Can kids safely enter the water from the beach in Sharm El Sheikh, or is it better to swim only from the jetty?

During a storm the sea can get very rough: strong waves have been known to sweep a children's inflatable play structure off the beach into the sea. In such conditions it's best not to enter the water at all, even if other people are swimming.

There's also the beach of an unfinished/under-construction hotel to the left, reached via steps down from the pier. Some say it's shallower and cleaner than the hotel's own lagoon, but access there isn't officially confirmed. The bottom is rocky with possible coral, and marine life (e.g. crabs) has been encountered, which can scare a child — worth being cautious, especially if your kid is afraid of sea creatures.

The villa section beach (which has an easier water entry) isn't always open to outside guests: there have been reports of a family with a child being asked to leave the area even though they weren't using any loungers.

Entering the water directly from the pier can be risky due to strong current: after climbing down, people have been pulled out and had to swim hard just to get back to shore. A calmer bay is at the neighboring Swiss (Swissôtel) hotel beach, which is more comfortable for swimming.

At high tide, swimming right by the shoreline is not recommended. For small children, the safer option is the jetty access point: on the right side from about the middle of the jetty there is a shallow sandy area suitable for paddling.

If entering from the shore, reef shoes are strongly recommended because the bottom is not comfortable or safe for bare feet. This is a basic safety measure even if children are only splashing near the edge.

Another option is to walk a little way along the pier to the lagoon. Before noon it can be fairly deep, but after lunch, when the tide goes out, the water often becomes around waist-deep.