5 Tips for Snorkeling the Red Sea

The Red Sea offers some of the world’s best snorkeling. You can do this from Egypt or Israel.

1. The easiest way to access the reefs is to snorkel the reef right off Eilat Israel. You can drive or fly there easily from Tel Aviv.
2. You can take an organized snorkel tour from one of the hotels or dive operators that line the South Beach area. The snorkeling is much better than North Beach, so go the extra mile.
3. You will pay about 250 NIS for a guided snorkel tour (about $80). It’s worthwhile if you need instruction.
4. A cheaper way to do it is to enter the Coral Reef park for 35 NIS ($10). You can enter the water off the boardwalk bridges. You have to follow a buoy line at the edge of the coral and are not allowed to swim over it.
5. The cheapest way to view the reef is to stop at the Isrotel hotel just short of the Coral Reef park. Beach entry there is free and you can swim 150 yards to the right  to the beginning of the reef.

By the way, the water temperature there is a steady 21 degrees Celsius year round, so it’s not warm, but you get used to it. I rate the reefs I saw as good – similar to Key Largo in Florida. By no means the best I’ve seen but worth a visit nevertheless.