Scuba Diving Experience with Lunch & Transfer from Hurghada

Hurghada’s best scenery is below the surface, and this seven-hour Red Sea boat trip gives you two chances to see it. A certified instructor leads each underwater session, while you cruise between sites, eat lunch on board, and have the option to snorkel instead.

I like the included hotel transfer and the fact that equipment is supplied, so you do not need to haul a box of gear across Egypt. I also like the clean boat, punctual transport, and careful safety approach reported for this outing. The main consideration is time underwater: each session may last only about 10 minutes, with the instructor directing the group closely.

Key points to know

• Two separate Red Sea stops: You change location after lunch, giving you two different chances to enter the water.
• About 10 minutes underwater per session: This is a short introductory experience rather than a long technical outing.
• Lunch and unlimited soft drinks included: You can spend the day aboard without arranging your own meal.
• Certified staff and supplied equipment: Scuba and snorkeling equipment are part of the package.
• Hurghada hotel pickup included: Extra transfer charges apply from Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, and Soma Bay.
• Small enough to remain manageable: The boat accepts a maximum of 25 people, with free cancellation up to 24 hours before departure.

What the Hurghada boat day is really like

This is a full morning-to-afternoon outing on the Red Sea, not a quick beach lesson. You are collected from your Hurghada hotel, taken to the departure point in an air-conditioned vehicle, and brought back in the late afternoon.

The schedule is listed as roughly 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, while the meeting information gives an 8:00 am start. That difference matters. I would confirm your exact pickup time when booking, especially if you are staying outside central Hurghada.

Once aboard, the day follows a simple rhythm: cruise out, receive instruction, enter the water, return for lunch, move to a second site, and spend more time in the sea before heading back. It is easy to understand and does not require you to plan extra activities around it.

Hurghada is Egypt’s main beach resort, but the Red Sea is the real reason many people come here. Its clear water makes it possible to see below the surface without needing a long boat journey or a week-long liveaboard trip. This outing gives you a first taste of that setting in one day.

Two water stops, with a short underwater window

The most important detail is also the one most likely to shape your opinion: each underwater session lasts around 10 minutes. That is enough to get a feel for breathing through the equipment, look around, and experience the Red Sea from below. It is not enough for an extended exploration.

The certified instructor introduces the area and explains the details of the site before you enter. Safety comes first, and the instructor stays closely involved in the activity. If you are new to scuba equipment, that guidance can make the first attempt less stressful.

The first stop takes place before lunch. You will receive the necessary equipment and enter the water with the instructor. The short duration may be useful for a beginner who wants to try scuba without committing to a long session, but experienced participants could find it limiting.

After lunch, the boat changes location for the second stop. A new site gives the day some variety, even if the time below the surface remains brief. You can take part in another scuba session or choose snorkeling instead.

I would think of the outing as an introduction, not a certification course or a serious reef expedition. The description does not promise a particular reef, fish species, or coral formation, so you should book for the overall Red Sea setting rather than for a specific underwater sight.

Certified instruction and close supervision

The staff are certified instructors, and they explain the site before you enter the water. That is valuable because the experience is designed for a broad audience, not only for people with a long history of scuba trips.

The safety approach is one of the strongest features. The instructor keeps close control of the underwater activity, which can feel reassuring for a first-time participant. It also means you should not expect to swim off alone or choose your own route.

That close direction has two sides. You gain structure and supervision, but you lose some independence. If you already have substantial experience and want to move at your own pace, the format may feel restrictive.

For a newcomer, though, this is a sensible trade. You have equipment, an instructor, and two brief chances to learn how the system feels in the water. The short sessions also let you stop before the activity becomes tiring or uncomfortable.

Snorkeling is available as an alternative. That makes the outing more flexible for groups with mixed interests. One person can use scuba equipment while another swims or watches the water from above. The available information does not specify the exact snorkeling areas, so the quality of that option will depend on the sites visited that day.

Lunch, drinks, and time on the boat

After the first water session, you return to the boat for a buffet lunch. Food on board is practical rather than fancy. You do not need to search for a restaurant during the day, and the meal breaks up the schedule before the second stop.

Unlimited soft drinks are included. That is useful in the Egyptian sun, particularly during a long day on the water. The package does not mention alcoholic drinks, so do not count on those being available.

The boat provides space to relax between activities. You can enjoy the views of the Red Sea and the coast, eat, drink, and wait for the next stop without rushing ashore. The day is as much a boat outing as an underwater activity.

A clean vessel makes a difference here. You spend several hours aboard, and a well-kept boat adds comfort to the trip. Transport is also described as punctual, which helps when your hotel pickup is early and the return comes late in the afternoon.

Still, this is a group outing. The maximum group size is 25 people, so the boat will not feel private. Boarding, equipment setup, lunch, and changing sites may take time. If you want a quiet charter with personal attention throughout the day, this is not that kind of trip.

What the $25 price includes

At $25 per person, the package offers strong basic value. You receive hotel pickup and return from a Hurghada hotel, an air-conditioned vehicle, scuba equipment, snorkeling equipment, two water stops, certified instruction, buffet lunch, and unlimited soft drinks.

The price is especially useful for someone who wants to try scuba without buying or renting separate equipment. It also removes the cost and trouble of arranging a taxi to the marina and finding lunch during the outing.

