Yes, there are sharks in the Red Sea of Egypt. Various species can be found in this area or they migrate to this place and actually that is a good thing since it indicates that the reef system is functioning properly. Do you expect to see one from your sunbed? Definitely not. Sharks prefer reefs, deeper waters, and offshore diving areas.
That doesn't make the worry silly. People have died here, and pretending otherwise helps nobody. Stick to the swimming rules and listen to local safety advice, and the odds work heavily in your favor.
Are There Sharks in the Red Sea Egypt?
In the Red Sea and the area of South Sinai, yes. But “yes” will only get you halfway there. Whether or not you encounter one will depend on location, depth, season, and species. The offshore reef is a much different proposition than the cordoned off swimming area at your resort.
Egypt's Environment Ministry runs its own shark monitoring and tracking program in the Red Sea, with some of the work focused on tiger, mako and oceanic whitetip sharks. Authorities don't fund that sort of thing for animals that never turn up.
What Types of Sharks Live in Egypt's Red Sea?
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
This is the one most people connect with Egypt's offshore dive sites. Oceanic whitetips are nosy. They'll come up to divers to take a look, which is exactly why they get a lot of respect.
Grey Reef Shark
A reef and deep-water species. Divers have a fair chance of seeing one, while beach swimmers basically don't.
Whitetip Reef Shark
Smaller, and it hangs around coral. This one is a diver's sighting, not a swimmer's.
Hammerhead Shark
Ask experienced divers what they're after on a remote reef and hammerheads tend to be near the top of the list.
Tiger Shark
Yes, they're in Egyptian waters. The Environment Ministry confirmed a tiger shark caused the fatal Hurghada incident in June 2023.
Whale Shark
Enormous, but no threat to people. It's a filter feeder, and the Environment Ministry counts it as an important part of the Red Sea ecosystem. There are official rules for how to behave if you meet one.
Where Are Sharks Found in Egypt?
Sharks Around Marsa Alam
Marsa Alam's reefs sit near the deeper southern Red Sea, which is a big part of why it has such a name for marine wildlife. Elphinstone Reef is where experienced divers point you when you ask about sharks.
Sharks Around Hurghada
Sharks live off Hurghada, true. That doesn't mean one is circling every time you wade in. Plenty of visitors swim, snorkel and dive there all holiday and never see one.
Sharks Around Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh and Ras Mohammed have rich marine life, sharks included. Shark Reef at Ras Mohammed is one of the best known dive sites in the area.
Sharks at the Brothers and Daedalus Reefs
These two are a different category. Brothers and Daedalus are remote offshore reefs, about as far from a shallow hotel beach as you can get, and they're closely linked to shark diving. Divers Alert Network lists Brothers, Elphinstone and Daedalus as notable shark locations too.
Are Sharks Common Near Red Sea Beaches?
No. This is the part most articles skip, and it's the part that matters most.
Sharks being in the Red Sea doesn't put them between you and the tourist next to you at the hotel beach. A lot of species prefer deeper water, reefs and drop-offs. So where you swim counts for a great deal.
Here's how I'd rank it, from least to most likely to involve a shark: the resort swimming area, then a snorkeling reef, then an offshore reef, then an open-water dive site. That tells you more than telling someone shark attacks are "rare," which sounds comforting and explains nothing.
Is It Safe to Swim in the Red Sea in Egypt?
Generally, yes, if you swim where you're supposed to and do what the lifeguards, resort staff, dive operators and Egyptian authorities say.
Does anyone get to call it 100% safe? No. It's open sea and conditions change.
Keep an eye out for closures and warnings. After a shark incident, authorities can stop swimming, snorkeling and water sports while they look into it. They did exactly that after Hurghada in 2023.
Have There Been Shark Attacks in Egypt?
Yes. If you searched for this, you've likely seen the headlines already, so no point softening it.
The 2023 Hurghada Shark Attack
On June 8, 2023, Egypt's Environment Ministry confirmed a fatal tiger shark attack in Hurghada. Swimming, snorkeling and water sports were suspended for a while along the affected stretch of coast.
The 2024 Marsa Alam Shark Attack
On December 29, 2024, a shark incident north of Marsa Alam killed one foreign tourist and injured another. The Environment Ministry said it took place in deep water, outside the designated swimming area. The area was closed temporarily during the investigation.
I'm not mentioning the location to play it down. It's there because it shows what a designated swimming area is actually for.
How Likely Are You to See a Shark in Egypt?
There's no honest percentage, so I'm not going to invent one. It depends on what you're doing.
Imagine someone paddling inside a marked resort area. Now imagine an advanced diver who has traveled all the way to an offshore reef famous for oceanic whitetips or hammerheads. Same sea, completely different trip. And for plenty of divers a shark isn't a nasty surprise anyway. It's the reason they came.
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What Should You Do If You See a Shark?
Stay Calm
Don't splash about or make sudden moves. Easier said than done, I know.
Keep the Shark in Sight
Know where it is. Turning away and losing it tends to make things feel worse.
Stay With Your Group
Don't peel off from the others to get a better photo.
