Can you snorkel with kids directly from the shore in Hurghada — where is the best entry point?

Another entry option is near the Majestic hotel: the slope is gentle, you can go in without reef shoes but they're more comfortable. You need to walk quite a bit to reach 2-4m depth. Sun protection (SPF 100 or a rash guard) is recommended since you spend time wading in shallow water.

There are stairs into the sea near the fish restaurant — real depth starts close by, fish are present, and a lifeguard is on duty there.

There are also stairs into the sea behind buildings 5 and 6, but the water stays shallow for a long stretch — you have to walk far to reach real depth, so it's not an ideal spot for swimming.

Regarding the pontoons: the wooden pontoon on the right (to the left of the plastic one) consistently has plenty of fish, while the floating/movable pontoon area has an almost dead reef.

Near the pontoon stairs there are reef sections with a steep vertical wall dropping down — quite dramatic — and lots of different fish gather there.

The stairs near the construction area are a bit dirty, but it doesn't significantly affect getting into the water.

With children, it's safer to stay on the pier and observe the lagoon — octopuses have been spotted along its edge. The water is too deep to stand in, except right at the lagoon entry stairs.

Right at the entry stairs, corals are mostly gone — trampled and damaged during construction. To see healthy corals, swim a short distance to the left of the entry point.