Snorkeling for Beginners: Your First Time in the Red Sea

If you've never snorkeled before, Sharm El Sheikh is a wonderful place to start. The water is clear and warm for most of the year, the reefs come close to the surface, and you see colourful fish within seconds of putting your face in the water. All you need is a mask, a snorkel, a little practice and a calm first stop. Our Tiran Island snorkeling trip is a good choice for a first time: its first stop is a shallow, sheltered lagoon, and a snorkeling guide is with you all day.

Before you go: practise in the pool

Ten minutes in your hotel pool the day before makes a big difference.

1. Put on the mask and snorkel and stand in water up to your chest.
2. Lean forward, face in the water, and breathe slowly through your mouth. It feels strange at first; it gets easy within a minute or two.
3. Float on your front with your arms relaxed. Saltwater in the sea will hold you up even better than the pool.
4. Practise clearing the snorkel: if water gets in, lift your face, or blow out hard and sharply through the tube.

Getting the mask right

A leaking or foggy mask is the most common reason beginners give up. To avoid it:

• •Test the fit: without using the strap, press the mask to your face and breathe in gently through your nose. If it stays in place on its own, it fits.
• •Keep hair out of the seal, including fringe and stray strands. A moustache can let water in; a little petroleum jelly on it helps.
• •Don't overtighten the strap. It should sit above your ears and hold the mask snugly, not crush it against your face.
• •Stop it fogging: rub a drop of baby shampoo or anti-fog gel on the inside of the glass and rinse it lightly before you get in.

If you wear glasses, ask about a prescription mask before you travel, or bring contact lenses and keep your eyes closed if water comes in.

Breathing and staying calm

Breathe slowly and deeply through your mouth, as if you were sighing. Short, fast breaths make you feel out of air even when you aren't. If you feel anxious, simply lift your head, take the snorkel out and float for a moment. On a boat trip, a life jacket or snorkel vest lets you float without any effort, which takes the stress away completely. Wear one if you're not a confident swimmer.

Using fins

Fins make snorkeling much easier, but they take a minute to get used to.

• •Kick slowly from the hips with long, relaxed legs, not from the knees like cycling.
• •Keep your fins below the surface. Splashing wastes energy and scares the fish.
• •Put them on at the edge of the water or on the boat's steps. Walking forwards in fins is clumsy; if you must walk, go backwards.

Protecting the reef (and yourself)

Coral is alive and fragile, and some of it stings or scrapes. Keep a safe distance:

• •Never stand on, touch or kick coral. Stay horizontal and float over it.
• •Don't touch or feed the fish.
• •Wear a rash vest or T-shirt to protect your back from sunburn, which happens quickly when you float face down.
• •Stay with your guide and your group, and follow the crew's instructions on where to swim. Currents can change.

Which trip is best for a first time?

• •Tiran Island snorkeling trip (€30). About 8 hours with three snorkeling stops. The first, the Blue Laguna, is shallow and very clear, perfect for finding your confidence before the deeper reefs. Lunch and soft drinks are served on board, and a snorkeling guide is included. Our Tiran Island reefs guide describes the stops.
• •Ras Mohammed and White Island boat trip (€30). About 8 hours with two snorkeling stops in the national park and a stop at the shallow water around White Island, with lunch on board. Snorkeling equipment isn't included, so bring your own or ask us when you book.
• •Ras Mohammed by bus (€16). A half day on land with beach snorkeling at the end, where you walk into the sea instead of jumping off a boat. A snorkeling guide is included; equipment isn't. A good option if you're nervous about deep water or prone to seasickness.

Our snorkeling in Sharm El Sheikh page compares all the snorkeling trips.

What will I see?

Even at your first stop you're likely to see parrotfish, butterflyfish, damselfish and maybe a clownfish in its anemone. Our Red Sea fish guide helps you put names to them.

Water temperature

The Red Sea is warm in summer and around 21–23 °C from December to February. In winter, many people snorkel in a rash vest or a thin wetsuit. If you feel cold, get out, dry off and warm up on the sundeck.

Travelling with children? Our guide to Sharm El Sheikh with kids covers family snorkeling.

Frequently asked questions

Can I snorkel if I can't swim?

Yes, with a life jacket or snorkel vest, which keeps you floating on the surface. Stay close to your guide, and start at a shallow, sheltered spot such as the first stop on the Tiran Island trip.

Which snorkeling trip in Sharm El Sheikh is best for beginners?

The Tiran Island trip (€30) is a good first trip because its first stop is a shallow, clear lagoon and a snorkeling guide is included. If you'd rather walk into the sea from a beach, the Ras Mohammed tour by bus (€16) ends with beach snorkeling.

How do I stop my mask from fogging up?

Rub a drop of baby shampoo or anti-fog gel on the inside of the glass and rinse it lightly before you get in the water. Keeping your hair out of the seal stops it leaking.

Do I need to bring my own snorkeling equipment?

It's a good idea, especially a mask that fits you well. Snorkeling equipment isn't included on the Ras Mohammed trips; ask us when you book if you need to rent it.