Think you’ve already seen everything Hurghada’s dive sites have to offer? Even experienced divers can discover a completely new side of the Red Sea through drift and pick-up drift dives. 

By letting the current carry you along the reef, you can explore areas that are often inaccessible during standard dives, spotting spectacular coral formations, marine life, and underwater landscapes. 

In this article, we’ll look at how currents shape drift diving in Hurghada and why drift diving is one of the most exciting ways to experience the Red Sea.

What is a Drift and Pick-up Drift?

Drift means to scuba dive in the current. In the Red Sea, especially on its northern sides, you can find diving sites known for their stronger currents. 

The direction of the currents here usually go from north to south. So you should organize a drift, and of course in such a way that the current carries you comfortably along the reef, with the boat picking you up at the end of the dive.  

But what you should know here is that you will get the opportunity to explore interesting locations far from the anchorages of diving boats. The islands here in Hurghada have large and long coral reefs around them, and you will find the anchorages on the southern sides above the shallows. A non-negligible fact is that what brings the nutrients is the current. So the dive sites having stronger currents, have more alive reefs.

How to Organize a Dive in the Current?

Let’s discuss together how to organize a dive in the current from our point of view: 

• To cover a greater distance, the boat can drop divers farther along the reef and pick them up at a site where the current carries them. So we’ll organize and do what’s called a pick-up drift.
• In Hurghada, in case of having large dive boats, or a Zodiac speedboat, you can combine whether to jump from a big boat or Zodiac and what picks you up after the dive. 
• At the end of the dive, there should be a guide who will shoot a buoy close to the wall, and keep the buoy overhead at 5 meters deep, then you should swim away from the reef into the “blue”. 
• Having a buoy helps the passing boats to know about you and enables you to surface safely. Surface near the buoy and wait for the boat. Ensure to follow the instructions of the crew. 
• Your best place after surfacing should be a little away from the reef, so the boat can safely pick you up, as it cannot maneuver while divers are boarding. 

What to watch out for when Practicing Drift Diving in Hurghada?

Here are some tips to consider when drift diving in Hurghada:

• On dive sites having strong currents, you should stay near the reef during the dive.
• Stay close to your dive buddy and your group.
• Stay at the same depth as your dive guide\buddy when scuba diving near a deep wall.
• Before drift diving in Hurghada, you should have excellent buoyancy control.
• Surfacing further from the reef without a buoy is a very bad idea, because a boat may pass by.
• After surfacing, ensure to follow the instructions of the boat’s crew.

Dive Sites Suitable for Drift Diving in Hurghada

Several dive sites are particularly well suited for drift diving in Hurghada, offering favorable currents, extensive reef systems, and stunning underwater landscapes. Here are some of the best dive sites suitable for drift diving in Hurghada in the Red Sea:

• North Umm Gamar.
• El Fanadir Deep South.
• Shaab Pinky.
• Shaab Alex.
• Fandira.
• Erg Somaya.
• North Abu Ramada.
• Shaab Ayman – Erg Abu Ramada.
• Shaab Adel.