Submarine Sharm El Sheikh: What to Expect on a Semi-Submarine Trip

Quick answer: the submarine in Sharm El Sheikh is a semi-submarine. You sit in a glass cabin below the waterline and watch the reef and fish without getting wet. Our semi-submarine trip is from £65 with hotel pickup. A cheaper option is the glass bottom boat from £30. Compare all Sharm El Sheikh sea trips.

Thinking about a submarine trip in Sharm El Sheikh and wondering what to expect? This guide explains it plainly. The trip we sell is a semi-submarine boat. The top part of the boat stays on the surface, and below the waterline there is a viewing cabin with large windows. You sit in that cabin and watch the coral reef and fish go past, without getting wet. It is not a real submarine and it does not dive deep, so it suits people who want to see the underwater Sharm El Sheikh world but do not want to snorkel or dive. Below we cover how the submarine tour Sharm El Sheikh trip works, what you may see, the real prices and how to book it from your hotel in Sharm.

A lot of visitors are curious about the reef but are not strong swimmers, or they are travelling with small children or older relatives. A semi-submarine is a simple answer to that. You stay seated, the boat moves slowly over the reef, and you look out through the glass. It is a calm, family-friendly way to see corals and reef fish up close. We want you to know exactly what you are booking, so this page sticks to what the trip really is and does not dress it up as something bigger. If you want a closer look at the underwater Sharm El Sheikh reefs, snorkeling or an intro dive are the other options, and we mention them below.

Trip in this guideSemi-Submarine Trip in Sharm El Sheikh: Underwater Viewing CabinFrom £65 · small deposit onlineSee trip →

Submarine in Sharm El Sheikh: What to Expect on a Semi-Submarine Trip

Many trips sold as a “submarine” in Sharm El Sheikh are in fact semi-submarines, and ours is one of them. We think it is better to say so clearly. Here is how the trip works and what makes it a good choice for some travellers and a less good choice for others.

The Boat: A Semi-Submarine with an Underwater Viewing Cabin

A semi-submarine looks like a normal boat on top, with a deck where you can sit in the open air. The difference is the lower part. It has a cabin that sits below the surface, lined with windows on both sides. When the boat reaches the reef, you go down into this cabin and look out at the corals and fish at eye level. The boat itself never goes fully under the water. Because it stays at the surface, it can only show you what is in the shallow part of the reef, which is where much of the colour and fish life is anyway. Think of it as a moving window on the reef rather than a deep-sea vessel. This is the honest picture of a Red Sea submarine trip in Sharm.

Who Explains What You See

The crew on board usually point out fish and corals as you pass over the reef, so you know what you are looking at. How much commentary you get, and in which language, can depend on the boat and the day. If commentary in a certain language matters to you, ask us on WhatsApp before you book and we will tell you what to expect. It also helps to read a little about Red Sea reef fish before the trip. Knowing the names of a few common species makes it more fun to spot them through the window during your Sharm El Sheikh semi-submarine trip.

Comfort on Board: What the Cabin Is Like

The viewing cabin has seats along the windows, so you can sit and watch rather than stand. It is a shared boat, so you will be with other guests, and on busy days you may need to take turns at the best windows. The cabin is below the waterline, so people who feel uneasy in small spaces can always go back up to the open deck. Bring water, a hat and sun cream for the time on deck. We do not promise snacks or drinks on board, so if you want refreshments, ask us on WhatsApp what is available on the day of your submarine tour Sharm El Sheikh trip.

What You Might See: Reef Life in the Red Sea

The Red Sea is well known for its coral reefs and clear water, and the reefs near Sharm El Sheikh are home to many kinds of fish. From the windows of the semi-submarine you get a good, close view of the shallow reef. What you see on a given day depends on the weather, the light and the fish themselves.

Coral Reefs Up Close

The reefs around Sharm have both hard and soft corals. Through the windows you may see rounded brain corals, branching corals and soft corals moving in the current. Each coral head is home to small fish, shrimps and other animals. Seeing the reef from the side, at eye level, gives a different feel from looking down from a glass-bottom boat. Clear, calm days give the best view, so a morning trip can be a good choice when the sea is often flatter. This is one of the simplest ways to enjoy the underwater Sharm El Sheikh scenery if you prefer to stay dry.

Fish You May Spot

Reef fish are the main show on a Red Sea submarine trip. Common sights include schools of small blue fish, angelfish, butterflyfish and parrotfish. Lionfish are often seen resting near the coral. Bigger animals such as turtles do live in these waters, but sightings are a matter of luck and we cannot promise them. Keep your camera ready but switch off the flash, as it reflects on the glass. Photos through the window work best when you hold the lens close to the glass.

Trip in this guideGlass Bottom Boat Sharm El Sheikh: See the Coral Reef Without Getting WetFrom £30 · small deposit onlineSee trip →

How the Trip Works from Your Hotel in Sharm El Sheikh

Our Sharm El Sheikh submarine trip is booked for guests staying in Sharm El Sheikh. Here is a simple outline of the day.

