From Sharm: Luxury Diving cruise to Ras Mohammed with Lunch

The Red Sea puts on a fine show. This six-hour trip from Sharm El Sheikh combines a yacht ride to Ras Mohammed National Park with underwater exploration, snorkeling, and lunch on board. I especially like the choice between one and two scuba sessions, and I like that non-swimmers and non-divers can still use the snorkeling option.

The professional instructors are the strongest part of the experience. Several bookings describe the staff as kind, calm, and reassuring, especially for first-timers. My main caution is to confirm exactly what your package includes before boarding, since equipment, marina access, snorkeling gear, and the number of sessions can vary by option.

Key points to know before you book

• Two underwater sites are available: Choose one or two scuba sessions, with the second stop offering another chance to see coral and marine life.
• Ras Mohammed is the setting: You sail into one of South Sinai’s best-known protected marine areas, with clear water and colorful reefs.
• Beginners receive a short introduction: First-time participants usually spend up to 15 minutes underwater with an instructor, while experienced participants spend about 40 minutes.
• The surface break lasts about 90 minutes: You can rest on deck, have snacks and drinks, and snorkel before the next water session.
• Lunch and drinks are included: A buffet meal is served on board, along with unlimited drinks, though food quality may not satisfy everyone.
• Check the extras carefully: A mandatory marina charge of 5 euros per person may be prepaid or collected on arrival, and equipment may depend on your selected option.

Leaving Sharm El Sheikh for Ras Mohammed

Your day begins with hotel pickup in Sharm El Sheikh, usually around one hour before the boat trip itself. The exact time is sent by WhatsApp roughly 24 hours in advance, so keep your phone available and check the message rather than relying only on the general start time.

The transfer to the diving center takes about 35 minutes by shared bus. This is not a private luxury transfer, and pickup from a hotel reception means the morning can feel a little less precise than the brochure wording suggests. Still, shared transport keeps the price at a reasonable $54 per person.

At the center, you complete paperwork and get fitted for equipment if it is included in your booking. This is the point to check your package. The number of underwater sessions, equipment, snorkeling gear, and marina access can be handled as separate choices. I would confirm these details before leaving the center, not after reaching the boat.

From the marina, the yacht travels toward Ras Mohammed for about an hour and a half. The ride gives you time to settle in, look across the Red Sea, and enjoy the change from resort streets to open water. Bring sunscreen and a towel, since much of the appeal here is simply being outside on deck between activities.

What Ras Mohammed adds to the trip

Ras Mohammed National Park is the reason to choose this excursion instead of a generic boat ride near Sharm El Sheikh. The protected area is known for clear water, coral formations, and a good range of marine life. Visibility depends on conditions, but the setting is built for looking below the surface.

The first water stop is used for snorkeling and scuba. If you are new to scuba, the instructor gives you an introductory session of up to 15 minutes. That is enough time to experience breathing underwater and see the reef without committing to a full professional-length session.

You should not expect a full certification-style experience. Beginners remain under close instruction, and the short time is designed as an introduction. If you are nervous, that can be a benefit. If you already have experience, the shorter session may feel limited, so select the professional option if it is offered and suitable for your ability.

Experienced participants generally spend around 40 minutes underwater. The exact duration can change with conditions, experience, and the chosen package. The instructor’s role matters here, and the strongest feedback about this trip centers on staff who guide participants closely and help when problems arise.

You must not touch marine life. That rule protects the reef and keeps your visit respectful. A camera is useful, but do not let filming distract you from staying with the group or following the instructor’s directions.

The first underwater session

The first session gives you your clearest look at what this trip can offer. Ras Mohammed’s water is described as crystal clear, and the appeal is the combination of coral, fish, and the feeling of moving through a protected sea environment rather than simply swimming from a beach.

For a beginner, expect the instructor to stay close. One particularly positive account describes an instructor guiding and holding a first-time participant throughout the session, which is exactly the sort of support that can turn anxiety into enjoyment.

The experience is not ideal for everyone. You should avoid it if you are a non-swimmer or have heart, respiratory, or serious back problems. These restrictions are not minor fine print. You need enough physical comfort for boat movement, water entry, and time in the sea.

After the first session, the boat pauses for a surface interval of about 90 minutes. This is a useful part of the day rather than dead time. You can sit on deck, drink something, eat a light snack, and use the time for snorkeling. Non-divers can enjoy this period without feeling like they are simply waiting for the scuba group.

Snorkeling and the second Ras Mohammed stop

The second stop is included when you choose the two-session option. It gives you another chance to see the reef in a different area, and some bookings also include a visit to White Island. White Island was described as especially attractive, but it is not presented as a guaranteed feature for every departure, so check the exact option before counting on it.

A second session makes the $54 price more attractive, provided it is clearly included. It gives experienced participants more underwater time and lets beginners get used to the equipment after the first attempt. You may also choose to add sessions through available extras, but read the wording carefully at checkout.

There have been serious complaints about confusion over whether one introductory session was included. In one case, participants said they had to argue with staff before receiving the second session they had paid for. Another account said two 15-minute sessions were shorter than expected. I would save a screenshot of your booking details and show it at the center before the boat leaves.

Snorkeling is the fallback that makes this trip work for mixed groups. If one person wants scuba and another does not, both can spend time in the same marine area. Snorkeling equipment may need to be selected as an add-on, so confirm that before departure.

The water can carry swimmers away from the boat, especially around open-water stops. One account describes a participant drifting a short distance from the group and needing another boat to assist. Even if this was an isolated problem, the lesson is simple: stay close to the group, follow instructions, and do not swim off alone to film.

