How to Snorkel the Red Sea Without Harming It

The reefs of the Red Sea are among the healthiest and most beautiful in the world — and keeping them that way is partly up to the people who visit them. Good snorkeling isn't just about what you see; it's about how lightly you move through it. Here's how our dive guides do it.

Master your buoyancy

The single biggest thing you can do for a reef is not touch it. A fin kick that stirs up sand, a steadying hand on the coral — small contacts add up to real damage over thousands of visitors. Stay horizontal, keep your fins up and behind you, and hover rather than stand. If you're new to it, tell your guide; they'll help you find your balance in the shallows first.

Never feed the fish

It's tempting, and it's harmful. Feeding changes fish behaviour, skews the reef's delicate balance, and habituates animals to people in ways that don't end well for them. On every Ptah boat, the rule is simple: look, don't feed.

Sunscreen matters

Many common sunscreens contain chemicals that harm coral. We ask everyone to use reef-safe, mineral-based sunscreen — or better still, cover up with a rash guard and let the shirt do the work. What goes on your skin ends up in the water.

Where to find quiet water

The famous sites are famous for a reason, but they get busy. Near Sharm especially, there are quieter reefs where you'll share the water with almost no one — our guides know them, and how to time a trip so you get the reef closer to yourself. A calmer reef is a better reef, for you and for it.