Two protected reefs, a white sandbar and water so shallow you can stand in it — what to expect on the Red Sea's busiest island day.
Giftun is the large island you can see from almost anywhere on the Hurghada seafront, and it is a protected national park rather than a resort. That designation matters: the reefs around it have been off-limits to fishing for decades, which is why the fish life is denser here than on stretches of coast much further from town.
The two reef stops
Most boats make two stops before landing. The first is usually on a shallow fringing reef where the coral starts about a metre and a half down — close enough that you see the detail without diving. Expect parrotfish, sergeant majors, and if you are patient near the drop-off, a moray tucked into the rock. The second stop tends to be deeper and quieter, chosen by the guide on the day depending on wind.
The sandbar
What the photographs are of is the northern spit, where white sand runs out into water that stays knee-deep for a long way. It is genuinely as shallow and as clear as it looks. It is also busy from about eleven until three — if you want the empty version, the trips that stay out for sunset are the ones to book.
That designation matters: the reefs around it have been off-limits to fishing for decades, which is why the fish life is denser here than on stretches of coast much further from town.
Bring a rash vest rather than relying on sunscreen alone: the reflection off pale sand and shallow water burns shoulders and the backs of knees faster than people expect, and reef-safe sunscreen is worth using in a marine park.
