Diving And Snorkeling To Ras Mohamed And White Island By VIP Boat

Ras Mohamed is the real prize here: clear Red Sea water, coral gardens, and fish flashing through the shallows. I like the mix of snorkeling and a short scuba session, plus the chance to step onto White Island, a tiny sandbar that feels wonderfully odd in the middle of the sea. The included lunch, drinks, and hotel pickup make the $50 price easy to understand.

I also like that beginners get a basic lesson before trying the equipment, and that the boat makes two water stops rather than rushing you through one. The trade-off is simple: this is an introductory scuba experience, not a full certification course, and White Island can get crowded when several boats arrive together. Wind and cold water can also affect the day.

Key points to know before booking

• Two different water stops: You get time for snorkeling and a separate stop for the included 15-minute beginner scuba session.
• A tiny White Island sandbar: Expect shallow water and walking as much as swimming, with the sandbar measuring roughly 20 meters in one review.
• Good value at $50: Hotel transport, lunch, coffee, tea, water, soft drinks, equipment for the scuba session, and instruction are included.
• Bring €5 in cash: The Ras Mohamed National Park charge is paid separately on the boat.
• Small enough to feel manageable: The maximum group size is 30 people, though the exact number on your departure can vary.
• Weather matters: The trip can be changed or refunded if poor weather makes the outing unsafe or unsuitable.

A full day on the Red Sea for $50

This is an eight-hour outing built around simple pleasures: sun, salt water, fish, a boat ride, and lunch on deck. At $50 per person, it offers more than a basic transfer to a snorkeling site because the package also includes a guided scuba tryout and a stop at White Island.

I would see this as a good-value introduction to the Red Sea rather than a serious expedition. You are not signing up for several long underwater sessions or a formal scuba qualification. You are signing up for a relaxed day with several activities, helpful instruction, and very little planning once you are collected from your hotel.

The advertised start time is 8:00 a.m., and hotel pickup is offered. You will ride to the port, board the waiting boat, and head out from Sharm el Sheikh toward Ras Mohamed National Park. Allow yourself a flexible morning, since transport and boarding are part of the day even though the listed duration is about eight hours.

The boat can carry up to 30 people. That is not a private cruise, but it is also not an enormous floating party boat. A spacious, clean boat and a polite crew were singled out as strong points, so the setting should suit you if you want company without giving up all sense of room.

Leaving Sharm el Sheikh for Ras Mohamed

The trip begins with a sea crossing from Sharm el Sheikh toward Ras Mohamed. The boat ride gives you time to settle in, listen to the instructors, and look out over the Red Sea before the water activities begin.

The crew includes a snorkeling guide and a scuba instructor. That matters for beginners, since the first step is not simply being handed equipment and pointed overboard. You receive a basic introduction before the short scuba session. One person who felt nervous was encouraged by the guides and managed to take part, while another correctly noted that anyone who panics at the thought of going underwater may be better served by a proper PADI introductory course.

That distinction is important. A crash lesson can help you try scuba in a controlled holiday setting, but it is not a substitute for structured training. I would book this if you are curious and reasonably comfortable in water. If you already know you are anxious about breathing underwater, do not treat the experience as a test of courage. Snorkeling is a perfectly good reason to join the boat.

The equipment for the 15-minute scuba session is included. Snorkeling equipment can be rented on site, so check the rental arrangement before you board if you do not have your own mask and fins. The supplied details do not give a rental price, so carry some extra money if you need gear.

Ras Mohamed’s coral and fish

Ras Mohamed National Park is the main underwater attraction. The water is described as clear and bright, with coral reefs and plenty of colorful fish. Angelfish and butterflyfish may appear among the reef life, offering the kind of quick flashes of color that make even a short swim worthwhile.

You get two water stops during the trip. The exact order and timing may vary, but the day is designed to give you both a snorkeling stop and the guided scuba experience. One stop may feel good, while the second can be even better depending on visibility, current, and where the boat anchors that day.

I like this two-stop format because it gives you a second chance. If you are still finding your rhythm with the mask at the first location, you have another opportunity later. It also helps split the day into manageable sections rather than asking you to spend one long stretch in the water.

The included scuba session lasts 15 minutes, so keep expectations realistic. Fifteen minutes can be enough to see reef life close up and understand how the equipment feels, but it passes quickly. One useful criticism of the outing was that the scuba portion felt too short and focused heavily on taking photographs. If underwater pictures matter to you, there may be an optional photo and video package, but one price mentioned was €50 for scuba photos. That is a sizeable extra, so decide in advance how much the memory is worth to you.

The snorkeling may be the better part of the day for some people. You can move at your own pace, stay near the surface, and spend more time watching fish without the added equipment or brief training period. If you are comfortable snorkeling, do not assume the scuba stop is automatically the highlight.

White Island, a sandbar in the sea

White Island is a striking change of pace. Rather than another reef stop, it gives you dry ground and a chance to wade, swim, and walk through shallow water. One account described the island as a sandbar about 20 meters long, so do not picture a large beach with shade, facilities, or room to escape the crowd.

The sand is the attraction. Seen from the boat, a pale strip surrounded by blue water makes a memorable stop, and the shallow approach can be fun for people who prefer not to spend the entire day floating in deeper water. You may swim part of the way, then walk once the water becomes shallow enough.

