Is there shallow water entry in Sharm el-Sheikh for non-swimmers?

At Aladdin beach the pier blocks wind and cold water from the depths, but there's no simple entry: you enter through two cleared passages between rocks with dead coral and few fish. Past the rocky passage the bottom turns sandy and comfortable for swimming.

At Rixos Alamein beach, with a yellow flag and strong waves, entering the sea is a real challenge: the waves knock you down and you need to quickly get past the breaking point, after which chest-deep water is calm. Entry has small pebbles then turns to fine sand, water is murkier than elsewhere, and depth increases sharply — just 4-5 meters from shore you can no longer touch bottom.

For weak swimmers, there is a stepped entry on the left side of the bay: from there you can not only get into the water but even walk to the reef. The bottom is relatively easy there with very few stones, so some people go in even without reef shoes.

Even where water entry is relatively manageable, some parts of Sharm have underwater currents. Because of this, people sometimes watch the fish while holding onto a rope, so weak swimmers and families with small children should consider currents as well as depth.

At some Sharm el-Sheikh beaches there is no classic shallow sandy entry at all: both the lagoon and the open sea are accessed only by steps. For non-swimmers, that effectively means there is no real shallow walk-in from shore.

If you specifically need an easy shore entry rather than a pontoon, hotels in Naama Bay are a better option, as beach access there is usually easier. Even small waves can make pontoon ladders hard for older people to use, and there are often queues at the ladders.

The shore entry is shallow for a long stretch — suitable only for splashing around. A child 145 cm tall can swim from the pier at a manageable depth. You can swim to the buoys and hold onto their rope — convenient with children.

This beach has a gradual shore entry. The water is very salty — buoyancy is strong, making it tiring to swim horizontally in shallow water. Entry from the pier leads immediately to depth. Red flags are frequent; when the flag turns yellow, be ready to enter the water with a mask quickly.

Almost nobody swims from the shore — it is used only for shallow wading. Everyone swims from the pontoon. At low tide, nobody ventures out beyond the last reef.

Water depth varies with the tide: at low tide you walk knee-deep for a long stretch before reaching chest depth near the buoys; at high tide conditions are much better. The bottom is uneven — reef shoes are recommended. The area near the pyramid is deeper; near the 'V' marker it is shallower.

At beaches with a pier: the first pier ladder gives a shallow entry suitable for children. At the far end of the pier there are four ladders where adults can swim properly. At low tide the swimming area is waist-deep.

During strong low tides you have to walk to the water in shoes across the exposed seabed — there is a real risk of sunburn on the way. In such conditions swimming from a pier is more practical.