Red Sea Fish Guide: 15 Species You'll See Snorkeling in Sharm El Sheikh

The Red Sea is warm, salty and almost enclosed, and over time a notable share of its reef fish have evolved into species found nowhere else. Around Sharm El Sheikh the coral starts just metres from the shore, so you do not need to dive to see an extraordinary variety. Here are the fish you are most likely to spot with a mask and snorkel.

Common reef fish

1. Red Sea anemonefish

The Red Sea's own "Nemo" (Amphiprion bicinctus): orange with two white bands, living among the tentacles of a sea anemone. They will dart out to defend their home, even against snorkelers.

2. Lyretail anthias

Small orange and pink fish that hover in dense clouds over coral heads. They are the reason Red Sea reefs look like they glitter.

3. Masked butterflyfish

Bright yellow with a blue-grey mask around the eye, usually seen in pairs. It is a Red Sea endemic and one of the region's signature fish.

4. Red Sea bannerfish

White and black with a long, trailing dorsal fin, often swimming in small groups along the reef edge.

5. Parrotfish

Large, colourful fish with beak-like mouths. Listen closely and you will hear them crunching coral; the sand on many Red Sea beaches has passed through a parrotfish.

6. Picasso triggerfish

Patterned as if painted with a brush, with blue, yellow and black lines. Found over sandy patches in shallow water.

7. Napoleon wrasse

The giant of the reef: a humphead wrasse can grow well over a metre long. They are slow, curious and often approach snorkelers at Ras Mohammed and Tiran.

8. Blue-spotted ribbontail ray

A small ray with electric-blue spots, often resting under coral overhangs or on the sand. If you see one, keep your distance and watch it glide away.

9. Moray eels

Giant morays poke their heads out of crevices, opening and closing their mouths to breathe. It looks threatening but is not; just never put your hand into a hole in the reef.

10. Sea turtles

Hawksbill and green turtles are seen regularly on the reefs around Sharm and especially in the Strait of Tiran. Never touch or chase them.

Look, don't touch: fish to respect

11. Lionfish

Beautiful, slow-moving and venomous. Their spines can cause a very painful sting. Admire them from a distance.

12. Stonefish and scorpionfish

Masters of camouflage that look like a rock covered in algae. Their spines are dangerous, which is why you should never stand on the reef and why reef shoes are a good idea when entering from the shore.

13. Titan triggerfish

A large triggerfish that guards its nest fiercely in the breeding season and may charge at swimmers. If one approaches, swim away horizontally, not upwards: its territory is shaped like a cone rising from the nest.

14. Fire coral

Not a fish, but worth knowing: a yellowish-brown coral that stings on contact. Another good reason to float and keep your hands to yourself.

15. Crown-of-thorns starfish

A large, spiny starfish that eats coral. Its spines are venomous; don't pick it up.

Where to see the most fish

• •Ras Mohammed National Park: the richest reefs near Sharm, reached on our boat trip (from €27) or with beach snorkeling on the bus tour (€16).
• •The Strait of Tiran: clear water, reef walls and turtles on the Tiran Island trip (from €28). See our Tiran reefs guide.
• •Your hotel's house reef: in Sharks Bay and Ras Um Sid you can snorkel straight from the jetty. Our guide to where to stay explains which areas have reefs.

Snorkeling etiquette

• •Float, never stand on coral.
• •Don't feed the fish; it changes their behaviour and harms the reef.
• •Use a reef-safe sunscreen, or better, wear a rash vest.
• •Take only photos.

Frequently asked questions

What fish can you see in Sharm El Sheikh?

Snorkelers commonly see anemonefish, anthias, masked butterflyfish, bannerfish, parrotfish, Picasso triggerfish, moray eels, blue-spotted rays and Napoleon wrasse, and often sea turtles at Ras Mohammed and Tiran Island.

Are there dangerous fish in the Red Sea?

A few species can hurt you if touched or stepped on, including lionfish, stonefish and scorpionfish, and fire coral stings on contact. Float above the reef, never touch marine life, and wear reef shoes when entering from the shore.

Where is the best snorkeling in Sharm El Sheikh?

Ras Mohammed National Park and the reefs of the Strait of Tiran are the best, reached by full-day boat trips. Hotels with house reefs in Sharks Bay and Ras Um Sid also offer excellent snorkeling from the shore.