Is the sea entry in Hurghada sandy or rocky with coral — can you swim without reef shoes?

The sea entry here is generally gentle and sandy, though some parts have dead coral and stones. The depth increases gradually: near the buoys it is about shoulder-deep at low tide and over the head at high tide for someone around 158 cm tall. Fish are more noticeable closer to the pontoon.

The beach profile is: very shallow at first, then a lagoon up to about 2 meters deep with several sandbars, and after that the reef begins. The water is clear, and there is some seagrass on the bottom in places.

By the new pontoon, even at high tide the water is only up to mid-thigh, so proper swimming there is not really possible. Getting out from shore and swimming over the coral in deeper water is feasible only at high tide; at low tide it is not.

Dana beach has little to photograph underwater — fish are only impressive for first-timers. However, the beach itself is excellent for those wanting sand: a deep lagoon, deep open sea along the spit, sand everywhere. Crowd density is low both on the beach and in the water.

Dana beach is set in a bay — the main downside for swimming, though waves are minimal. Sunrise hotel, by contrast, faces open sea, and the water is cleaner because of it.

Sunrise Mamal: the brightest corals and clearest water among compared hotels, especially left and right of the pontoon beyond the buoys. Downside — the reef drops straight into deep blue, and no large marine life spotted in an hour's swim. Park Regency reef has noticeably declined, with some current, but more interesting wildlife. Ras Um Sid: lots of grey coral, but lagoons, islets and coral heads are rewarding — varied wildlife appears with patience. Suitable even for less confident swimmers without fins.

At low tide the area in front of the reef becomes very shallow with almost no fish. Getting past the reef without cuts is very difficult at low tide — tracking the tide schedule is essential.

Makadi Bay suits those wanting calm sea with a modest underwater bonus. Finding reefs comparable to Sharm el-Sheikh in the Hurghada area is generally difficult.

Walking left along the shore for about 10 minutes leads to a great wild reef. Low tide can occur there in the first half of the day.

Swimming from the Aladdin pier to Ali Baba beach passes small reef patches with interesting fish. Visibility depends on calm water — waves make it murky.

Zahaby beach still has a living coral reef. At Sahel, fish can be seen to the left of the pontoon near the 'sunken columns'.

One of the reefs in the Hurghada area features rays, eagle rays, turtles, occasional dolphins, and sometimes manta rays. The reef is alive and has depth. An entry fee of 400 EGP seems overpriced.