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Snorkeling at Princess Beach in Eilat, Israel, offers a captivating underwater experience. Located by the Gulf of Aqaba, just a little over a mile south of Eilat, Princess Beach is one of Israel’s most visited snorkeling spot.

Princess Beach is renowned for its thriving coral reefs, showcasing an array of coral species in various shapes and colors.

The Red Sea’s warm and clear waters provide excellent visibility, making it easy to appreciate the marine beauty beneath the surface.

Its free and easy access make it a perfect spot for both beginners and seasoned snorkelers. Around the piers and coral patches, snorkelers can spot a wide diversity of reef fish, including schools of sergeants, lionfish, clownfish in their anemone, butterflyfish and surgeons.

Princess Beach in Eilat promises an enchanting snorkeling adventure in a picturesque marine setting, making it a popular destination for snorkelers and nature enthusiasts.

View of Princess Beach and its southern pier.
View of Princess Beach and its southern pier.

How to go snorkeling at Princess Beach

Princess Beach is located by the Gulf of Aqaba at the southernmost point of Israel. Only a few hundred yards from the Israeli-Egyptian border, the beach is opposite the abandoned Princess Hotel.

Access to this spot is by public buses, taxis or cars. Parking space seems limited overall. The bus ride takes approximately 20 min from the downtown hotel area in Eilat. There is no entrance fee.

Princess Beach snorkeling map, Eilat

Water entrance for snorkeling Princess Beach

The water entrance is directly from the beach, or by the two old piers that are located on the beach. Be aware that the piers may be partly closed due to poor maintenance and should be used with some caution.

The piers tend to be the easiest way to access the water and are interesting snorkeling areas in their own right. Again, just use caution on the piers. Look out for urchins if you walk into the water directly from the beach.

Princess Beach snorkeling exploration tips

The snorkeling area extends along the beach, which is approximately 550 yards long. It encompasses the two piers set on the beach.

Reef fish in Princess Beach
Many fish gather around the piers, such as this rusty parrotfish. A broomtail wrasse is also hiding below the last step (partially visible).

From the beach, the sand slopes gently onto large sandy beds, scattered with many coral patches (↕6-12ft). We advise you to look for the different reef patches located along the beach, where the coral is healthy and the fish gather.

White stonefish in Princess Beach
A surprisingly white stonefish encountered on the flat, near the beach.

The best reef patches are located north of the northern pier. Also, check out the two piers areas. There are plenty of different species of fish hiding under the piers that have coral growing from the foundations. The depth at the end of the piers is around 12-15ft.

A lionfish sheltering near the pier.
A lionfish sheltering near the pier.

The most common fish species that can be seen at Princess Beach include green chromis, yellowtail surgeonfish, and lionfish.  Different species of parrotfish and butterflyfish, sea goldie, the Red Sea clownfish, the Red Sea bannerfish, are also in the area along with many more types of fish.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

There is sometimes a small kiosk for renting sunbeds, buying drinks or ice cream on Princess Beach. Several seafront hotels and diving clubs are available along the coast, especially in Coral Beach area.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth15ft/5m
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach or piers
  • Potential DangersSea urchins and lionfish, sometimes close to shore
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersMedium
  • Access costsFree

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

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.