What do you want to see?
Each animal keeps its own calendar, and the north and south differ more in what you see than in water temperature.
| To see | Best months | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Wrecks | March to November | The north: SS Thistlegorm, Abu Nuhas, Ras Mohammed |
| Oceanic whitetips | October to December, with encounter rates at Elphinstone peaking in October and November (ISRA factsheet) | The south: Elphinstone, Brothers, Daedalus |
| Hammerheads | October to January | Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone in the south; Ras Mohammed and Tiran in the north |
| Mantas | March and April (reported) | Elphinstone |
| Whale sharks | Possible in the south from May to August; reports from the north are inconsistent | Don't plan a trip around them |
| Thresher sharks | All year in the south, mostly at depth | Not a seasonal draw |
| Warmest water | July and August | North and south |
Hammerheads are most reliable from October to January. Divers do report summer sightings: Tiran's hammerheads are said to be best in summer, and those at Daedalus and the Brothers in May and June. A summer trip isn't a blank for hammerheads, but we wouldn't plan one around them.
Water and weather by season
The Red Sea is a narrow strip of water surrounded by desert, so air temperatures swing widely while the water stays fairly stable. The year splits into a cooler winter (December to February) and a hot summer (June to August), with spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) in between.
Water temperatures are long-term averages for Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Dahab. Visibility is a typical range, not a measurement.
Winter, December to February. The coolest time to dive: 24–26 °C in December, 23–24 °C in January and 22–23 °C in February, the annual low. The north and south are within about 1 °C of each other. Air is a comfortable 20–25 °C (68–77 °F), but wind-chill on the boat can be significant, and winter wind can limit offshore access around Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran. PADI's Red Sea guidance is a 5 mm suit from December to April, and a 7 mm if you feel the cold. Visibility is typically 20–30 metres.
Spring, March to May. One of the two peak seasons in the north. The water warms from 22–23 °C in March to 23–24 °C in April and 24–26 °C in May, and the northern wrecks, Abu Nuhas and the Thistlegorm among them, are at their best. Reef fish are active and spawning at many sites in Ras Mohammed.
Summer, June to August. The warmest water of the year: 26–28 °C in June, 28–30 °C in July and 29–30 °C in August, with the south up to 1 °C warmer. Air temperatures can soar above 40 °C (104 °F). Summer is not our hammerhead season.
Autumn, September to November. The second peak in the north, and the south peaks from October. The water is 28–30 °C in September, 27–28 °C in October and 26–27 °C in November, and the air becomes much more pleasant.
November, and the Sinai in autumn
I personally dived each month in the Red Sea, and my favorite is still November.
Manie Eksteen, PADI Staff Instructor
Check out the Red Sea as one of the best liveaboard destinations in November. Autumn is also a good time in the Sinai: dive from hubs like Dahab to see the famous Blue Hole, where September to November are peak months and the water is 25–28 °C. It is also calmer and not as busy with tourists as summer.
Month by month
September and October are the most balanced months for all-round diving. The north peaks in March to May and September to November, and the south in October to December.
| Month | North | South | Go for |
|---|---|---|---|
| January | Good | Good | Oceanic whitetips in the south, and hammerheads, still most reliable through January. The coolest water (23–24 °C) and winter wind that can limit offshore trips. Good for avoiding crowds |
| February | Good | Good | Oceanic whitetips in the south. The coolest water of the year (22–23 °C), and winter wind that can limit offshore trips. Good for avoiding crowds |
| March | Peak | Good | Wrecks in the north at their best. Water 22–23 °C. Mantas reported at Elphinstone |
| April | Peak | Shoulder | Wrecks at their best, and reef fish spawning at Ras Mohammed. Water 23–24 °C. Mantas reported at Elphinstone |
| May | Peak | Good | Wrecks in the north. Water 24–26 °C. Whale sharks possible in the south. Hammerheads are reported at the offshore reefs, but October to January is the most reliable window |
| June | Good | Good | Water 26–28 °C. Whale sharks possible in the south. Hammerheads are reported at the offshore reefs, but October to January is the most reliable window |
| July | Shoulder | Shoulder | The warmest water of the year (28–30 °C) and strong light, with 20–30 m visibility. Pelagic activity thins in the south. Summer hammerheads are reported at Tiran |
| August | Shoulder | Shoulder | As July, with water of 29–30 °C |
| September | Peak | Good | Wrecks at Abu Nuhas and reefs. Water 28–30 °C |
| October | Peak | Peak | Hammerhead season starts. Oceanic whitetip encounters at Elphinstone peak in October and November. Water 27–28 °C |
| NovemberNow | Peak | Peak | Oceanic whitetips and hammerheads in the south, and cooler air. Water 26–27 °C |
| December | Good | Peak | Oceanic whitetips and hammerheads in the south. Water 24–26 °C |
North or south?
