From Sharm: Luxury Diving cruise to Ras Mohammed with Lunch

Ras Mohammed rewards an early start. This six-hour yacht trip takes you from Sharm El Sheikh to one of South Sinai’s best-known marine areas, with clear water, coral reefs, snorkeling, and the choice of one or two scuba sessions. I like the professional instructors and the chance to spend the surface interval on the boat with drinks, snacks, and more time in the water.

I also like the simple format: hotel pickup, equipment fitting, boat travel, underwater time, lunch, and a return to Sharm. The main concern is that you need to check exactly what your selected package includes. Equipment, snorkeling gear, and the mandatory marina fee may be extra, and two recent complaints described confusion over the number of included sessions.

Key points before you book

• Two underwater sessions are available: Choose one or two sessions when booking, with beginner sessions lasting up to 15 minutes and professional sessions averaging about 40 minutes.
• The €5 marina fee may be separate: Pay it on arrival or add it before checkout if that option is available.
• The boat day includes lunch and drinks: A buffet meal, unlimited drinks, and light snacks are part of the time on board.
• Snorkeling is available for non-divers: You can enjoy the reef without taking part in scuba activities, provided you can swim.
• Pickup details arrive by WhatsApp: Pickup is usually about one hour before departure, with the exact time sent 24 hours before the trip.
• The underwater guides receive strong praise: Several bookings describe the instructors as kind, careful, and reassuring, though package details need checking.

Leaving Sharm El Sheikh for Ras Mohammed

The day begins with a shared bus from your hotel reception. The drive to the diving center takes about 35 minutes, but pickup itself is usually scheduled roughly one hour before the boat leaves. You receive the precise pickup time through WhatsApp 24 hours before departure, so keep your phone available and ask your hotel reception to help if needed.

At the center, you complete paperwork and get fitted for equipment. This is the moment to check the practical details. Show your booking confirmation and ask clearly how many sessions are included, if equipment is covered, and if the marina entrance fee has already been paid.

The listed price is $54 per person, which can be good value for a full six-hour boat day. It covers hotel pickup, lunch, drinks, an instructor, and the marine visit, but the exact total depends on your chosen package and add-ons. The description says diving equipment and snorkeling equipment may need to be selected separately, while the marina entrance fee is a mandatory €5 per person if not prepaid.

That small check at the start can save you an argument later. Two bookings reported disagreement about whether one or two beginner sessions had been included. The issue was eventually resolved in those cases, but it cost valuable water time.

The 90-minute boat ride to the park

From the marina, the boat spends about an hour and a half sailing toward Ras Mohammed National Park. This is not just dead travel time. You have scenic views across the Red Sea, space to settle in, and a chance to listen to the instructor’s instructions before entering the water.

The schedule gives you a proper surface interval after the first session, roughly 90 minutes. During that time, you can have light snacks and drinks, relax on deck, and use the snorkeling option. The boat setting makes the trip feel like more than a quick trip to a nearby beach, although the exact amount of free space depends on how many people are aboard.

The park is a popular marine area, and it can feel busy. One booking specifically noted that there were many other people around the park. That matters if your ideal day involves quiet water and an empty reef. You are coming for access to excellent sea life, not solitude.

What the first underwater session is like

The first stop is chosen for clear water and marine life. Beginner sessions are introductory and last up to 15 minutes. That is enough time to get a first look at coral and fish, but it is not the same as a full recreational scuba session.

Your instructor assists you in the water and guides the activity. One particularly positive account described the instructor holding the participant’s hands throughout the session, which gives you a useful idea of the support available for nervous first-timers. The strongest praise for this experience centers on the staff’s calm, friendly manner and attention to safety.

Professional sessions average around 40 minutes. If you already have scuba experience, this gives you much more time to examine the reef and move through the site at an easier pace. The number of sessions depends on the option you select, and you can sometimes add another session before checkout.

The experience is not suitable for non-swimmers, people with back or heart problems, or anyone with respiratory issues. If you have a medical concern, do not treat this as a casual swim. Ask before booking and be honest during the paperwork and safety briefing.

You are also expected not to touch marine life. That is good practice for the reef and for your own safety. Keep your hands to yourself, follow the instructor, and avoid trying to handle coral or animals for a photograph.

Surface time, snacks, and snorkeling

After the first session, the boat pauses for about 90 minutes. This is a useful part of the schedule because you are not rushed straight from one activity into the next.

You can have light snacks and beverages, rest on board, or go snorkeling. Non-divers can use the snorkeling option, making the trip workable for a mixed group, but non-swimmers should not book it. Snorkeling equipment may be an add-on, so confirm that before you leave the dock.

This interval can also reveal one of the trip’s limitations. A boat lunch and snacks are convenient, but food quality is not guaranteed to impress everyone. One sharply negative account described the food and drinks as poor, while another praised the lunch as delicious. I would treat the meal as practical fuel rather than a reason to book the trip.

Bring your own small snacks if you have particular dietary needs or simply want a backup. Sunscreen, a towel, swimwear, and a camera belong in your day bag. The supplied information also recommends bringing snacks, so you are not expected to rely only on the boat’s selection.

The second reef stop and lunch

If you choose the two-session option, the boat continues to a second site after the surface interval. This gives you another chance to see coral and marine life in a different setting. The second location is also described as calm and scenic, with time for snorkeling and underwater viewing.

A few useful expectations are worth keeping in mind. Beginner sessions are listed as up to 15 minutes, not a guaranteed 15 minutes, and professional sessions average about 40 minutes. One complaint reported sessions of only around 10 minutes, while another account described two different sites and an additional visit to White Island. Conditions, group organization, and the package you select can affect how the day feels.

