From Sharm: Luxury Diving cruise to Ras Mohammed with Lunch

Ras Mohammed is the reason to book this trip: its clear water, coral reefs, and sea life give you a close look at one of South Sinai’s best-known marine areas. I like the choice between one or two underwater sessions and the chance for non-swimmers to stay involved with snorkeling and the boat day.

I also like that the day includes hotel pickup, a professional instructor, lunch, and unlimited drinks. The main caution is checking your booking option and add-ons carefully. Equipment and the mandatory €5 marina fee may not be included, and two recent bookings had disagreements over how many sessions were paid for.

Key points at a glance

• Ras Mohammed by yacht: Expect about 1.5 hours of sailing and scenic views before the main water activities.
• One or two sessions: Beginners receive an introduction of up to 15 minutes, while experienced participants usually spend about 40 minutes underwater.
• A useful surface break: The roughly 90-minute interval includes snacks, drinks, and time for snorkeling.
• Lunch stays on board: You do not need to leave the boat for the midday meal.
• Clear booking details matter: Equipment, snorkeling gear, and the €5 marina entrance fee can depend on your selected option or add-ons.
• Pickup is shared: You should receive the exact hotel pickup time by WhatsApp 24 hours before departure.

Why Ras Mohammed makes this six-hour trip worthwhile

I like this outing because it gives you access to a famous marine park without requiring a full liveaboard trip or a specialist scuba schedule. You leave Sharm El Sheikh in the morning, spend the main part of the day on a boat, and return after several hours around the reefs.

The water is described as clear, and the main appeal is seeing coral and marine life at close range. The trip is not only for certified scuba participants. If you are new to the activity, the instructor can lead an introduction lasting up to 15 minutes. If you have more experience, your underwater time is usually around 40 minutes.

That difference matters. Beginners should think of this as a supervised introduction rather than a full technical session. Experienced participants should read the selected option closely, since the number of sessions is chosen during booking and extra sessions can be added before checkout.

The tour has a 4.3 rating from 31 bookings, with particularly strong praise for the friendly instructors, smooth timing, and the underwater experience. One participant described an instructor who guided and held their hands throughout the session, which gives a useful idea of the close supervision available to newcomers.

From Sharm El Sheikh to the marina

Your day begins with pickup from your hotel reception in a shared bus. The transfer to the diving center takes about 35 minutes, though the pickup itself is scheduled roughly one hour before the trip. The exact time is sent by WhatsApp 24 hours before departure, so keep your phone active and check the message before bed.

At the center, you complete paperwork and are fitted with equipment if it is included in your chosen package. This is the moment to confirm exactly what you paid for. Check the number of sessions, equipment, snorkeling gear, and marina entrance fee before leaving shore.

The mandatory marina fee is €5 per person. You can pay it on arrival or prepay it as an add-on. At $54, the headline price can be good value, but your final cost depends on these extras. A low advertised price is less useful if you discover at the marina that essential gear or entry charges were excluded.

The staff can provide instruction in English, Russian, Italian, or German. No individual instructor names are provided in the booking details, so if you need a particular language, confirm it before departure rather than assuming it will be available on every boat.

The 1.5-hour sail toward Ras Mohammed

Once aboard, the yacht heads toward Ras Mohammed National Park. The sailing portion takes about 1.5 hours and gives you time to settle in, look over the water, and enjoy the South Sinai coast from offshore.

This is not a fast transfer. If you want six hours packed with nonstop activity, the boat time may feel long. I see it differently: the sailing creates a calmer rhythm, with the main effort saved for the water. Bring sunscreen, a towel, swimwear, and a camera, but protect your phone and camera from spray.

The boat serves unlimited drinks, and light snacks are available during the surface break. You should still bring a few snacks of your own, especially if you prefer something specific or have a long morning before lunch.

Your first underwater session

The first stop is in Ras Mohammed, where the appeal is the clear water and coral reef setting. A professional instructor accompanies you, which is important for anyone who has never tried scuba before.

For a beginner, the introduction can last up to 15 minutes. That is enough to get a first taste of breathing underwater and seeing marine life nearby, but it is not a long reef exploration. You should arrive with realistic expectations. The instructor’s guidance and safety support are more important here than covering a large area.

An experienced participant usually gets around 40 minutes underwater. Actual time can depend on conditions, comfort, air supply, and the selected activity. The program presents this as an average, not a guarantee.

You must not touch marine life. That rule protects the coral and the animals, and it also helps you move calmly through the water. Follow the instructor’s directions, stay with the group, and avoid treating the reef like an underwater photo studio.

The 90-minute surface interval

After the first session, you return to the yacht for about 90 minutes. This is one of the more useful parts of the schedule because it gives your body time to rest before the second water activity.

You can have light snacks and drinks, and snorkeling is available during this interval. Non-divers can use this time to snorkel, swim if suitable, or simply stay on deck. The trip includes snorkeling for non-divers, but snorkeling equipment can depend on the add-on you choose, so check the package before you go.

The pause also gives you a chance to dry off and eat something small before lunch. I would use it to confirm the timing of the next session with the crew, especially if you selected two. The schedule includes several moving parts, and clear communication prevents avoidable confusion.

The second reef stop and lunch aboard

If you choose the two-session option, the yacht travels to a second site. This gives you a different setting and another chance to see coral, fish, and other underwater life rather than repeating the first stop.

The second stop is also scheduled for snorkeling and marine-life viewing. Some outings have included White Island, which one booking described as a beautiful extra stop. Treat that as a possible part of a particular departure, not a guaranteed feature of every booking, since the core program is centered on Ras Mohammed.