Getting There: Pickup from Your Hotel

Pickup and drop-off details, including whether transfers are included for your hotel area, are shown on the trip page. If anything is unclear, send us your hotel name on WhatsApp and we will confirm the pickup time and place before your trip. Please be ready in the hotel lobby a few minutes before the pickup time, as the driver may also be collecting other guests on the way. This makes your submarine trip from Sharm El Sheikh hotels easy to plan.

Trip Length and Departure Times

Departure times and how long you spend on the boat can change with the season and the sea conditions. We do not want to quote a fixed time here that may not match your day, so please check the trip page or ask us on WhatsApp for the current schedule. In rough weather the boat may not sail, and in that case we will contact you about a new date. Planning a little spare time in your day helps your Sharm El Sheikh semi-submarine trip run smoothly.

Semi-Submarine Trip Prices and What We Can Confirm

We prefer to be clear about the price and only list what we can confirm. Below are the current prices from our booking form, in pounds sterling.

Current Prices

The Red Sea submarine tour costs £65 per adult and £40 per child. Age rules for the child price are shown on the trip page, or you can ask us on WhatsApp. You book online with a minimum 30% deposit, and you pay the rest in cash on the day. If you book two trips together, the deposit is 50%. Prices can change, so the trip page always shows the current price.

What to Expect on the Day

Here is what you can expect from the semi-submarine trip from Sharm El Sheikh:

• Hotel Pickup: Check the trip page for transfer details, or ask us on WhatsApp with your hotel name.
• Semi-Submarine Boat: A boat with an underwater viewing cabin. It stays at the surface and does not dive.
• Crew on Board: The crew run the boat and often point out reef life as you pass.
• Food and Drinks: Not confirmed for every trip. Ask us on WhatsApp before the day.
• Window Views: See corals and reef fish through the cabin windows.
• Family-Friendly: No swimming or diving needed. You stay dry in the cabin or on deck.

This is a shared trip, so you will be on the boat with other guests. If you want a boat just for your group, look at our private speedboat trip (from £250 per boat, up to 4 people, snorkeling at sea) or the glass-bottom boat trip (£30 adult, £20 child, no swimming) for another dry way to see the reef.

Trip in this guidePrivate Speedboat Trip in Sharm El Sheikh: Snorkeling for Your GroupFrom £250 · small deposit onlineSee trip →

Why Book Your Underwater Sharm El Sheikh Trip with PyraSafari?

There are many places to book a semi-submarine in Sharm. Here is what we offer and how we work.

Clear Information Before You Book

We focus on trips from Sharm El Sheikh, and we try to describe each one as it really is. That is why this page says “semi-submarine” and lists the actual price in pounds. If you are not sure whether this trip, snorkeling or a glass-bottom boat suits your group best, message us on WhatsApp or email info@pyrasafari.com. We are happy to help you pick the right trip, even if it is a cheaper one.

Looking After the Reef

The Red Sea reefs are fragile. A semi-submarine lets you see the reef without anyone touching or standing on the coral, which is one reason it is a gentle way to visit. You can help too. Do not throw anything into the sea, use reef-safe sun cream if you swim later, and never touch or feed the fish on other trips. Small steps like these help keep the reefs healthy for the next visitors.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About the Sharm El Sheikh Submarine Trip

Here are answers to common questions about our Sharm El Sheikh submarine trip:

Q1: Is the Sharm El Sheikh submarine tour suitable for all ages?

A1: It is a calm trip that many families enjoy, because there is no swimming and you sit in the cabin or on deck. You do need to manage a few steps down into the cabin. If you have a baby, limited mobility or a health concern, ask us on WhatsApp before you book.

Q2: Is it a real submarine? How deep does it go?

A2: No. It is a semi-submarine. The boat stays on the surface and only the viewing cabin sits below the waterline. You see the shallow part of the reef through the windows, which is where many of the colourful corals and fish live.

Q3: What kind of marine life can I expect to see?

A3: Usually reef fish such as butterflyfish, angelfish, parrotfish and schools of small blue fish, plus hard and soft corals. Moray eels, turtles and bigger fish live in the area too, but sightings depend on luck and conditions, so we cannot promise them.

Q4: Do I need to know how to swim or dive?

A4: No. You stay dry inside the viewing cabin or on the deck, so no swimming or diving is needed. If you would like to get in the water instead, our Ras Mohammed snorkeling trip or an intro dive are good next steps.

Book Your Semi-Submarine Trip from Sharm El Sheikh

If you want to see the Red Sea reef without getting wet, a semi-submarine is a simple and relaxed way to do it. Now you know what to expect: a boat with an underwater viewing cabin, a slow trip over the reef, and prices of £65 per adult and £40 per child. Book your Sharm El Sheikh semi-submarine trip online with a deposit, or message us on WhatsApp with any questions about your Red Sea submarine tour.

Click Here to See the Semi-Submarine Trip Details and Book from Sharm El Sheikh