Those features matter on a seven-hour outing. A cramped boat would make the long sailing periods much harder.

The listed guide languages are English, German, and Russian. The snorkeling guides stay with the group at the water stops, which is helpful if you need basic direction or safety support.

Islam and Mahmoud received special praise for being professional, available, and cheerful on one departure. Their names are useful to know, although you should not assume they will be on every sailing. The wider crew is responsible for the boat, food, drinks, and water guidance.

The overall rating is 4.5 from 28 ratings, with many high scores praising organization, punctual transfers, friendly staff, and the scenery. Short comments such as perfect and really lovely time do not explain every detail, but they fit the practical strengths of a well-run group boat day.

Is $31 a good value for seven hours?

At $31 per person, this is an inexpensive way to reach Ras Mohammed by boat. The price covers the cruise, buffet lunch, and national park entry fee. Hotel pickup and drop-off are included only when you select that option, and snorkeling equipment may require an add-on.

You should also allow for the €5 mandatory marina entrance fee unless it has been prepaid. That small extra cost does not ruin the value, but it changes the real total. Add any transfer, gear, or scuba costs before comparing this trip with another boat excursion.

The strongest value comes from the amount of structure included. You get transport to the marina if selected, a yacht, two water stops, guides, lunch, drinks, and a return to Sharm. Arranging the same elements yourself would be harder, though a private boat would give you more control and privacy.

The compromise is time and flexibility. You follow the group schedule, wait for the full sailing route, and may share the water stops with a sizeable group. I would choose this trip for convenience and price, not for solitude.

Who should book this Ras Mohammed cruise?

I would recommend it to you if you want a first look at Red Sea snorkeling, prefer an organized day, and like the idea of lunch being handled on board. Families and mixed groups can also benefit from the indoor salon, guided water stops, and the choice between relaxing on deck and snorkeling.

It suits you especially well if you are staying in Sharm and want hotel pickup. The shared bus makes the morning simple, though you should expect the pickup window to be earlier than the boat’s actual departure.

You may want another option if you dislike long boat journeys, need a very quiet outing, or want serious scuba training. The 4.5-hour total sailing time is not a minor detail. Nor is the fact that White Island depends on tide conditions.

For a better chance of enjoying the day, bring sun protection, expect a shared group setting, and confirm the marina fee and equipment add-ons before you pay. If the water is calm and clear, the two reef stops should provide the most rewarding part of the outing.

My verdict on this Sharm sea trip

I would book this cruise if my goal were a reasonably priced, well-organized introduction to Ras Mohammed. The combination of two snorkeling stops, a buffet lunch, guided water time, and an optional transfer gives you plenty for the price.

I would skip it if I knew I would be uncomfortable after several hours on a boat. For everyone else, the main question is simple: do you value convenience more than privacy? If you do, this is a sensible Red Sea day out, with enough time in the water to make the long sailing worthwhile.

FAQ

How long does the Ras Mohammed cruise last?

The activity lasts about seven hours. The schedule includes roughly 25 minutes by coach, 2.5 hours sailing toward Ras Mohammed, snorkeling and marine-life viewing, lunch, and about two hours sailing back to Sharm El Sheikh.

Is hotel pickup included?

Hotel pickup and drop-off are included if you select the transfer option. Pickup usually takes place about one to one and a half hours before the trip, depending on your hotel, and the exact time is sent through WhatsApp about 24 hours beforehand.

Where does the boat leave from?

The boat leaves from Watanya Marina in Sharm El Sheikh. The operating center is Egypt Sunmarine Fleet. At the marina, find the operations team, usually identifiable by a yellow shirt, and show your ticket.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Snorkeling gear is included only if you select it through the available add-ons. Check the booking details before departure so you know if you need to arrange or pay for equipment separately.

Is White Island guaranteed?

No. The visit to White Island depends on tide conditions. Ras Mohammed National Park and the snorkeling stops remain part of the planned sea outing.

What languages are available on the tour?

Live guidance is available in English, German, and Russian. Snorkeling guides accompany the group during the water stops.