Don't Chase or Touch It
A shark in front of you isn't an invitation.
Follow Your Guide's Instructions
If you're on an organized trip, the guide or crew knows that site far better than you do. Do what they say.
Leave the Water Calmly If Told to Do So
A whistle from the lifeguard, a warning flag, an official closure: they all mean get out. It doesn't matter that other people are still in.
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How to Reduce Shark Risk While Swimming and Snorkeling
Nothing fancy here:
Swim only where swimming is allowed.
Respect warning flags and beach closures, and stay out of restricted deep-water areas.
Don't feed fish or any other marine wildlife.
Don't go after sharks to get a closer look.
Stick with your dive or snorkeling guide.
If authorities have reported unusual shark activity somewhere, stay out of the water there.
Don't jump in just because other tourists are.
Ask your hotel or dive center what conditions are like today.
Egypt's environmental authorities have also linked human activity affecting the marine ecosystem to concerns about shark behavior. How we treat the sea matters as well as where we swim.
Can You Dive With Sharks in Egypt?
Yes, and plenty of people come for exactly that. The Egyptian Red Sea has a worldwide reputation for shark diving, and experienced divers head to remote reefs hoping for hammerheads, reef sharks and oceanic whitetips.
A planned shark dive with an experienced operator and a surprise shark while you're swimming are two completely different things. If the first one sounds like your kind of trip, Visit Egypt guide to scuba diving holidays in Egypt covers Red Sea marine life and the offshore destinations worth the journey.
Are There Sharks in Hurghada?
These are certainly found here. However, do not imagine that each beach will have one. There is an incredible variety of habitats in Hurghada, from the protected swimming areas of the resorts to the reefs and deeper waters off shore.
Are There Sharks in Marsa Alam?
Yes. Divers love Marsa Alam for its marine life and because the offshore reefs are so easy to reach.
You can see sharks there, particularly at certain dive sites. The same rule applies: a controlled resort swimming area is one thing, deeper or offshore water is another.
Are There Great White Sharks in the Red Sea?
Not as a regular encounter, no. When people talk about Red Sea sharks they mean reef sharks, oceanic whitetips, hammerheads and whale sharks, and now and then a tiger shark.
Can I say great whites are completely impossible here? Not really, and nobody should without solid scientific proof. "Not a normal or expected Red Sea encounter" is the version you can defend.
When Is the Best Time to See Sharks in Egypt?
This one is really for divers. If you're only swimming, you don't need to plan around it.
Sightings change with the species, the water conditions, the location and the season. If you actually want to see sharks, look at offshore sites like Elphinstone, Brothers and Daedalus. Just don't expect a promise. They're wild animals and they don't run on a timetable.
Sharks Are Part of What Makes the Red Sea Special
It is easy to consider the sharks just part of the cost of your holiday in Egypt. They are much more. Sharks are a part of a complex marine ecosystem including coral, reefs, rays, turtles, dolphins and lots of fish.
Egypt is studying how its Red Sea sharks behave. In January 2025, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency reported that its scientific monitoring and tracking program was continuing. The aim is to understand shark behavior, reduce risks, protect marine biodiversity and support sustainable tourism.
So, Should Sharks Stop You From Swimming in Egypt?
For most travelers, no. Sharks existing isn't a reason to skip the Red Sea.
The plan is short. Swim in designated areas. Listen to lifeguards and the authorities. Respect closures. Leave wildlife alone. Book your snorkeling and diving trips with operators who have a good reputation.
If you're an experienced diver hoping to see a shark, the answer flips. One gliding past in the blue could end up being the best moment of the whole trip.
FAQs About Sharks in Egypt's Red Sea
Are there sharks in the Red Sea Egypt?
Yes. Several species live in or visit Egyptian Red Sea waters, including reef sharks, oceanic whitetips, hammerheads, whale sharks and tiger sharks.
Are there sharks in Hurghada?
Yes, around the wider Hurghada region. Seeing one from a resort beach and deliberately diving an offshore reef are very different experiences.
Are there sharks in Marsa Alam?
Yes. Divers know Marsa Alam and its offshore reefs well for the variety of marine life, sharks included.
Do sharks come close to shore in Egypt?
They can. Documented incidents show that sharks sometimes enter areas fairly close to the coast. Still, most species are more at home around reefs, in deeper water and offshore.
Is it safe to snorkel in the Red Sea?
Snorkeling is one of the Red Sea's biggest draws. Stay inside permitted areas, choose a reputable operator, follow local instructions and take any warnings or closures seriously.
What is the most dangerous shark in Egypt?
There's no single answer. Tiger sharks and oceanic whitetips deserve extra caution, but the real risk depends on the circumstances of the encounter.
Can you see whale sharks in Egypt?
They've been recorded in Egypt's Red Sea, though a sighting is never guaranteed. The Environment Ministry has issued protection guidance for encounters with them.
Should I worry about sharks when visiting Egypt?
Being aware makes sense. Spending the whole holiday scanning the horizon for fins doesn't. Stay in designated swimming zones and follow current local safety instructions, especially if authorities temporarily restrict water activities.