Ras Mohammed: The Ultimate Guide to Sharm’s Best Diving
Ras Mohammed National Park sits at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Suez and Gulf of Aqaba meet, and it is the crown jewel of diving in Sharm El Sheikh. Protected since 1983, the park combines sheer coral walls, dramatic drop-offs and some of the richest fish life in the Red Sea. This guide covers its signature dive sites, what makes them special, conditions and how to dive the park.
Why Ras Mohammed is special
The park’s position at the confluence of two gulfs funnels nutrient-rich water past its reefs, feeding huge aggregations of fish and vibrant coral growth. Vertical walls plunge into deep blue water, and in the summer months the park hosts spectacular seasonal fish spawning that draws predators and photographers alike. It is consistently rated among the best diving areas in the world.
Signature dive sites
- Shark Reef & Yolanda Reef — usually dived together as a drift, this is the park’s showpiece: a wall alive with anthias and snapper, schooling barracuda and jacks, and the scattered cargo of the wrecked Yolanda (including its famous cargo of bathroom fittings on the seabed).
- Ras Za’atar — a beautiful wall dive with overhangs and soft corals.
- Jackfish Alley — caves, a sandy plateau and, as the name suggests, schools of jacks.
- Anemone City — a plateau carpeted with anemones and their resident clownfish.
Marine life
Ras Mohammed delivers big numbers and big encounters: dense clouds of anthias, snapper and barracuda, hunting trevally and tuna, turtles, moray eels, and reef sharks patrolling the drop-offs. In summer, grey reef and blacktip sharks are more frequently seen, and the seasonal spawning aggregations are a highlight of the Red Sea calendar.
Conditions and experience level
Many of the park’s best dives are wall and drift dives where currents can be strong. Shark and Yolanda Reef in particular is usually done as a current-assisted drift. Most sites suit divers from Open Water level upward, but comfort with blue water and mild currents makes for a far better experience, and Advanced certification opens up more of the park.
| Detail | Typical range |
|---|---|
| Depth range | 5–30 m |
| Dive type | Wall & drift |
| Level | Open Water to Advanced |
| Highlight season | Summer fish aggregations |
How to dive Ras Mohammed
The park is reached by day boat from Sharm El Sheikh, typically as a two- or three-dive day combining Shark & Yolanda with another site. It pairs beautifully with the wreck diving of the region and the reefs of the Straits of Tiran. To build a trip around it, see diving in Sharm El Sheikh, read our SS Thistlegorm wreck guide, and check the best time to dive the Red Sea.
Frequently asked questions
Can beginners dive Ras Mohammed?
Yes, several sites suit newly certified divers, but the flagship Shark & Yolanda drift is best enjoyed with some experience in currents. Operators match sites to your level.
What is the best dive in Ras Mohammed?
Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, usually dived together as a drift, is the standout — a wall teeming with fish plus the scattered Yolanda wreck cargo.
When is the best time to dive Ras Mohammed?
It is excellent year round, but summer (roughly June to August) brings the famous seasonal fish spawning aggregations and warmer water.
Do I need to pay a park fee?
Ras Mohammed is a protected national park and a small daily park fee usually applies, generally arranged by your dive operator as part of the trip.
Ready to dive the Red Sea’s crown jewel? Build your custom Sharm El Sheikh diving trip with Repack Travel.
