From Sharm: Ras Mohammed snorkeling cruise & optional diving

This cruise is interesting because it turns a classic Red Sea day into a smooth one, sailing out to Ras Mohamed National Park and building in time for snorkeling. I love the air-conditioned cabin that gives you a real break from the sun, and I love the on-board buffet lunch with hot and soft drinks served throughout the day. One possible drawback is simple, you are on a boat for a good chunk of the day, so plan to be patient if you get restless easily.

I also like that the day is guided, with a live guide available in English, German, and Russian, and staff like Islam and Mahmoud are singled out for being professional and upbeat. Meet at Egypt Sunmarine Fleet in Watanya Marina (go straight to the team in yellow), and expect pickup to be arranged by shared bus with your exact time sent on WhatsApp.

Key takeaways before you go

• Ras Mohamed National Park focus: the day centers on one of the best-known reef areas in the region
• Two snorkeling stops: you do not just hop in once, you get two chances to see marine life from the surface
• Comfort when you’re not in the water: sun deck up top, air-conditioned salon below
• Lunch is actually part of the trip: an open buffet on the yacht, plus waiter service for drinks
• White Island depends on tides: it’s included, but whether you go can change
• Plan for a marina fee: a mandatory marina entrance fee of 5 euros per person applies (unless handled via add-ons)

Ras Mohamed and White Island: what makes this day special

If you’re going to Sharm El Sheikh and you want reef time without wrestling with a bunch of separate logistics, this cruise is built for you. Ras Mohamed is the anchor of the trip, and White Island is the bonus stop that adds a different feel to the day, more scenery and less “only snorkeling.”

The snorkeling setup matters. You get expert snorkeling guides who stay with you, which is a big deal if you’re unsure about when to put your face in and when to move slowly. The boat also has a proper layout, with modern sun deck space up top and an air-conditioned salon below so you’re not trapped sweating for hours.

Just be realistic about the rhythm. This is not a quick in-and-out water taxi. You’re sailing out, snorkeling for timed blocks, and sailing back, so the tradeoff is comfort and convenience for a longer day on the water.

Getting to Watanya Marina without stress

Your main starting point is Egypt Sunmarine Fleet at Watanya Marina in Sharm El Sheikh. When you arrive, go straight to the operations team (they’re usually wearing a yellow T-shirt) and show your ticket. If you have questions right away, this is the fastest way to get oriented.

If you choose hotel pickup, it’s handled by a shared bus and runs roughly 90 minutes before the trip start. You should get your exact pickup time via WhatsApp about 24 hours prior. Once you’re on the bus, you’re looking at about 25 minutes of coach travel as part of the route flow.

Two practical tips help a lot here. First, confirm your WhatsApp notification is turned on the day before. Second, bring the kind of carry you can keep close on the bus, because you may not want to check everything in and then search for it again at the marina.

On the yacht: sun deck comfort and real breaks from the heat

This is one of the biggest reasons I’d pick this day. The yacht is described as clean, well maintained, and crewed, with a modern sun deck on top and a well-appointed air-conditioned salon below. That air-conditioned space is not a luxury detail. It changes how you feel after snorkeling, when you’re warm, salty, and a little worn out.

Food and drinks also help keep the day from turning into a snack hunt. You get an open buffet lunch on the deck and waiter service for hot and soft drinks all day. The menu is described as a mix of freshly cut salads and starch sides like rice, pasta, and potatoes, plus chicken and Egyptian kofta. Even if you are not a foodie, it’s the right kind of energy for a long sea day.

If you’re booking and you care about snorkeling gear, note that snorkeling equipment is listed as something you get if selected as an add-on. If you’d rather not bring your own, check that your selection includes gear, so you’re not scrambling at the marina.

Ras Mohamed National Park: what the reef time is really like

Ras Mohamed National Park is the heart of the experience, and you get a few ways to enjoy it, not just one. First, you sail in toward the park, then you have time for snorkeling at Ras Mohamed, and you also get a cruise and marine life viewing segment afterward.

The snorkeling time at Ras Mohamed is listed as about 45 minutes. That sounds short on paper, but it’s long enough to swim, settle, and actually look around rather than just panic for a quick peek. Your guide support is designed to make that flow smoother, especially around safety and keeping you moving with the group.

During the cruise and marine viewing stretch, you’ll also get a wider sense of the area from the water. You might see fish activity and shoreline shapes that you can’t really appreciate while you’re focused on your mask and fins. Think of it as a breather between swim blocks.

What I’d tell you to expect: the best results come when you move slowly. In reef areas like this, fast chasing usually means you miss what’s close by. Slow scanning is how you get better views of smaller things, and it also keeps you from burning out halfway through your allotted water time.

Two snorkeling stops near Sharm: choosing clear water and great reef zones

Beyond Ras Mohamed snorkeling, you also get two snorkeling stops during the day around Sharm El Sheikh. The exact sites can vary, but the common listed options include Yolanda Reef, Shark Reef, South Bereika Bay, Marsa Ghozlani, and Old quay.

Here’s why that matters to you. Different sites tend to have different “feel,” like sandy bottom near one area and coral structure near another. By doing two separate stops, you increase your odds of seeing something you didn’t see the first time. It also means you’re not forced to make one snorkel session do everything.

Each stop is guided. The guides accompany you at all times, which helps with safety and also helps you stay in the right spot while the water conditions and current are doing their thing. The flip side is that you need to follow the group pace. If you are the type who wants to wander off on your own, this setup is less about solo exploring.

