From Sharm: Luxury Diving cruise to Ras Mohammed with Lunch

Ras Mohammed is the reason to book this boat trip. South Sinai’s clear water and coral reefs give you a fine first look at the Red Sea, with guided underwater time, snorkeling, and a boat ride past the park’s coast. I especially like the choice between one and two sessions, plus the 90-minute surface break with drinks and snacks.

I also like that non-swimmers who cannot join the scuba activity can still choose snorkeling, and that lunch is served on board rather than after a long return to shore. The main caution is simple: check exactly what your selected option includes. Equipment and the mandatory €5 marina fee may be extra, and two customers had trouble confirming the number of included sessions.

Key points to know before booking

• Two underwater sessions are available: Choose one or two, with beginner sessions lasting up to 15 minutes and experienced sessions averaging about 40 minutes.
• Ras Mohammed is the main attraction: Expect clear water, coral reefs, marine life, snorkeling, and scenic sailing from Sharm.
• Lunch stays on the boat: The day includes a buffet meal, unlimited drinks, and a long break between water activities.
• Extra charges need attention: Diving gear, snorkeling gear, and the €5 marina entrance fee may depend on the option or add-ons you select.
• Pickup is shared: Your exact hotel pickup time arrives by WhatsApp about 24 hours before departure, usually around one hour before the boat trip.
• The experience is guide-led: Instructors speak English, Russian, Italian, or German and accompany beginners in the water.

Why Ras Mohammed makes this six-hour trip worthwhile

Ras Mohammed National Park is the star here, not the yacht itself. From Sharm El Sheikh, you sail toward protected coastal waters known for clear visibility, coral reefs, and Red Sea marine life. The reward is time below the surface, where the hard shapes and colors of the reef matter far more than the boat’s decorative details.

The day runs for about six hours. That is long enough to make the journey worthwhile, but short enough to fit neatly into a Sharm beach holiday. You spend roughly 35 minutes traveling by bus to the marina, sail for around 90 minutes toward the park, use the main part of the trip for snorkeling and scuba, then return by boat.

I would view this as a good middle ground between a quick introductory session and a full-day specialist expedition. You get a proper boat outing, food, two possible reef stops, and time to rest. The tradeoff is that the schedule is shared with other people, so the pace and water time may not feel entirely personal.

Pickup from Sharm and the trip to the marina

Pickup takes place from your hotel reception in a shared bus. The exact time is sent through WhatsApp about 24 hours before departure, and pickup generally happens about an hour before the boat leaves. Keep your phone active and check your hotel reception, since this is not a private car service with a fixed time printed far in advance.

The road transfer takes about 35 minutes. At the diving center, you complete paperwork and receive your equipment if it is included in your booking choice. This is the moment to confirm what you paid for: number of scuba sessions, equipment, snorkeling gear, and the marina fee.

The mandatory marina entrance fee is €5 per person. It can be paid on arrival or prepaid as an add-on. I would settle this detail before leaving the hotel, because small surprises at a marina are irritating when the group is ready to board.

The activity is described as wheelchair accessible, but the water portion has stricter limits. It is not suitable for people with back, heart, or respiratory problems, or for non-swimmers. If you have a medical concern, ask before booking rather than relying on the general accessibility label.

Sailing toward Ras Mohammed

Once aboard, the trip becomes a proper Red Sea boat outing. The route to Ras Mohammed takes about an hour and a half, giving you time to watch the coast, settle into the boat, and listen to the instructor’s guidance.

Do not expect the sailing itself to be the main event. The boat is a platform for getting to the reefs, not a luxury cruise in the polished, private-yacht sense of the word. The $54 starting price is attractive because it combines transport, a marine park trip, guided water activity, lunch, and drinks. Its value depends heavily on what your chosen option includes.

The boat carries out the first water stop in the park. You can use this time for snorkeling or a guided scuba session. The water is described as crystal clear, but conditions can change with wind, current, and the day’s traffic at the park. One important practical point comes from the experience of a customer who was separated from the group near White Island by the current. Stay close to the guide, especially if you are using a camera or swimming away from the boat.

Your first session underwater

Beginners receive an introduction lasting up to 15 minutes. That is enough for a carefully supervised first look at the reef, but it is not the same as a full certified scuba session. If you have never used this equipment before, expect the instructor to spend time helping you breathe, adjust, and move safely before taking you farther from the boat.

This close supervision is one of the strongest reasons to choose the trip as a first Red Sea experience. A professional instructor accompanies beginners, and one customer specifically praised the instructor for guiding and holding their hands throughout the session. That kind of support can make a nervous beginner feel much more secure.

Experienced participants usually spend about 40 minutes underwater. The actual duration can vary, so do not treat 40 minutes as a guaranteed minimum. Your selected option determines the number of sessions, and extra sessions may be available as add-ons before checkout.

The reef and marine life are the payoff. You may see colorful coral and a range of underwater creatures, but the precise sights depend on the site, visibility, current, and your own comfort in the water. The instruction is not a natural-history talk, so book this for the water experience rather than for a long educational presentation.

The 90-minute break between water stops

After the first session, you have roughly 90 minutes on the boat. This is a useful part of the day, not dead time. You can have light snacks and drinks, rest on deck, and go snorkeling if conditions allow.

The long break also gives beginners a chance to recover. Equipment, sun, salt water, and nerves can wear you out faster than expected. Bring a towel, sunscreen, swimwear, and a snack of your own even though food and drinks are provided. The supplied food quality has not been consistent for everyone, so having something familiar in your bag is sensible.

