🇪🇬 Ras Mohammed National Park (Shark & Yolanda Reef)
محمية رأس محمد (Ras Muhammad) · 이집트 시나이 (샤름엘셰이크 남서)
Location
Overview
Ras Mohammed National Park sits at the very tip of the Sinai Peninsula, about 20-25 km southwest of Sharm El Sheikh, and was Egypt's first national park and one of the Red Sea's flagship reefs. Two enormous coral pinnacles, Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef, rise to just below the surface, so even snorkellers who stay on top can look down on vivid soft corals and big schools of barracuda, jacks and batfish without diving deep. The reef flat is a shallow 1-8 m, but its edge drops away instantly into a vertical wall more than 700 m deep, with visibility that typically runs 20-40 m. As of 2026 it is still reached by day boat or bus tour from Sharm, with a park entrance fee and marine-park rules in force.
The sheer coral wall of Shark Reef, beginning just under the surface and plunging past 700 m
Big schools of barracuda, tuna, jacks, snapper and batfish, at their peak in summer
Brilliant red and purple soft corals and gorgonian sea fans blanketing the pinnacles
The wreck of the cargo ship Yolanda, sunk in 1980 (its cargo of toilets and bathtubs lies around 20 m; snorkellers mainly enjoy the shallow reef above)
The sandy 'coral garden' between the two pinnacles, alive with classic Red Sea reef fish
Good to know
SafetyThis is a drift site with strong currents, and in summer it can also produce downcurrents. For snorkellers the real danger is not depth but being swept off the reef and out toward open water. Never snorkel alone, stay with a guide or boat, and wear a float or surface buoy.
SafetyThe reef edge falls away into hundreds of metres of blue right under the surface. Beginners easily panic over 'bottomless' water, so stay over the shallow reef top and move back toward the boat the moment you feel uneasy.
SafetyDay boats and zodiacs move through this channel constantly. Wear bright colours or tow a float, check for traffic before surfacing, and keep inside the marked snorkel zone.
SafetyContact hazards abound: fire coral and sea urchins, camouflaged stonefish and lionfish on the bottom, and territorial titan triggerfish that charge and bite swimmers near their nests in summer. Touch nothing and keep your fins clear of the coral.
RulesThis is a marine protected area. Do not touch, stand on or break coral, take nothing (no shells or coral), do not feed the fish, and no fishing. Use only reef-safe sunscreen free of oxybenzone and octinoxate.
MannersKeep your distance from turtles and large fish and never chase or touch them. Don't stand on the coral heads to rest, use a float or return to the boat instead.
SeasonBest from April to November, water 22-29 C. Summer (June-September) brings the biggest fish schools and clearest water but the strongest currents and triggerfish nesting season; in winter the water cools and a wetsuit is advised.
Practical info
Access is by day boat, or by bus with beach/shore entry, from Sharm El Sheikh, roughly a 45-minute transfer, with the park generally open 07:00-17:00. You'll need the park entrance fee (around USD 5 per person, cash advised), a licensed guide and rental gear, and foreign visitors may need a passport. Prices, opening hours and what a tour includes change, so confirm the latest details before booking.
On-site reviews📍 Verified on-site
No reviews yet. If you are here, be the first to leave one.
