easy Diving & snorkeling Hurghada

Giftun Islands

Also known as: Giftun Island Giftun Kebir Big Giftun Mahmya Island Giftun National Park

Illustration based on a photo by KatjaaM · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Depth Range

0–30m

Boat Ride

60 min

Difficulty

easy

Protected marine park with sheltered leeward reefs - suitable for beginners, snorkelers and families; park entrance fee applies

Sea conditions at Giftun Islands today

Good for diving

Sea

27.2°C

Waves

0.7 m

Wind

13 kn NW

Air

23°C

Today

0.9 m · 15 kn

Tue 6

1.0 m · 17 kn

Wed 7

0.8 m · 15 kn

Thu 8

0.9 m · 14 kn

Fri 9

1.0 m · 14 kn

Sat 10

0.8 m · 13 kn

Sun 11

0.5 m · 10 kn

Water is 27.2°C — 3 mm full wetsuit is the usual choice.

Updated 06:38 · Full conditions & 7-day outlook
Forecast data: Open-Meteo.com (CC BY 4.0). Model values for the area, not a reading at the reef — your skipper and guide make the call on the day.

The Giftun Islands, Giftun Kebir (Big Giftun) and Giftun Soghayar (Small Giftun), are the protected marine park off Hurghada and the classic day trip for snorkeling, Discover Scuba Diving and beginner dives in the Red Sea.

The sheltered leeward side offers calm turquoise water, white beaches and healthy coral gardens, with well-known stops such as Mahmya, Paradise Island and Orange Bay. Depths run from the shallow reef top to about 30 m, so the islands suit first-time divers, snorkelers, families and divers finishing their Open Water course. Turtles, Napoleon wrasse, parrotfish and colourful schools of anthias are regular residents, and dolphins and even whale sharks have been reported in the area. For deep and technical diving see the separate Small Giftun guide.

Trips leave from Hurghada marina and take roughly an hour by boat. As a national park, a marine park entrance fee applies on top of the trip, and rules protect the reef: no touching, no anchoring on coral, no feeding fish. Sun protection and a rash vest are worth bringing, as the boat spends most of the day in the open sea.

What You Might See

Colourful coral gardens Sea turtles (occasional) Napoleon wrasse Parrotfish & butterflyfish Schools of anthias Dolphins & whale sharks (rare sightings)

Suitable for

Newly certified divers
Open Water level
Deep-dive training useful

Best time to dive here

Divable all year — the Red Sea has no closed season. Water runs from about 22°C in February to 30°C in August, and March–May and September–November give the most comfortable mix of warm water, light wind and good visibility. Conditions at this site: Protected marine park with sheltered leeward reefs - suitable for beginners, snorkelers and families; park entrance fee applies

Sea temperature, wind and calm days month by month →

Where it is

This site is the highlighted pin; the others are the rest of the reefs around Hurghada. Boat times are from the main harbour and vary with sea conditions.

Get directions Open in OpenStreetMap 27.2238,33.9269