Snorkeling is available to non-divers and to people who want more time in the water without another scuba session. The equipment may need to be selected as an add-on, so check the inclusions before you assume a mask and fins are waiting for you.

This is also the time to be disciplined about safety. Do not touch the coral or marine animals, and stay with the group near the boat. The current can carry you away from the meeting point quickly, even if the boat looks only a few meters distant.

The second reef stop and optional White Island visit

If you choose the two-session option, the boat moves to a second site in Ras Mohammed. The appeal is variety: you get another chance to see coral and marine life in a different setting rather than repeating the first stop.

Some departures also include a visit to White Island. This is an attractive extra, especially if you enjoy shallow water and open views, but treat it as part of the day’s operating plan rather than a guaranteed highlight unless your specific option says it is included. One customer enjoyed adding White Island to two different reef sessions.

The second session may feel more relaxed because you already know the equipment and routine. For a beginner, however, it is important to confirm the number and length of sessions before the boat leaves. Two customers reported being told that a second session was not included despite having selected a two-session option, and one said the argument cost about 30 minutes of snorkeling time.

That is not a minor issue on a six-hour trip. Save your booking confirmation on your phone and show it at the diving center if needed. A calm check at the beginning is better than trying to settle the matter after the boat has reached the reef.

Lunch, drinks, and the return to Sharm

Lunch is served on board after the water activities. A buffet meal keeps the day moving and saves you from returning to shore hungry. Unlimited drinks are included, along with light snacks during the break.

Food is a useful inclusion, but I would keep expectations modest. One customer praised the meal, while another found the food and drinks poor. That difference may reflect personal taste, changing menus, or a particular departure. Bring your own snack, as requested in the trip information, and drink plenty of water.

After lunch, you sail back toward Sharm for about an hour. The final boat ride gives you time to dry off and enjoy the coast, though tired swimmers may simply want a quiet seat. You then return to the marina and take the shared bus back to your hotel.

The whole experience is listed as six hours, but exact timing can shift with boarding, equipment fitting, sea conditions, and group arrangements. Do not schedule an important evening activity too tightly against the return.

What the $54 price really gives you

At $54 per person, this is a reasonable package if your chosen fare includes the guided water sessions, boat trip, lunch, pickup, and drinks. You are paying for access to Ras Mohammed without arranging separate transport, a boat charter, an instructor, and food.

The value is less clear when you add extras. Equipment may be an add-on, snorkeling gear may be an add-on, and the €5 marina charge is mandatory. Confirm those costs before checkout so the advertised price does not become a surprise at the port.

There is another possible expense: underwater photographs and videos. A customer was unhappy with the price of the media package, saying the requested amount was about £120 and that the posing felt forced. You can bring your own camera, but do not feel pressured to buy photos at the end. Ask for the price before agreeing to any filming.

The experience has an overall rating of 4.3 from 31 ratings, which fits the practical picture: the setting and instructors receive strong praise, while food, photo sales, and confusion over inclusions create the main complaints.

Who should book this boat trip?

I would recommend it to a beginner who wants a supervised introduction to the Red Sea without committing to a formal certification course. The short introduction is approachable, and the guide-led format gives you support in the water.

It also suits a mixed group. One person can choose scuba while another snorkels, and everyone shares the boat, lunch, and sailing time. The two-session choice works well for experienced participants who want more underwater time.

I would be cautious if you want a quiet, private yacht experience, precise personal scheduling, or a highly polished food service. The shared bus and group boat make this a practical excursion, not an exclusive charter. You should also avoid it if you are a non-swimmer, or if you have back, heart, or respiratory problems.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before departure, and you can reserve now and pay later. Those terms help if your Sharm plans are still moving, but they do not remove the need to check the medical and equipment requirements first.

Should you book it?

Book this trip if your priority is seeing Ras Mohammed from the water at a fair starting price, with an instructor, lunch, drinks, and the option of one or two guided sessions. The strongest parts are the park itself, the clear water, the helpful beginner support, and the chance to combine scuba with snorkeling.

Before paying, confirm four things in writing: the number of included sessions, equipment charges, the €5 marina fee, and the price of any underwater photos. If you do that, this can be a very good use of half a day in Sharm. If you want private service or guaranteed precision at every step, choose a smaller specialist boat instead.

FAQ

How long does the Ras Mohammed boat trip last?

The activity lasts about six hours, including hotel pickup, travel to the marina, sailing, water activities, lunch, and the return to Sharm El Sheikh.

Where does pickup take place?

Pickup is from your hotel reception in Sharm El Sheikh using a shared bus. Your exact pickup time is sent by WhatsApp about 24 hours before the trip, usually around one hour before departure.

How many scuba sessions can I choose?

You can select a one-session or two-session option. The number included is shown before booking, and extra sessions may be available as add-ons.

How long is a beginner session?

An introduction for a beginner can last up to 15 minutes. It is supervised by a professional instructor.

How long is a session for an experienced participant?

Professional sessions average around 40 minutes, although the exact duration can vary.

Can non-divers join the trip?

Yes. Non-divers can choose snorkeling, and snorkeling is also available during the surface break between water stops.

Is lunch included?

Yes. Lunch is served on board, along with unlimited drinks. Light snacks and beverages are available during the surface interval.

Is the marina entrance fee included?

A mandatory marina entrance fee of €5 per person applies. It can be paid on arrival or prepaid as an add-on, depending on your booking choice.

What should I bring?

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a camera, and snacks. Do not touch marine life, and stay close to the group while snorkeling.