9 августа 2026 г.
How to prepare for scuba diving in Hurghada
Scuba diving in Hurghada rewards divers who show up prepared: certification paperwork sorted, gear checked, and a realistic timeline before your flight home.
Why this matters
Hurghada dive sites sit inside the Red Sea's northern reef system, where visibility runs 20-30 meters most of the year and water temperature rarely drops below 22C even in January 2026. That combination pulls in everyone from first-time Open Water students to technical wreck divers chasing the Thistlegorm.
The problem is that "good conditions" make people careless. Divers skip medical checks, show up without a logbook, or book a boat that never asks for certification proof. Daily Red Sea runs scuba diving trips out of Hurghada daily, and the divers who have the smoothest day are the ones who prepared the boring stuff a week out, not the morning of.
What you'll need
• Certification card (PADI, SSI, CMAS, or equivalent) if you're not a complete beginner
• Dive logbook with your last 10-20 dives, especially if it's been over a year since your last dive
• Medical fitness - most operators use the RSTC medical statement; chronic conditions need a doctor's sign-off
• Swimwear, rash guard, and a 3mm-5mm wetsuit depending on season
• Reef-safe sunscreen (mineral-based - Egypt's marine parks restrict oxybenzone products)
• Refresher dive if it's been more than 12 months since your last certified dive
• A copy of your travel insurance that explicitly covers scuba diving to a depth of at least 30 meters
If you're starting from zero, book a scuba diving course in Hurghada for beginners rather than a one-off "try dive" - the course gets you certified and diving independently within 3-4 days.