Lunch, drinks, and life on the yacht

Lunch is served on board before the return to Sharm El Sheikh. It is described as a buffet, and one booking praised the food as delicious. Another gave a sharply different assessment, calling the food and drinks poor. I would treat lunch as convenient fuel, not as a reason to book the trip.

Unlimited drinks and light snacks are available during the surface interval. Bring your own small snacks if you have dietary needs or want something familiar. The packing advice also includes swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, and a camera.

The yacht offers a pleasant break from the water. You can dry off, take in the views, and spend time with your group without rushing from one activity to the next. The boat may feel busy when several operators reach Ras Mohammed at the same time. One booking specifically noted that the national park can become crowded with tourism, so do not expect a private reef.

Photography deserves a warning. Staff may offer underwater photos and videos for an additional charge, and one booking complained about a very high price, around £120, for images that were not considered worthwhile. You are not required to buy them. Ask for the price before agreeing to any photography, and do not assume it is part of the $54 package.

The return to Sharm El Sheikh

After lunch and the final water activities, the boat sails back toward the marina for about an hour. The full day lasts around six hours, including the hotel transfer, boat travel, water time, meal, and return.

That timing works well if you want a substantial sea outing without losing a full day of your holiday. It may feel rushed if you want long, quiet time at every reef, especially with a two-session option and a White Island visit. The schedule is active: transport, equipment, water sessions, snorkeling, lunch, and sailing all share the same half-day.

On the return, keep valuables secure and allow extra time before making another booking. The exact end time can be affected by the marina schedule, boat timing, and the length of the water activities.

Is $54 good value?

At $54 per person, this is a competitive price for hotel pickup, a yacht trip, a professional instructor, lunch, drinks, and access to Ras Mohammed. The value is strongest when your chosen option includes the equipment, marina charge, snorkeling gear, and two water sessions.

The price needs closer inspection because not every item is automatically included. Diving equipment and snorkeling equipment may be selected as add-ons. The 5-euro marina entrance fee is mandatory and can be paid on arrival or prepaid. Add these costs before comparing this trip with another boat outing.

For a first-time participant, the price is appealing because instruction is included and the underwater session is short. For an experienced scuba participant, the value depends on the actual time underwater and the clarity of the two-session option. If your priority is a long technical session, this is probably not the right product.

I also recommend treating the word luxury with some restraint. The trip includes a yacht, buffet lunch, and open-deck sailing, but it uses shared hotel transport and can encounter crowded conditions at the park. You are paying for access to a good marine area and a full activity schedule, not for a private charter.

Who will enjoy this trip most?

I would choose this outing if you want to see Ras Mohammed without arranging a separate boat, center, instructor, and meal. It suits couples and groups with mixed interests because scuba and snorkeling are both available.

It is especially useful for:

• First-time scuba participants who want close instructor support
• Experienced participants who want one or two reef sessions
• Families or groups where some people prefer snorkeling
• Visitors who want hotel pickup and a six-hour schedule
• Budget-conscious visitors who value transport, food, and drinks in one booking

I would look elsewhere if you need a quiet private boat, strict one-to-one timing, gourmet food, or a guaranteed long underwater session. You should also reconsider the trip if you have a back, heart, or respiratory condition, or if you cannot swim.

The instructor quality is the clearest reason to book. English, Russian, Italian, and German instruction is available, which helps if you are not comfortable receiving safety guidance in English. The staff are often praised for being friendly and professional, but the conflicting accounts about package inclusions mean you should be alert and polite at check-in.

Booking tips that can prevent trouble

Read the selected option line by line. Confirm the number of sessions, their stated length, equipment, snorkeling gear, and marina access.

Save your confirmation on your phone. If there is a disagreement at the center, you can show the exact wording rather than trying to remember what you purchased.

Ask about the 5-euro marina charge before departure. It is mandatory, but paying it in advance may make the morning simpler.

Keep your camera strap secure and stay with the group in the water. The reef is worth seeing, but no photograph is worth drifting away from the boat.

Do not agree to underwater photography until you know the full price. This is the most practical way to avoid an unpleasant surprise at the end.

The experience offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now while paying later. Pickup is wheelchair accessible, but the listed health restrictions and water activities mean you should still assess your own physical comfort carefully.

Should you book the Ras Mohammed yacht trip?

I would book it if you want a reasonably priced introduction to Ras Mohammed, especially if you choose the two-session option and confirm every inclusion in writing. The coral, clear water, helpful instructors, and easy hotel pickup make this a strong choice for a first underwater experience.

I would not book it blindly. The food may be ordinary, the park can be crowded, photography sales can be expensive, and a few accounts describe confusion over session times and package details. Go in with realistic expectations, keep your booking confirmation ready, and stay close to the group.

For most suitable participants, this is a good-value day on the Red Sea, with the underwater time doing the real work and the yacht, lunch, and snacks filling out the rest.

FAQ

How long does the Ras Mohammed trip last?

The activity lasts about six hours. Hotel pickup usually takes place roughly one hour before the trip, and the exact time is sent by WhatsApp about 24 hours in advance.

How long is a beginner scuba session?

An introduction session for a beginner is usually up to 15 minutes. Professional sessions are around 40 minutes on average.

Can I choose one or two scuba sessions?

Yes. The number of sessions can be selected from the available options. Additional sessions may also be available as add-ons, so check the package details before payment.

Is snorkeling available for non-divers?

Yes. Snorkeling is available for non-divers, and participants can snorkel during the surface interval and at Ras Mohammed. Snorkeling equipment may need to be selected as an add-on.

Is the marina entrance fee included?

A mandatory marina entrance fee of 5 euros per person applies. It can be prepaid through an add-on or paid upon arrival.

What languages does the instructor speak?

Instruction is available in English, Russian, Italian, and German.