The schedule allows about three and a half hours in the main Ras Mohammed area for snorkeling, underwater sessions, lunch, and marine-life viewing. That is the heart of the trip, so the two-session option gives you a fuller use of the boat day.

Lunch is served on board before the return journey. The buffet format is easy and keeps the group together. You do not need to search for a restaurant at the park, and lunch gives you a proper break after time in the water.

The return boat ride to Sharm

The return sailing takes about an hour. After lunch and the second water stop, this is your chance to dry off, look back across the sea, and rest before the bus transfer.

The stated total duration is six hours, although the full day includes road pickup, marina time, sailing, and the return to your hotel area. It is a compact boat excursion rather than a full-day expedition. That makes it useful if you want to leave room in your Sharm schedule for dinner or another activity.

The return operation deserves attention because one serious account described a participant drifting away from the group near White Island and being collected by another boat. The operator later reunited the person with the original boat, but the incident raises a sensible rule for you: stay close to the group, listen to the guide, and do not swim off independently while filming.

Staff, languages, and safety

The instructor team is listed as speaking English, Russian, Italian, and German. That is helpful if you are more comfortable receiving safety instructions in one of those languages.

The strongest part of the experience is the human support in the water. Several high-scoring bookings describe the instructors as professional, friendly, reassuring, and attentive. Beginners who feel uncertain about breathing equipment or entering open water are likely to value that hands-on guidance.

Still, you should not assume that a guide will remove every risk. Stay with your group, follow instructions, and keep your camera from distracting you. Do not touch marine life, and tell the staff immediately if you feel uncomfortable.

The activity is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the available information does not explain how boarding, moving around the boat, or entering the water is handled. If you use a wheelchair, contact the operator before booking and ask about the exact transfer arrangements.

What the $54 price really buys you

At $54 per person, the trip offers a fair package if your selected option includes the equipment and one or two sessions. Hotel transport, the boat, instructor support, lunch, drinks, snorkeling access for non-divers, and the Ras Mohammed visit add up to a useful day at sea.

The price becomes less attractive if you discover several extras at checkout. Check these points before paying:

• Is one or two scuba sessions included?
• Is the equipment included or an add-on?
• Is snorkeling equipment included?
• Has the €5 marina entrance fee been prepaid?
• Does your package include the exact session length you expect?

Also budget carefully for optional photographs and video. One complaint described a very high charge of £120 for underwater images, along with disappointment in the posing and image quality. You are not required to buy them, so ask for the price before anyone photographs you and decide in advance what you are willing to pay.

The booking offers free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure and a reserve-now, pay-later option. Those terms are useful if your Sharm plans may change, but always check the conditions shown for your specific booking.

Who should choose this boat day

I would recommend it to a first-time visitor who wants to see Ras Mohammed without arranging transport, equipment, lunch, and a boat independently. The instructor support makes it approachable for beginners, and the snorkeling option means a non-scuba companion can still enjoy the sea.

It also suits experienced scuba participants who want a simple two-site outing. The professional sessions average about 40 minutes, and the second location adds variety.

I would be more cautious if you want a quiet, private cruise, a refined meal, or carefully timed photography. The park can be crowded, the boat is shared, and food quality appears inconsistent. It is also not a good choice if you cannot swim or have back, heart, or respiratory problems.

Practical preparation for the day

Pack swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, snacks, and a camera. Keep personal items secure on the shared boat, and use sunscreen responsibly around the water.

Wear something easy to change out of and bring enough protection from the sun. You will spend long stretches on the boat between water activities, not just underwater.

Save the operator’s WhatsApp contact and watch for the pickup message sent 24 hours before departure. Pickup is from your hotel reception by shared bus, and the approximate time is about one hour before the trip.

At the diving center, take two minutes to confirm the session count and extras. This is the single most useful tip from the complaints. Clear confirmation at the start protects your time and your budget.

Final call: book it or skip it?

Book this trip if you want good access to Ras Mohammed, supportive instructors, a choice of one or two sessions, and an easy all-in-one day from Sharm El Sheikh. The staff receive the most consistent praise, and the mix of snorkeling, underwater time, lunch, and sailing offers good value at $54 when the package details are clear.

Skip it if you dislike shared boats, crowded marine sites, uncertain food quality, or add-on charges. If you do book, select the session option carefully, confirm the equipment and €5 marina fee, and ask about photo prices before entering the water. With those checks, this is a practical way to see South Sinai’s famous reefs without making the arrangements yourself.

FAQ

How long is the Ras Mohammed boat trip?

The activity lasts about six hours, including hotel pickup, transport to the marina, sailing, time at Ras Mohammed, lunch, and the return journey.

How much does the experience cost?

The listed price is $54 per person. Equipment, snorkeling gear, and the mandatory marina fee may depend on the option or add-ons you select.

Is the marina entrance fee included?

A mandatory marina entrance fee of €5 per person applies. You can pay it on arrival or prepay it through an available add-on.

Can beginners take part?

Yes. Beginner introductory sessions last up to 15 minutes and are supervised by a professional instructor.

How long are professional scuba sessions?

Professional sessions average around 40 minutes.

Can I choose one or two sessions?

Yes. The number of sessions is selected through the trip options, and additional sessions may be available as add-ons before checkout.

Can non-divers join the boat trip?

Yes. Non-divers can use the snorkeling option, although snorkeling equipment may need to be selected separately. The activity is not suitable for non-swimmers.

What languages do the instructors speak?

The instructor languages listed are English, Russian, Italian, and German.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, snacks, and a camera. You should also follow the rule not to touch marine life.