The main drawback is crowding. Several boats can arrive at the same time, turning the small sandbar into a busy photo stop. If you want a quiet desert-island moment, this may disappoint. If you treat it as a brief, unusual stop in the middle of the Red Sea, it makes more sense.

Bring sandals or water shoes if you have them, though the supplied details do not list them as required equipment. You should also protect your phone and other belongings around the water. The outing description does not promise lockers or dry storage, so keep valuables to a minimum.

Lunch, drinks, and time on deck

After the first water activities, lunch is served on the boat. It is described as a fresh-cooked buffet with plentiful portions, and the food received generally positive marks. Coffee, tea, water, and soft drinks are included, along with seasonal fruit after lunch.

This is one of the practical strengths of the package. You do not need to leave the sea early to find a restaurant, and you can eat while remaining close to the day’s main activity. The meal will not be the reason to book the tour, but it turns the boat into a comfortable base between stops.

I would still bring anything specific you need, especially if you have dietary requirements, since no special menu information is provided. The boat offers drinks throughout the day, which is useful in the Egyptian sun. You should drink regularly even if you do not feel thirsty.

The boat itself is described as clean, spacious, and comfortable. That makes a difference on an eight-hour trip. You will have periods of waiting, eating, drying off, and sailing, so a pleasant deck is nearly as important as the water stops.

What the $50 price really covers

The $50 price is strong for a full day if you use the included elements. Hotel pickup and return remove the need to arrange separate transport to the port. You also receive the boat trip, a snorkeling guide, a scuba instructor, lunch, drinks, and equipment for the included 15-minute scuba session.

The one required extra is the Ras Mohamed National Park fee, listed as €5 per person and paid in cash on the boat. That is a small addition, but it is exactly the sort of cost worth knowing about before leaving your hotel.

Snorkeling equipment is not clearly included in the same way as the scuba equipment. You can rent it on site, so ask about the arrangement when booking or at the port. If you already have a mask and fins, bringing them may keep the day simpler.

Optional photographs and video can add a noticeable amount. One package was priced at €50 for scuba photos and €20 for photos at the island. You do not have to buy them. I would set a firm budget before the trip, since a low-cost excursion can become less low-cost when extras are offered enthusiastically.

Who should book this boat trip

I would recommend it to you if you want a broad Red Sea day without committing to a full scuba course. It suits couples, families with participants who can swim, and first-time snorkelers who like the reassurance of an instructor nearby.

It is also a good choice if you want variety. You will not spend the whole day doing one thing. The schedule combines a boat ride, reef viewing, beginner scuba, a sandbar stop, lunch, and free time on deck.

You may want another option if your main goal is serious scuba practice. The included session is only 15 minutes, and the short format may leave experienced divers wanting more. You should also think twice if you dislike group outings, crowded photo stops, or open-water conditions.

The maximum group size is 30 people, and most people can participate, but the activity still depends on good weather. Wind can make the boat ride less pleasant, and cold conditions can make time in the water uncomfortable. If the operator cancels because of poor weather, you are offered another date or a full refund.

For normal cancellations, you can cancel for a full refund up to 24 hours before the local start time. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not refunded.

Simple preparation for a better day

Wear a swimsuit beneath light clothing and bring sun protection. A towel, hat, sunglasses, and a dry change of clothes are sensible for a full day around salt water, though only some of these items are specifically listed by the operator.

Carry cash for the €5 park fee and possible snorkeling equipment rental. Keep extra spending in mind if you are tempted by photographs. You may also want a small waterproof pouch for cash and a phone, but do not assume the boat provides secure storage.

If you are trying scuba for the first time, tell the instructor clearly how comfortable you feel. The basic lesson is useful, but you should never feel pressured to continue if the breathing equipment or underwater setting feels wrong. You can still enjoy the snorkeling stops and White Island.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if you want an affordable, active day from Sharm el Sheikh with plenty of variety. The combination of Ras Mohamed, two water stops, a short guided scuba session, White Island, lunch, drinks, and transfers gives you a lot for $50.

I would not book it expecting a private yacht, a quiet sandbar, or a full scuba qualification. The best fit is someone who wants to sample the Red Sea in one day, values helpful staff and simple transport, and accepts that weather, crowds, and a short scuba session are part of the deal.

FAQ

How long is the Ras Mohamed and White Island trip?

The boat trip lasts approximately eight hours, with an advertised start time of 8:00 a.m.

Is hotel pickup included?

Yes. Hotel pickup and return transport are included, with an air-conditioned vehicle taking you to and from the port.

What is included in the $50 price?

The price includes the boat trip, hotel transport, a snorkeling guide, a scuba instructor, lunch, coffee, tea, water, soft drinks, one 15-minute scuba stop, and scuba equipment.

Is snorkeling equipment included?

Snorkeling equipment can be rented on site. The supplied tour details do not state the rental price.

Do I need to pay a national park fee?

Yes. The Ras Mohamed National Park fee is €5 per person and must be paid in cash on the boat.

Can a beginner try scuba on this tour?

Yes. The tour includes a basic introduction and a guided 15-minute scuba session. It is not a formal PADI course.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you are offered a different date or a full refund. For personal cancellations, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.