Diving in the Red Sea: rules, supervision, chambers

One authority along the whole coast

Egyptian diving has its own rules, the same from Taba to Marsa Alam. They are set by the CDWS (Chamber of Diving and Water Sports), created in 2007 under the Ministry of Tourism. Every dive centre and liveaboard must be a member and meet the international standards for recreational diving providers to obtain its licence. The CDWS audits its members, publishes their list and keeps a blacklist of closed or illegal operators.

For travellers, the practical consequence is this: before booking, check that the centre is on the members' list and not on the blacklist. Sabaro makes this check for every centre it offers, and each resort page covers its own sites and particularities: Sharm el-Sheikh, Dahab, Hurghada, El Gouna, Safaga, Marsa Alam, Nuweiba and Taba.

What the centre will ask for

A health declaration. Since May 2024, every centre has its customers sign the DAN (Divers Alert Network, an international diver assistance network) health declaration before any activity, including intro dives and snorkelling. Depending on your answers, a medical certificate may be required: read the questionnaire before you leave and, if needed, travel with that certificate.

Certification and logbook. The centre records your certification level and the date of your last dive.

Insurance that covers diving. Diving deeper than your policy's limit invalidates the cover, and an air or sea rescue can cost more than USD 4,000 an hour. Dive insurance, with medical assistance and repatriation, complements any travel insurance.

Depth and supervision

The CDWS applies the standards of the WRSTC (World Recreational Scuba Training Council, the body that sets common standards for training agencies). The maximum depth on air is 40 m, if the diver's training and experience allow it. On Nitrox, oxygen-enriched air, the limit is an oxygen partial pressure of 1.4 bar, with no more than 40 m on a single tank. Beyond that is technical diving, reserved for trained divers and centres certified for it.

Twelve is a ceiling: ask about the actual group size when booking.

Wrecks and reefs

The Thistlegorm. The most visited wreck in the Red Sea, a British cargo ship sunk in 1941 off Ras Mohammed, is being damaged by divers. In October 2025 the CDWS tightened its instructions: at least 20 logged dives and good buoyancy control are required. Touching the wreck, resting on it or kicking it with your fins is forbidden; these instructions apply to all Red Sea wrecks, including those of Abu Nuhas, off El Gouna, and the Salem Express, near Safaga.

Reefs. The CDWS has adopted the Green Fins code of conduct, a UN Environment Programme initiative. Do not touch corals or animals, do not feed fish, and keep your fins clear of the reef. Gloves are allowed against the cold, but the CDWS asks divers to do without them when the water does not require them; pointer sticks are banned and member centres do not sell coral. Taking or damaging coral is penalised, and a coral cut, however small, needs proper care, as it easily becomes infected.

Sharks. Attacks are rare, but there have been some in Egyptian waters, and some species are dangerous. Follow the instructions of dive centres and local authorities.

Liveaboards: choosing your boat

Liveaboards, where you spend several days on board, leave from Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada and Port Ghalib, near Marsa Alam, for offshore reefs, the Brothers or the Strait of Gubal. Several incidents, some fatal, have involved British divers on these boats, and safety standards vary widely. The UK Marine Accident Investigation Branch advises booking through a reputable vendor and insisting on a full safety briefing on board. Also check that the boat and its passengers are insured. Offshore trips often require an advanced certification and a minimum number of dives, set by each operator.

Decompression chambers

The CDWS publishes the list of hyperbaric medical centres that treat decompression illness. Sabaro recommends saving the number of the nearest one in your phone.

Nuweiba and Taba have no chamber: after an accident, a diver is evacuated to Eilat, in Israel, or to Dahab. On this coast, Sabaro recommends no-decompression dives and insurance that covers evacuation.