Snorkeling at Ras Nasrani Al Montazah in Sharm el Sheikh Egypt

The Ras Nasrani snorkeling site is among the most popular ones in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. With incredible coral density and high biodiversity, this shore-accessible spot offers some of the best underwater views on this coastline.

You probably know we are obsessed with the vibrant underwater world of the Red Sea and are always looking for places where the reef is exceptionally beautiful. There are only a few places where we return year after year, and this site, the Ras Nasrani, is one of them. We love that you can easily access some of the world’s most vibrant coral gardens from the shore and witness such beauty simply by floating on the surface.

If you are also thinking about visiting this snorkel spot (which we highly recommend), read this article where we summarize all the information you need to know about the Ras Nasrani, such as what you can see here, how to access it and what hotels are the best to stay nearby.

About The Ras Nasrani Snorkeling Site

The Ras Nasrani dive and snorkel site has a varied underwater landscape; its shallow, dense coral lagoons and deeper reef drop-off give home to rich marine life and majestic underwater formations that make it one of the most wonderful snorkeling spots in Sharm el Sheikh.

The actual location of this site is between the Sunrise Remal Beach and Pickalbatros Palace Resorts. When accessing it from the shore, you have two choices: the floating pontoon in front of the Sunrise Remal Beach Resort or the pontoon in front of the Pickalbatros Palace Resort.

If you approach this site from the Sunrise Remal Beach’s jetty, you need to swim to the left (the site on the right is called Ras Bob, which is also a nice spot to snorkel but not as good as the Ras Nasrani).

First, you will pass by the Sunrise’s Remal reef wall, then reach a shallow reef plate with a large sandy-bottomed bay. This is the site’s most beginner-friendly area, as it is not deep (3-6 m / 10-20 ft) and usually free of currents. Depending on the tide, you may be able to swim over the reef flat, too, which is also fully covered with corals.

Following the reef, there is a bit deeper (10-12 m / 33-40 ft) plateau with extremely dense coral covering. Here, you can decide if you turn back or continue towards the jetty of the Pickalbatros, as the plateau turns into a steep wall past the curve and also the current gets intense.

This wall reef does not strictly belong to the Ras Nasrani, but if you are an experienced snorkeler, it is worth not turning back and checking it out. The water is deep here (25+ m / 82+ ft), so you won’t be able to see the bottom, but if you swim close to the reef, you can see the coral-rich wall, and maybe spot turtles feeding on the reef or eagle rays swimming by.

How To Access The Ras Nasrani Snorkel Spot?

The easiest way to access the Ras Nasrani site is by using the floating pontoon in front of the Sunrise Remal Beach Resort, or the Pickalbatros Palace Resort’s jetty.

Non-resort guests can also access this site but cannot use the floating jetty. Past the Sunrise Remal Beach Resort, there is a public beach area where you can enter the water and reach the Ras Nasrani by swimming about 300 m to the left. There is no jetty here, so you need to swim over the reef flat, which is doable only at high tide.

What To See While Snorkeling At Ras Nasrani?

The Red Sea is famous for its healthy reefs; the corals have developed a usual high tolerance to extreme weather conditions like high temperatures, salinity, or turbidity, creating thriving gardens. No matter where you go snorkeling in Egypt, fantastic marine life is guaranteed, but some sites, like the Ras Nasrani, stand out.

You will see here massive coral structures built from hard corals such as brain, finger, fire, and table corals as well as different soft corals, including leather, bubble, and tree coral species.

Also, you can observe many different colorful fish species. There are more than 1000 reef fish species living in the Red Sea. It is impossible to list all of them, but you will surely see Parrotfish, Surgeonfish, Sergeant Majors, Picasso Triggerfish, Anemonefish aka Nemo, Butterflyfish, Angelfish, lionfish, big shoals of Bannerfish, and Sea Goldies, to mention a few.

The lively reef of the Ras Nasrani is an ideal spot to find giant sea clams in different colors. If you are lucky, you will encounter blue-spotted ribbontail stingrays and eagle rays. The rich coral gardens attract Hawksbill turtles too; these marine turtle species feed on sponges growing on coral reefs.

The Ras Nasrani Reef is connected to nutrient-rich deep sea waters through its steep drop-off; therefore, sometimes even big creatures, such as whale sharks and manta rays can be spotted here. We have not been lucky enough to see these species here so far, but it is good to remember this and be prepared for such encounters when snorkeling here.

Resorts Near Ras Nasrani Snorkeling Site

The Ras Nasrani snorkeling site is located in the Al Montazah suburb and offers various resorts. Whether you are looking for a budget-friendly medium-level hotel or a 5-star luxury resort, you will find several choices here.

Our Ras Nasrani Hotel recommendations are the following:

Sunrise Remal Beach Resort (Ex Melton Beach Resort Melia Sinai): this resort is right in front of the Ras Nasrani snorkel site, so it has the most direct access to this beautiful reef section through a short jetty. It is a 5-star, family-friendly property with tons of activity options. Budget-conscious travelers can choose to stay in the Sunrise Remal Resort, which is the non-seafront section behind the main resort, with access to the same beach.

Pickalbatros Palace Sharm (Ex Grand Cyrene Resort): just minutes away from the coastline’s best coral reefs, the Pickalbatros Palace is a popular resort in the Montazah Ras Nasrani area in Sharm el Sheikh. This complex features a wide range of facilities, including an aqua park, eleven outdoor swimming pools, a spa center, and excellent dining options that make it suit for all types of travelers.

Baron Resort Sharm el Sheikh: situated a little further up along the shore, Baron Resort is an elegant, luxurious 5-star resort. It has a fantastic, beginner-friendly house reef, while it is also possible to visit the Ras Nasrani from here, as it is so far from this resort.

Coral Sea Sensatori: those who prefer modern, contemporary resorts should check out the Coral Sea Sensatori, the most modern resort on this coastline. Staying here, you can go snorkeling at the Sensatori resort house reef, at the Ras Ghamila site on its north side, and swim/walk back to the Ras Nasrani, too.

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