Lunch is served on board before the return journey. It is described as a buffet, and one participant particularly enjoyed the food. Another found the food and drinks poor, so I would keep expectations sensible. This is convenient boat lunch, not a restaurant meal, and the quality may vary by departure.

The practical advantage is strong: you do not lose time going ashore, and you can eat while staying close to the day’s water activities. If you have dietary needs, the supplied details do not specify special menus, so ask before booking.

What the $54 price really includes

At $54 per person, this trip can offer solid value for a half-day yacht outing. You are paying for hotel pickup, the boat ride, instructor support, lunch, and drinks. The chance to choose one or two sessions also makes it easier to match the price to your interest.

The value is best for someone who wants a guided introduction or a relaxed reef day rather than a private charter. A shared bus and shared yacht keep the price down, but they also mean less control over the schedule and less personal space.

Read the option details line by line. The listing says equipment is included if selected as an add-on, and the same may apply to snorkeling gear and the marina fee. The €5 marina charge is mandatory, so budget for it if it is not already prepaid.

There have been serious complaints about mismatched expectations over one-session and two-session packages. One booking reported paying for an introduction session but being told it was not included, while another described a delay before receiving the second session. These accounts do not prove that every departure has the same problem, but they make one piece of advice essential: save a screenshot of the exact option you purchased and show it at the center before the boat leaves.

Also ask what counts as an introduction session. The published duration is up to 15 minutes for beginners, and actual time may be shorter. One complaint described sessions lasting about 10 minutes instead. If duration matters to you, clarify it before entering the water.

The photo and video sales issue

An underwater photographer may offer pictures or videos during the activity. That can be a nice souvenir, but you should ask the price before agreeing to the service.

One booking described a very high charge of £120 and felt the images were not worth it. Another complaint focused on staged poses rather than natural photographs. I would not assume photos are included in the $54 price. Bring your own camera if permitted, and decide in advance how much you are willing to spend on professional images.

This small step can prevent an awkward sales conversation at the end of an otherwise enjoyable day.

Who should book this Ras Mohammed trip

I would recommend it to:

• First-time participants who want an instructor beside them
• Experienced scuba participants who want one or two reef sessions
• Couples or small groups with mixed interests, since snorkeling and the boat are available for non-divers
• People staying in Sharm El Sheikh who want a marine park outing without booking a longer cruise
• Visitors who value included transport, lunch, and drinks

You should think twice if you have back, heart, or respiratory problems. The activity is also not suitable for non-swimmers. Anyone with a medical concern should seek professional advice before booking, since the supplied information specifically excludes several health conditions.

This is not a good choice if you want a private boat, a guaranteed quiet reef, or a fully customized schedule. Ras Mohammed can become crowded with tour boats, particularly around popular stops. The experience is shaped by the shared group and the day’s operating plan.

Timing, comfort, and what to pack

The full outing lasts about six hours. The rough sequence is 35 minutes by road, about 1.5 hours sailing to the park, several hours for snorkeling, underwater sessions, lunch, and marine-life viewing, then about one hour sailing back toward Sharm El Sheikh.

Bring swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, a camera, and snacks. I would also pack a light cover-up for the boat ride, though that item is not specifically required. Keep valuables to a minimum and use a waterproof pouch for anything you take near the water.

The shared pickup is practical but not precise enough for people with tight evening plans. I would leave room after the stated return time, since the day includes boat movement, group organization, and the return transfer.

The yacht is listed as wheelchair accessible, but the water activities themselves require swimming ability and physical comfort. If you use a wheelchair, confirm how boarding and equipment transfer will work before booking, since accessibility for the boat does not automatically mean every activity is suitable.

Cancellation and booking flexibility

You can cancel up to 24 hours before the activity for a full refund. The reserve-now, pay-later option also helps if your Sharm El Sheikh plans are still changing.

That flexibility is useful, but it does not replace careful option checking. Before payment, verify the number of sessions, the equipment charge, snorkeling gear, and the marina fee. Save the confirmation on your phone and carry a screenshot on the morning of departure.

Should you book it?

I would book this trip if you want an affordable, guided day on the water and you are comfortable with a shared schedule. The strongest reasons are the Ras Mohammed setting, the choice of one or two sessions, close instructor support for beginners, and the convenience of lunch and drinks aboard.

I would book with extra care if the exact underwater time matters to you or if you are buying for two people. Confirm the package at the center, keep proof of purchase, and ask about the €5 fee before boarding.

The trip offers good potential value at $54, but it is not completely carefree. You are choosing a budget-friendly group outing, not a private charter. For many people, the clear water, coral, instructor support, and easy hotel pickup will make that a fair trade. For others, the possibility of crowds, inconsistent meal quality, or confusion over add-ons may be enough reason to choose a different boat.

FAQ

How long does the Ras Mohammed trip last?

The activity lasts six hours. The plan includes hotel pickup, a road transfer of about 35 minutes, sailing to Ras Mohammed, water activities, lunch, and the return journey to Sharm El Sheikh.

How many underwater sessions can I choose?

You can select either one or two sessions from the available trip options. Extra sessions may also be available as add-ons before checkout.

How long is a beginner introduction?

An introduction for a beginner can last up to 15 minutes. This is a supervised first experience rather than the same format as the approximately 40-minute session offered to experienced participants.

Is snorkeling available for non-divers?

Yes. Snorkeling is available for non-divers, including during the surface interval. Snorkeling equipment may need to be selected as an add-on.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is served on board the yacht, along with unlimited drinks. Personal expenses are not included.

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 selection.

What languages can the instructor speak?

Instruction is available in English, Russian, Italian, and German.