埃及赫尔格达长滩度假村的珊瑚礁和海滩

Long Beach Resort Coral Reef — a coral reef located along the Red Sea coast near the popular Egyptian resort city of Hurghada. The reef is adjacent to the Long Beach Resort hotel complex and is one of the easily accessible spots for snorkeling and diving among holidaymakers. Thanks to its convenient location and the remarkable clarity of the Red Sea waters, the reef is frequented by both beginner and experienced underwater enthusiasts.

The reef is home to numerous species of tropical fish typical of the Hurghada area, including butterflyfish, angelfish, clownfish, as well as moray eels and barracudas. Despite being situated close to the shoreline, the reef’s ecosystem remains diverse: coral colonies form natural shelters for many marine inhabitants.

Snorkeling at the Long Beach Resort reef is considered relatively safe, as encounters with potentially dangerous marine animals such as sharks are rare in this area. Nevertheless, visitors are strongly advised to follow basic reef etiquette: avoid stepping on corals, refrain from touching marine life, and exercise caution to prevent both injuries and ecological damage.

Diving in Egypt: General Information

The Red Sea in Egypt is regarded as one of the best locations in the world for exploring the underwater environment. While coral reefs are also found in Eilat (Israel) and Aqaba (Jordan), they are smaller and less spectacular than those near Egyptian resorts such as Sharm El-Sheikh, Marsa Alam, and Hurghada. For this reason, Egypt remains the most recommended destination for diving and snorkeling in the region.

The Red Sea possesses unique natural characteristics. It is the saltiest of all seas belonging to the World Ocean, with about 41 grams of salts per liter of water (compared to only 18 grams in the Black Sea). Moreover, it is among the clearest seas in the world: since no rivers flow into it, underwater visibility can reach up to 40 meters. Thanks to Egypt’s warm desert climate, the water temperature in the open sea never falls below +20 °C, averaging +27–28 °C in summer and +20–24 °C in winter. These conditions make diving and snorkeling possible year-round.

Coral reefs stretch along nearly the entire Egyptian coastline, forming independent ecosystems populated by corals, sponges, marine worms, and countless species of fish. Many of these can be observed even without scuba gear — simply by swimming with a mask and snorkel above the reef. Tourists should be aware, however, that corals are extremely fragile: they grow only a few centimeters per year, and any damage can lead to their death. Egyptian law strictly prohibits breaking corals or attempting to remove them from the country.