Egypt Discovery
ExcursionSharm

Semi-Submarine Reef Trip from Sharm El Sheikh – Glass Boat

3 hours door to door, shared with up to 40 guests. A 90-minute semi-submarine trip, soft drink and water, hotel transfers included.

At a glance

Departs
Daily

The short answer

A 3-hour outing from Sharm El Sheikh with a 90-minute semi-submarine trip along the reef, seen from a glass-walled cabin below the waterline.
  • New

Snapshot

Good to know

Destinations
Sharm El Sheikh · Red Sea reefs
Includes
Collection from, and return to, your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba or the Old Market area) · A semi-submarine trip of about 90 minutes, shared with other guests · A soft drink and drinking water on board
Guide languages
English

Best time to go

Any month works, as you stay inside. The 11:30 sailing usually has the brightest water light, which shows the colours of the coral best.

  • Egyptian tour operator since 1988, with an office in Sharm El Sheikh
  • ETAA Licence 718, Category A

02Overview

A first look

This is a three-hour outing from Sharm El Sheikh aboard a semi-submarine, a vessel whose glass-sided cabin sits under the surface. You choose a 09:00, 11:30 or 14:00 pick-up, and a vehicle takes you to the jetty. The trip itself lasts about 90 minutes, mostly spent in the underwater cabin as the boat follows the reef wall. You stay dry the whole time. A soft drink and water are included, and the boat is shared with up to 40 guests. It suits young children, grandparents and non-swimmers who want to see the reef.

Background

The facts

The semi-submarine leaves from a jetty in Sharm El Sheikh and runs along the reefs just offshore. The trip is about 90 minutes on the water, with around 3 hours door to door including transfers.

Named in this entry

glass-walled cabin·coral·jetty

Suited to

Is this for you?

Yes, if

  • Young children, grandparents and non-swimmers who want to see the Red Sea reef without getting wet.

Maybe not, if

  • Confident snorkellers who want to swim at the reef, and anyone who dislikes enclosed spaces.

What lingers

  • 01A glass-walled cabin below the waterline, with coral and fish passing at eye level
  • 02About 90 minutes on the water, following the reef wall off Sharm El Sheikh
  • 03Dry throughout, so non-swimmers and grandparents can join in comfortably
  • 04A soft drink and water on board, with hotel collection and return included
  • 05A choice of three sailings, at 09:00, 11:30 or 14:00 pick-up
  • 06Shared boat for up to 40 guests, with an easy step on and off at the jetty

Honest assessment

The honest pluses and minuses, as our own team sees them after running this trip.

Highlights

  • Dry, so anyone can take part
  • Short and easy to fit around other plans
  • Hotel transfers included

Things to Consider

  • You watch the reef through glass rather than swimming in it
  • Photos through the windows can be reflective

Stop by stop

Detailed itinerary

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The fine print

What's included – and what is left out

Included

  • Collection from, and return to, your hotel in Sharm El Sheikh (Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba or the Old Market area)
  • A semi-submarine trip of about 90 minutes, shared with other guests
  • A soft drink and drinking water on board

Not included

  • Tips for the crew and your driver
  • Photos taken on the trip
  • Your own spending money

Field notes

From our Egyptologists

  1. 01

    Put your phone lens close to the window to cut down reflections

  2. 02

    Pick the 11:30 sailing for the brightest light underwater

Before you go

What to pack & wear

Children & families

On this shared trip, children under 2 travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. Children do not need to swim, so the trip suits even very young guests.

These fares are a guide, as prices and departure move through the year. Do ask us and we will confirm the fare for the days you have in mind.

Asked & answered

Frequent questions

  1. 01How does the price for the semi-submarine trip work?
    The price is per person and covers the trip of about 90 minutes, a soft drink and water on board and hotel transfers. Photos are extra. Prices are provisional until our team confirms your booking, and we confirm availability for your chosen sailing before payment.
  2. 02Which sailing times are available?
    Pick-up is at 09:00, 11:30 or 14:00, and you choose one when you send your request. We collect from hotels in Naama Bay, Sharks Bay, Nabq, Hadaba and the Old Market area. Our team confirms the exact time after accepting your booking.
  3. 03Is this trip good for small children?
    Yes, it works well for young children. Under 2s travel free, ages 2 to 11 pay half the adult price, and ages 12 and over pay the adult price. Nobody has to swim, and the cabin windows are low enough for small children to look out comfortably.
  4. 04What should I bring on the boat?
    Bring your passport or a copy for the jetty, plus sun cream, a hat and a camera. Photos through glass come out better with the lens close to the window. You do not need swimwear, as you stay dry the whole time. Wear shoes that grip on a wet deck.
  5. 05Can I cancel if the weather turns?
    Cancel three or more days before for a full refund. Between three days and 24 hours before, half is refunded. Inside 24 hours, or if you do not turn up, nothing is refunded. If the port authority stops sailings for weather, your trip is moved to another day or refunded.
  6. 06Is the boat shared, and who operates it?
    Up to 40 guests share the boat. We are an Egyptian operator (ETAA Licence 718), not an ATOL or ABTA member, and we do not sell international flights. Our Sharm El Sheikh team runs the trip. Booking is by request, and we confirm availability before payment.

If plans change

Plans change? We make it easy.

  • More than 72 hours before your tour: keep the full amount as credit towards a future holiday with us, or take a refund.
  • Between 72 and 24 hours beforehand: hold on to the whole amount as credit, or have part of it refunded.
  • Within 24 hours of the tour, or if you don't turn up, we're unable to offer a refund or credit.
  • Should we ever have to cancel, because of the weather or anything else beyond our control, you won't lose a penny.

Credit stays valid for 12 months from your original travel date and can go towards any tour, cruise or stay with us.See the complete terms for cancelling and refunds

Continue reading

From the archives

Product ID: EXC-SHM-852280

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