Level: Resort nearby
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Garden Bay, bordered by a 1500 meters-long fringing reef, is one of the most extensive snorkeling locations in Sharm el-Sheikh. Accessed easily by boat or from different resort’s jetties, the reef can be snorkeled at several spots, each with plenty to see. In addition to reef fish, which are easy to observe, you may be lucky enough to encounter a barracuda or Napoleon on the drop-off.
Garden Bay snorkeling spot extends over nearly 1500m of coastline and includes three locations: Near Garden, Middle Garden and Far Garden, named after their distance from Naama Bay. Each of these sites has different access:
At this location, the water entrance is from pontoons, which allows access to the drop-off without damaging the coral. If you are on a snorkeling tour, you will enter the water from your boat.
Garden Bay reef features a pretty linear drop-off, except at Middle Garden, where the reef flat extends in steps towards the open sea, forming pools in the reef flat as well as several patch reefs.
The coral is in variable condition, quite damaged in the most crowded areas (especially in the central part of Middle Garden and next to the pontoons), and healthier in more deep and remote areas. The reef mostly features hard corals and fire coral.
Garden Bay is home to a great diversity of fish, including very common reef fish such as butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish and surgeonfish. In the blue, you might be lucky enough to encounter a barracuda or a Napoleon, which regularly visit the bay.
Several beachfront resorts face the reef and provide direct access to the snorkeling area: Park Regency Sharm El Sheikh Resort, Continental Garden Reef Resort, Continental Plaza Beach Resort, Reef Oasis Blue Bay Resort and Sharm Plaza Hotel.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.