Which Is The Best Area To Stay for Diving In Sharm El Sheikh?

Which Is The Best Area To Stay for Diving In Sharm El Sheikh?

If you are planning your first dive trip to Sharm el-Sheikh, the multitude of hotels and the different areas of Sharm el-Sheikh can be confusing. Even for more seasoned divers in Sharm, it can be guesswork as many more hotels keep opening up or changing their names/management companies.

From a green perspective, as an eco-conscious diver, maybe you want somewhere closer to the dive centre and jetties to cut down on the emissions of extra transport. A hotel closer to the centre can also mean up to an extra hour in bed with later pick-ups, and it can be much quicker to get home after the day's diving.

Below, we break down the main hotel areas, but you can also find a listing of the hotels in the accommodation section of our website's activities page https://www.circledivers.com/diving-in-sharm-el-sheikh/activities/accommodation.    

REMEMBER WE ARE NOT A HOTEL BOOKING AGENT AND THESE ARE NOT RECOMENDATIONS JUST LISTINGS OF AVAILABLE HOTELS. For more information and reviews of hotels including availability and booking head to a reputable booking agent such as https://www.booking.com/

RAS UM SID & HADABA (Including Old Market) - Closer than Closer - The Green Choice

Suppose you want to be within walking distance of the dive centre. In that case, there are many hotel options less than 2km away, including budget 3* and luxurious all-inclusive 5* hotels to cater for everybody. Most can be reached by a 20 to 30 minute walk in an area where it is safe to walk at all times of the day and night - but don't worry, we can still send the pick up bus to your hotel in the morning and take you home if you wish in the evening!

Ras Um Sid is the area where you will find our dive centre in Sharm, and about 10 minutes car/bus ride from the main jetties. Our house reef at Ras Um Sid can be found at El Fanar, a great beach for a day off relaxing too.

With plenty of restaurants to choose from and the lively Il Mercato area there's plenty to keep you amused in the evening. The Old Market is a short bus or taxi ride away, and it can even be walked for the more adventurous.

BEST FOR: Independent travellers, the eco-concious diver, and budget travellers.

Check our list of hotels closest to the dive centre here

Naama Bay - The Bright City Lights Of Sharm el Sheikh for Divers

If you enjoy your evening life then Naama Bay has something for even the most sociable of divers in Sharm. There's bars, including that favourite diver haunt of yesteryear, Camel Bar, and a Brit bar, The Tavern with night clubs and high end bars too (Hard Rock Cafe, Bus Stop, Pacha, Little Buddha, Space, BlueStone and more...)

Hotel wise you are spoilt for choice, many of the 4 or 5-star hotels along the front of Naama Bay have access to their own private beaches with beach bars and restaurants scattered along the main promenade. You will find the more wallet-friendly 3-star hotels are located further into the town centre, just a short walk from public beaches or your hotel may have a deal to use a larger hotel's beach.

At night, there's a wide selection of restaurants and terraces where you can sit and watch the world go by. And if shopping is your thing, there's plenty to choose from, just be prepared to haggle.

Transport-wise, you are looking at 20 to 30 minutes from the hotel to the dive centre (remember we provide free pick-up buses for all our guests) If you need to meet up with fellow divers who may be staying at the Hadaba end of town a taxi will take approx 15 - 30 mins and shouldn't be too expensive.

BEST FOR: Night life lovers, shopping addicts....still pretty close to dive centre

Click here for our list of Naama Hotels

SHARKS BAY, SOHO, MONTAZZAH AND BEYOND - 5 Star Luxury

As soon as you leave Naama Bay and head towards the airport, you are heading into the 5-star luxury resorts. In Sharks Bay/Soho Sq area you will find world famous luxury brands such as Four Seasons, Savoy, Hilton, Double Tree & Sheraton. There's also plenty of other lesser known but just as luxurious 5 star resorts from Jaz Hotels, Pick Albatross and the Sunrise Group.

If you're family wants a bit of luxury while you are diving, this area could be ideal. With Soho Square, a large entertainment complex, you are also catered for in the evenings. There's a Brit pub, Queen Vic, Ice Bar, Chinese, Indian & Thai Restaurants, Sushi house, Teppenyeki bar and regular live music performances in the Square.

When talking about diving in Sharm, these hotels may not be the best option. If you are out diving every day when are you going to take advantage of the luxury. And the distance, being on the other side of Naama Bay to Circle Divers in Ras Um Sid can mean for a 30 -  40 minute journey with Naama Bay often busy to traverse especially during conference season.

BEST FOR: Divers with non-diving families, divers who enjoy luxury, foodies with choice of top restaurants in Soho Square.

BAD FOR DIVERS WHO DON'T LIKE EARLY PICK UPS, LONG JOURNEY TIMES TO GET ANYWHERE ELSE.

Check out the hotels of Naama to the Airport and Beyond

NABQ BAY - An all-inclusive paradise

If you or your family likes the all-inclusive lifestyle you will be spoilt for choice in Nabq with may all-inc resorts including Ultra all-inclusives where the a-la-carte restaurant visits are unlimited (Rixos chain.) Theses all-inclusive hotels are normally cheaper than the same hotel chains in Turkey, Dubai or Europe and give you the chance to experience such all-inc luxury at better prices.

There are some more budget hotels in Nabq too. Nabq, as an area, also has a wide choice of restaurants and bars - but when are you going to drag yourself away from the all-inclusive luxury to see them? Shopping can be more expensive in Nabq and many would reccomend a taxi to Naama Bay or Old Market to get your souvenirs - just be sure to take off your hotel wristband before trying to haggle.

Transport wise, Nabq hotels are at the other end of Sharm to almost everywhere. Even to go to Soho Sq, Sharks Bay area you will need a taxi. Pick ups for diving will be much earlier as the journey to the centre and the jetties will take 40 minutes to an hour minimum. And many of the larger hotels may not allow pick up buses into the grounds which often means a 20 minute walk from your room in the morning (yes, some of the hotels are that big - almost a mini village).

BEST FOR: Families or couples who enjoy the luxury all-inclusive hotels.

BAD FOR: LOCATED AT THE FAR END OF TOWN, MILES AWAY FROM ANYWHERE, INCLUDING THE DIVE CENTRE AND JETTIES. IF YOU ARE DIVING EVERY DAY WHEN ARE YOU GOING TO MAKE THE MOST OF THE ALL-INCLUSIVE CONCEPT.

Check here for a list of Nabq Hotels