Sharks Bay, Sharm El Sheikh
The verdict
- Best for: Snorkellers and confident swimmers who want a real house reef without a boat, and value hunters happy to pay only for a lounger while the coral stays free.
- Best spot: The marked entry off a resort jetty or steps at higher water, swimming out to the reef edge, then back to a cheap lounger rather than a pricey daybed.
- Know this: The name is folklore, not warning. Sharks Bay is one of the best free reefs in Sharm, so come for the coral and spend nothing on the sea itself.
Published 15 April 2026. Last reviewed 27 April 2026
Sharks Bay carries the most off putting name on the coast and one of its best value propositions. Let us clear the name first, because it does the place a disservice. The bay is called Sharks Bay after the cove and the offshore dive site, not because the swimming reef is full of sharks, and what you actually meet snorkelling here is healthy coral, clouds of reef fish and the occasional ray or turtle. It is folklore, not a warning, and it scares off visitors who would love the reef.
For a value minded traveller the maths here is excellent. Sharm's headland reefs are the real reason to come to Egypt, and at Sharks Bay you get a genuine house reef a short swim from shore, with a drop off into the blue, without paying for a boat trip. You may pay a small charge for a lounger or to use a resort's steps and jetty, but the coral itself is free to swim, and that is the whole trick of doing Sharm cheaply. Spend on access and shade, never on the sea.
The honest caveats are about who it suits. This is a cliff backed cove of small coves and terraces, not a broad family beach, and the reef drop off close to shore means it rewards swimmers who are comfortable in deeper water over toddlers who want to paddle. If that is you, base near Nabq or Naama for the shallow lagoons and visit Sharks Bay for the reef. And do enter and exit at the marked point. It protects the coral and keeps you off it, and a calm clear morning at higher water is when the bay is at its generous best.
Clubs on this beach
Sharks Bay is resort beaches and dive bases rather than standalone clubs, with loungers and reef access inside each property. We describe the options honestly and route enquiries through our directory, never inventing fees or amenities.
Sharks Bay resort beaches and dive bases
The cove is lined with resorts and dive centres offering loungers, steps or a jetty to the house reef and beach access sometimes sold to non guests. Verdict: the value snorkeller's base in Sharm, where you pay for a lounger or access and the reef itself is free, best for confident swimmers chasing coral over a long sandy stroll, with access and lounger charges to be confirmed.
Sharks Bay sits on the northern headland of Sharm El Sheikh between Naama Bay and Nabq, a short taxi from either and close to the airport. Most visitors stay in town or at Nabq for the cheaper rooms and come over for the reef, or book a room at one of the cove's own resorts. Dive centres here run the boat trips to Tiran and Ras Mohammed, so it doubles as a launch point for the bigger reefs as well as the house reef on the doorstep.
Bring your own mask and reef shoes to save the rental cost, carry small cash for a lounger or access fee and a tip, and snorkel at higher water in the calm of the morning for the easiest swim and the clearest view. Enter and exit only at the marked point to protect the coral, keep off the reef with your fins, and remember the sun is strong all year even in the mild winter, so shade and water matter.
Reserve a day at Sharks Bay
Tell us your date and party and we will point you to the right beach and daybed options at Sharks Bay and across Sharm El Sheikh, from a house reef snorkel to a boat day on the Tiran reefs. No charge to enquire.
Common questions
Are there really sharks at Sharks Bay in Sharm El Sheikh?
No, the name comes from the bay and the offshore dive site, not from sharks on the swimming reef, so do not let it put you off. What you will see snorkelling the house reef is colourful coral, reef fish, the odd ray and sometimes a turtle. It is one of the friendlier free reefs in Sharm, and the name is just folklore.
Is the snorkelling at Sharks Bay good and is it free?
Yes on both counts, which is what makes it good value. Sharks Bay has a genuine house reef close to shore with a drop off and plenty of life, and the coral itself is free to swim. You may pay a small charge for a lounger, a jetty or beach access through a resort, to be confirmed, but the reef is the draw and the sea costs nothing. Conditions are typical and never guaranteed.
Is Sharks Bay good for families?
It suits confident families more than toddlers. The cove is sheltered and pretty, but it is a reef beach with a drop off close in rather than a long shallow paddle, so it is best for children who already swim and snorkel. Lifeguard cover is seasonal and not guaranteed, reef shoes are essential and the sun is strong, so for very small children the shallow lagoons of Nabq or Naama are easier. We make no swimming safety promise.
How do I get to the reef at Sharks Bay?
Most people reach the water through one of the resorts or dive bases that line the cove, using their steps, jetty or beach, then snorkel out to the reef edge a short way offshore. Enter and exit at the marked point to protect the coral and yourself, go at higher water for the easiest swim, and the calm clear mornings are best. Charges for access or loungers are to be confirmed.
When is the best time to visit Sharks Bay?
Sharm is a winter sun escape, so November to April gives warm comfortable days and a warm sea when Europe is cold, with October, November, March and May the best value shoulder weeks. The reef is clearest on calm mornings, and high summer is very hot but cheapest. See our Sharm El Sheikh when to go guide for the month by month detail.