The value depends on your expectations. If you measure the price by total time away from the hotel, it is attractive. You receive roughly seven hours of transport, cruising, instruction, food, and water activities. If you measure it by time actually spent below the surface, the package looks less generous because each session may last only about 10 minutes.

I would book it for an affordable first look at Red Sea scuba. I would not book it as the main activity of a serious underwater holiday. Experienced participants may prefer a longer session, more freedom, or a trip built around particular reefs.

Extra transfer charges apply outside Hurghada. Pickup from Makadi or Sahl Hasheesh costs 5 euros or pounds per person, according to the supplied details. El Gouna and Soma Bay are listed at 105 euros or pounds per person. Because the currency notation is not fully clear, confirm the exact amount before paying.

National park government fees are not included. The amount is not provided, so ask about this charge when you book. It is better to know the total cost before departure than to treat the advertised price as the final amount automatically.

Hotel pickup and the practical morning plan

Pickup is offered from Hurghada hotels, and the transport vehicle is air-conditioned. That is a worthwhile inclusion in the heat, especially when you are carrying personal items and do not know the local marina layout.

The official details give two different morning times: the daily outing is described as running from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, while the meeting point information says 8:00 am. Treat 8:00 am as a possible meeting or pickup time, not as a guaranteed departure time. Confirm the exact arrangement with New City Travel.

Bring only what you need for a day on the boat. The operator supplies scuba and snorkeling equipment, so you do not need to bring your own gear. The supplied information does not list towels, personal medication, or specific clothing requirements, so check with the provider if those details matter to you.

The return comes in the late afternoon, followed by hotel drop-off. Do not schedule a tight afternoon appointment. Boat movements, equipment changes, lunch, and weather can all affect the exact return time.

The activity requires good weather. If conditions force cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. That policy is useful for a sea outing, where safety and comfort depend on the conditions.

Who will get the most from this outing

I think this tour suits first-time scuba participants who want a simple introduction without arranging a full course. You receive instruction, equipment, transport, lunch, and two short chances to try the activity.

It also works well for groups with different comfort levels. Someone can use scuba equipment, while another person snorkels or simply enjoys the boat. The inclusion of snorkeling equipment makes the day less awkward for anyone who does not want to go below the surface.

The package may suit families and mixed-age groups, but the supplied details only say most people can participate. They do not give a minimum age, medical requirements, or specific rules for children. Ask the provider before booking for a young participant or anyone with a health concern.

I would be cautious if your main goal is long underwater time. The roughly 10-minute sessions are brief, and the instructor controls the activity closely. That format favors safety and simplicity over freedom and duration.

It may also disappoint you if you expect a private or quiet trip. The maximum group size is 25 people. You will share the boat, instructor, meal, and schedule with the rest of the group.

How this compares with a longer Red Sea outing

This experience is best understood as a low-cost sampler. It gives you the basic elements of a Red Sea day: a boat, clear water, instruction, equipment, food, and two sites.

A longer specialist trip would likely be better for someone who already scuba dives and wants more time below the surface. That is not a criticism of this outing. It simply reflects the short sessions and group format.

For a visitor with only one free day in Hurghada, the arrangement is efficient. You do not have to organize separate transport, equipment hire, meals, or a snorkeling option. The day gives you a broad introduction to the coast and its underwater setting.

I also like that the second stop prevents the day from becoming one repeated activity in one place. Moving to another site after lunch adds a small sense of variety. Just keep your expectations grounded: the exact sites and marine life are not specified.

Booking, cancellation, and final decision

You receive confirmation at booking, and the activity accepts a maximum of 25 people. It is booked an average of 15 days ahead, so reserving early is sensible if your holiday dates are fixed.

Free cancellation is available up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund. Changes or cancellations inside that 24-hour window are not accepted for a refund. The cut-off follows local time in Hurghada.

I would book this experience if you want an affordable, guided introduction to the Red Sea, especially if hotel transport and included equipment matter to you. The clean boat, punctual pickup, certified staff, lunch, and soft drinks make the day easy to arrange.

I would choose something else if you want long underwater sessions, a private boat, or a particular reef. At $25, this is a practical first taste, not a full-scale scuba expedition. Confirm your pickup time, extra transfer fee, and national park charge before you pay, then enjoy the water without expecting the schedule to move at your own pace.

FAQ

What time does the experience start?

The daily outing is listed as running from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm, while the meeting information gives an 8:00 am start. Confirm your exact pickup or meeting time with New City Travel.

Is hotel pickup and drop-off included?

Yes. Pickup and return from hotels in Hurghada are included in an air-conditioned vehicle. Extra charges apply for transfers from Makadi, Sahl Hasheesh, El Gouna, and Soma Bay.

How many underwater stops are included?

The experience includes two stops. After the first underwater session, you eat lunch on board before the boat changes location for the second stop.

Is equipment provided?

Yes. Scuba equipment and snorkeling equipment are included, so you do not need to bring your own equipment.

Is lunch included?

Yes. A buffet lunch is served on board, and unlimited soft drinks are included. Alcoholic drinks are not listed as part of the package.

What happens if bad weather cancels the trip?

If poor weather causes cancellation, you can receive a different date or a full refund. You can also cancel up to 24 hours before the start time for a full refund.