The Red Sea water around Sharm el-Sheikh is warm, clear, and calm year-round — ideal for swimming, snorkelling, and diving. Most of the best beaches are privately controlled by hotels, but there are public options and some resort beaches are accessible for a day fee.
Na'ama Bay
The most popular stretch of coast, lined with hotels, dive centres, and watersports operators. The beach itself can get crowded, but the water is excellent and everything you need is within walking distance. Several hotels here offer day passes for their private beach sections.
Sharks Bay
About 8km north of Na'ama Bay, Sharks Bay is quieter and more relaxed. The snorkelling from the beach is good, and the pace is noticeably calmer than the main tourist strip.
Nabq Bay
Further north still, Nabq Bay is the least developed of the main beach areas. A mangrove reserve nearby adds ecological interest, and the reefs offshore are less visited than those around Na'ama Bay.
Ras Mohammed National Park
Strictly speaking not a beach resort but the best snorkelling and diving in the region. Accessible by boat from Na'ama Bay or by road (about 20km south). The protected status of the park means the reefs here are in better condition than many others along the coast.