If you’re worried about motion sickness, take that seriously before you board. Spending most of the day on water can get uncomfortable for some people. Bring something that works for you, and try to spend time on deck so you can stabilize your attention on the horizon.

White Island: the fun scenic add-on, but tide rules apply

White Island is included, but it’s described as subject to tide conditions. That means you should treat it as an optional bonus, not a guaranteed checkbox every day.

When you do get the stop, it can be a nice change of pace from reef snorkeling. It tends to feel more like a scenic water break, with different visuals, and it can give you a moment to relax before the return sailing. When tides do not cooperate, you still have the main park experience and the snorkeling time, so the day does not collapse without White Island.

So how should you plan? Keep your expectations flexible. If your main goal is reef snorkeling, you are covered by the Ras Mohamed focus. If you specifically want White Island photos, come ready for the reality that the sea decides.

Timing and pace: how the day moves from pickup to return

The overall duration is listed as 7 hours, and you sail back to the marina by around 4:30 PM. The day is built around long sailing blocks with clear breaks in between.

You start with transport to the marina, then sailing toward Ras Mohamed takes about 2.5 hours. After that, you snorkel around 45 minutes, then you have about 30 minutes for cruise and marine life viewing. Lunch happens for about an hour, and then you sail back, around 2 hours, before your final drop-offs.

Why that pace matters: it shapes what you should bring and how you should plan your energy. You’ll want swimwear ready, sunscreen, and something to cover your shoulders when you’re not in the water. Also, eat your lunch even if you’re not super hungry, because you’ll likely feel it during the return sailing.

This trip is also described as having skip-the-ticket-line access. That can save you time at the marina, which is helpful when your day is already long.

Optional scuba experience: when it makes sense

There is an optional scuba experience offered as part of this outing. One participant described trying an introductory option and said the instructor was patient and good at explaining what to do.

If you’re curious, that’s a good sign. Intro sessions tend to benefit from calm coaching, because you’re learning basics like breathing control and comfort in the water. This is also a chance to add a deeper look, but it does add another layer of time and focus on top of the snorkel schedule.

If you are mainly about snorkeling from the surface, you can keep the day simple and treat scuba as a bonus rather than the core plan. If you’re scared of gear or water anxiety, decide based on what you’ve done before, not based on optimism.

Price and value: is $31 a fair deal?

At around $31 per person, this can feel like a strong value if your goal is reef snorkeling plus a hassle-free day at sea. The big value pieces are the boat cruise, the structured snorkeling time, the on-board buffet lunch, and hotel pickup and drop-off if you select that option.

You should also factor in the listed fees that can affect your true out-of-pocket cost. There is a national park entry fee of €5 mentioned, and there is also a mandatory marina entrance fee of 5 euros per person that is paid upon arrival unless it’s prepaid from add-ons. Before you go, I’d budget for both categories so you’re not surprised when you check in.

Is it “cheap” in the sense of rock-bottom cost? Not necessarily, but for a day built around Ras Mohamed plus multiple snorkeling stops and a proper meal on board, it’s priced for convenience. You’re paying to remove planning headaches, and you’re paying for a day that already includes the main components you’d otherwise have to book separately.

Who should book this cruise, and who should skip it

You should strongly consider this if you want one well-organized day that includes Ras Mohamed plus snorkeling opportunities around Sharm, and you like the idea of comfort between swim blocks. It also suits first-timers well because the guides are there, and the schedule is timed so you’re not stuck waiting forever without structure.

You might want to skip it if you hate being on a boat for extended stretches. Even with comfort on board, it’s still time at sea. And if your priority is scuba or you want perfect water clarity every day, keep expectations realistic because conditions can change.

Accessibility is also mentioned. The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, which is useful to know if you need that.

Final call: should you book it?

If your trip to Sharm includes just one big marine day, I’d book this. The combination of Ras Mohamed National Park, two snorkeling stops, and a real lunch plan on the yacht is a practical way to get your money’s worth without juggling multiple vendors.

Just do two things before you go. Bring cash or confirm add-ons for the marina entrance fee, and accept that White Island depends on tides. If you can handle that, you’ll have a solid day of Red Sea snorkeling and enough comfort to make the hours on the water feel worth it.

FAQ

Where do I meet for the Ras Mohamed cruise?

You meet at Egypt Sunmarine Fleet in Watanya Marina, Sharm El Sheikh. When you arrive, go to the operations team (usually wearing a yellow T-shirt) and show your ticket.

How does hotel pickup work, and when will I know the time?

If you select pickup, it is done by shared bus and the pickup happens roughly 90 minutes before the trip start. You should be contacted 24 hours before the trip via WhatsApp with your exact pickup time.

Do I need to pay any fees at the marina?

There is a mandatory marina entrance fee listed as 5 euros per person, paid upon arrival (or you can sometimes prepaid it via add-ons). National park entry fees of €5 are also listed.

Is White Island included every day?

White Island is included, but it is subject to tide conditions. If tides do not allow it, the visit may not happen.

Is snorkeling gear provided?

Snorkeling gear is listed as included if selected from add-ons. If you do not select it, you may need to arrange gear separately.

Can I cancel this trip, and what are the basic timing details?

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance for a full refund. The duration is 7 hours, and you return to the marina by around 4:30 PM.