The water is within about 1 °C in every month, so temperature isn't what separates the two. What you see, and the sea state, are.
| Detail | North | South |
|---|---|---|
| Based around | Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada | Marsa Alam and the deep south sites such as St. Johns |
| Known for | Wrecks and the reefs of Ras Mohammed | The offshore reefs: Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone |
| Strongest months | March to May, September to November | October to December: oceanic whitetips, and hammerheads most reliable through January |
| Level | Workable all year, right for most recreational divers | Advanced diving, with strong currents and blue-water descents |
The Brothers is really only for experienced divers (our Brothers guide explains why), so check each operator's minimum experience. Winter wind can limit offshore access in both the north and the south, and in January and February the water is the same temperature in both (23–24 °C and 22–23 °C), so heading south isn't a way to avoid the chill.
For the full breakdown, read Red Sea Liveaboard: North vs. South Itineraries. For the wider picture, start with our Egypt Red Sea destination guide.
Before you go
Wetsuit
Wetsuit thickness is guidance, not a rule, so ask your operator. PADI's Red Sea guidance is a 5 mm suit from December to April (7 mm if you feel the cold), and a shorty or rash vest at around 28 °C, which covers most of the summer.
Dive computer
The Red Sea offers everything from shallow coral gardens to deep, current-swept walls, and a typical Egyptian itinerary means several dives a day. If you are upgrading your kit, read How to choose your first dive computer.
Ready to look at boats?
Questions
What is the best month to dive the Red Sea?
October and November are the sweet spot. Water sits around 26–28 °C, visibility is typically 20–30 metres, and pelagic activity picks up significantly in the south. The summer crowds are gone and the south circuit is at its best. For oceanic whitetips, October through December is your window; for hammerheads, October through January.
Can you dive the Red Sea in winter?
Yes, and it is underrated. December through February brings cooler water (24–26 °C in December, 23–24 °C in January and 22–23 °C in February), so most divers wear a 5 mm suit, and a 7 mm if they feel the cold. Visibility is typically 20–30 metres, and it is quieter than summer.
The north circuit (Thistlegorm, Ras Mohammed, Abu Nuhas) dives well through the winter, though wind can limit access to the offshore reefs around Ras Mohammed and Tiran. The south circuit is still good, but check conditions: the wind can be unpredictable in January and February.
What is the water temperature in the Red Sea?
It ranges from 22–23 °C in February up to 29–30 °C in August. Spring (March to May) runs 22–26 °C and autumn (September to November) 26–30 °C, and the north and south are within about 1 °C of each other in every month.
When is the best time to see hammerhead sharks in the Red Sea?
October through January, at the southern sites (Brothers Islands, Daedalus Reef and Elphinstone) and at Ras Mohammed and Tiran in the north. Early morning dives off the southern tips of the offshore reefs give you the best chance.
Summer sightings are reported at the offshore reefs too: Tiran's hammerheads are said to be best in summer, and Daedalus and the Brothers in May and June. A summer trip isn't a blank, but October to January is the window to rely on.
Is the north or south Red Sea better, and does timing matter?
They suit different divers at different times of year. The north (Sharm El Sheikh, Thistlegorm, Abu Nuhas, Ras Mohammed) is workable all year, with spring and autumn the easiest months, and is right for most recreational divers.
The south (Brothers, Elphinstone, Daedalus) peaks from October to December, when the pelagics are present, and hammerheads stay most reliable through January. Its offshore reefs are advanced diving, so check each operator's minimum experience. For a south circuit trip for sharks, plan it for October to January rather than summer.
Is the Red Sea good for diving in summer?
The diving happens: water is warm (up to 29–30 °C in August), visibility is typically 20–30 metres, and the north circuit sites are accessible year-round. But summer (June to September) is the least interesting time for the south circuit. Pelagic activity thins out, the boats are more crowded, and air temperatures in Egypt are punishing.
Hammerheads and oceanic whitetips are reported at the offshore reefs in summer, but October to January is the most reliable window. If summer is your only option, stick to the north and dive early mornings. If you can choose, go in spring or autumn.