This spot has been added by

Bruno56
Bruno56

16 spots added - 601 photos shared

Other contributors You can help us keep this page up-to-date by uploading your pictures to the photo gallery, or by sending us your comments via the contact form

Last updated on

Located on the Egyptian Red Sea coast, the Utopia Beach Club boasts a nice house reef. Opposite the hotel’s beach stretches a preserved coral reef, interspersed with a pass, which can be snorkeled from the shore. On its drop-offs and reef flats, you will encounter angelfish, lionfish, stingrays, moray eels, tentacled flathead… among hundreds of other colorful species.

Utopia Beach Club
Utopia Beach Club beach gives access to a shallow, extensive coral reef.

How to get to Utopia Beach Club snorkeling spot?

The Utopia Beach Club Hotel is located near El Quseir, a coastal town in eastern Egypt. It is less than an hour’s drive from Marsa Alam Airport and approximately 3 hours by bus / 2 hours by car from Hurghada Airport.

Access to this spot is reserved for guests of Utopia Beach Club and Pensee Royal Garden, the neighboring hotel, who share the same beach.

Utopia Beach Club snorkeling map

Water entrance for snorkeling Utopia Beach Club

The reef flat (zone 1 on the map) is accessible directly from the hotel beach. This area is to be explored at high tide, when there’s enough depth on the reef.

To explore the drop-offs (zones 2 and 3 on the map) enter the water through the pass to the left of the jetty, where a few boats are moored. Then follow the reef edge to the right or left.

Emperor angelfish at Utopia Beach Club
Among the many colorful fish species you may spot at this location is the emperor angelfish.

Utopia Beach Club snorkeling exploration tips

Two main areas are recommended for snorkeling at Utopia Beach Club:

1 / The reef flat found in front of the hotel beach.

This shallow area (↕2-3ft/0.5-1m), covered with coral, is interspersed with several pools “dug” into the reef. It is the ideal location for beginners, as the sea is generally very calm here. Many fish can be seen here including butterflyfish, pufferfish, and damselfish.

Utopia Beach Club reef flat
Some areas of the shallow reef flat host a high density of hard coral (in the center of the image, a spot-fin porcupinefish).

2 / The reef drop-offs extending to the north and south of the pass (zones 2 and 3 on the map)

After entering the water from the pass near the pontoon, follow the reef edge to the left or to the right. Take into account the current, predominantly north-south. The drop-offs, which form the outer part of the reef, are home to the most spectacular underwater life at this spot. They are covered with rather well-preserved corals, in which are hidden colorful maxima clams.

As you explore the drop-offs, you will come across many colorful fish, such as the Red Sea bannerfish, several species of butterflyfish, the emperor angelfish, and the regal angelfish. Broomtail wrasse, Arabian Picasso triggerfish, and Sohal surgeonfish are also common here, among dozens of other species.

Crocodilefish at Utopia Beach Club
A tentacled flathead found on the sandy beds.

In sandy areas, where lionfish are abundant, you may also be lucky enough to encounter a bluespotted stingray or a tentacled flathead.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

The Utopia Beach Club and the Pensee Royal Garden are the only two hotels located in the bay, in front of the spot.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth3ft on the reef flat, +30ft on the drop-off
  • Water entranceFrom a beach
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersMedium
  • Access costsAccess to the spot is for guests of the hotels only
  • Restaurants nearbyYes

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.