10 августа 2026 г.
Giftun Island snorkeling trip for beginners
Giftun Island sits about 45 minutes off Hurghada's marina, and its shallow reef flat is the easiest place on the Egyptian Red Sea to snorkel for the first time in 2026.
Why this matters
Giftun Island isn't one reef — it's an archipelago of two islands, Giftun Kebir and Giftun Soghayer, sitting inside a protected marine park. Most boats anchor on the shallow flat between the reef crest and the beach, where the water rarely drops below 5 meters.
That's good news for beginners. The bad news: not every boat that says "Giftun Island snorkeling" actually stops on the shallow side. Some itineraries lean toward the drop-off wall meant for certified divers, which means stronger current and depths beginners have no business swimming in. Knowing how to pick an island boat trip in Hurghada before you book saves you from ending up on the wrong kind of boat.
Who this is for
This guide is for first-time snorkelers, families traveling with kids under 12, nervous or non-swimming adults, and anyone booking a single day trip from Hurghada without a dive certification. If you've never put a mask on in open water, Giftun Island in 2026 is still one of the most forgiving places to try it.
Shallow reef access, not wall diving
Beginners need a boat that anchors on the reef flat, where depth stays around 1-5 meters. A trip built around the drop-off wall is designed for divers and puts nervous swimmers in current they can't handle.
Life vests and flotation gear included
A trip that hands out life vests without an upcharge signals the crew expects first-timers. If flotation gear is an add-on or missing from the boat entirely, that's a trip built for confident swimmers, not beginners.