Sindbad Submarines – Hurghada (Egypt) – 2 Hours

Hurghada’s Sindbad Submarine takes you 25 meters below the Red Sea in a genuine recreational submarine, not a glass-bottom boat with a dramatic name. You sit beside your own round viewing window while coral, fish, and the occasional ray pass by. The underwater section lasts about 45 minutes, with the full outing taking roughly three and a half hours.

I like two things right away: you do not need to swim, and every one of the 44 passenger seats has a window. The air-conditioned cabin is a comfortable choice for families, older visitors, and anyone who finds snorkeling or scuba gear intimidating. The main drawback is value. At $75, it costs more than many local boat trips, and the marine life can be less varied than you hope.

Key points to know

• A real submarine in Hurghada: Two of the world’s 14 recreational submarines operate here.
• 25 meters below the surface: You view around 500 meters of reef through individual round windows.
• About 45 minutes underwater: The entire experience, including transfers and boat travel, takes about three and a half hours.
• Easy for families: Children and non-swimmers can see the Red Sea without getting wet.
• Soft drinks and transport included: Air-conditioned hotel transfers, land and sea transport, and soda or juice are part of the package.
• Photography costs extra: The photo and video service is not included, and some visitors found the sales approach too persistent.

What the Sindbad Submarine experience is really like

This is one of Hurghada’s more unusual family activities. You leave the shore by boat, transfer to the submarine, and settle into a fixed seat for the underwater section. The vessel carries 44 passengers, along with two pilots, and has a large round window for each person.

The design matters. On many glass-bottom boats, you spend much of your time looking down through a crowded central panel. Here, your own window gives you a proper viewing position. You are still looking through glass, of course, and the view depends on water clarity and where the reef sits, but the arrangement is far more comfortable than sharing one small viewing area.

The cabin is air-conditioned, which helps in Hurghada’s heat. You remain seated for the submarine ride, so this is not a walk-around attraction. Think of it as a calm, quiet viewing session with a slow-moving reef outside your window.

The submarine reaches a depth of 25 meters and follows about 500 meters of coral reef. You may see schools of fish, coral, rays, and a sunken ship. Scuba divers also appear outside the submarine to attract fish and entertain the people inside. They are part of the show, and their antics add some movement when the reef itself looks quiet.

From hotel pickup to the harbor

The advertised meeting point is Little Buddha Hurghada, but hotel pickup is offered, with return transport included. The transfer is described as point-to-point and uses an air-conditioned vehicle. Land and sea transportation are included in the overall arrangement.

The total outing takes about three and a half hours, even though the actual submarine ride is much shorter. One useful detail is that the underwater portion lasts around 45 minutes. The remaining time covers pickup, waiting, the boat ride, boarding, and returning to your hotel or meeting point.

Pickup is usually one of the better parts of the arrangement, but I would not treat it as automatic. Several people had smooth, punctual transfers and were contacted by WhatsApp soon after booking. Others reported that no vehicle arrived and that calls and messages went unanswered. If hotel pickup matters to you, confirm the time and location directly before the day of the tour. Keep the operator’s contact details handy, and allow extra time rather than arranging a tight connection afterward.

Once you reach the departure point, you may have some waiting before boarding. One family was told to arrive at 10:30 for an 11:00 start, but the activity did not begin until 11:30. That kind of delay may not ruin the outing, but it is worth knowing if you have a packed day.

The boat ride and transfer to the submarine

The route includes a boat connection from the shore to the submarine. This gives you a brief view of the Red Sea from above before you go below the surface. Cold water and soft drinks are included, which is a small but welcome touch in Hurghada’s warm weather.

The transfer also helps break up the experience. You are not placed directly into a cabin for three hours. Instead, the day has several stages: hotel pickup, arrival at the terminal, boat transport, submarine boarding, the underwater route, and the return journey.

The boat is also where the photo service may be offered. A photographer can take pictures before or during the transfer, and a scuba diver may be photographed outside the submarine while you are below the surface. These services are not included in the $75 price.

Be clear if you do not want photographs. Some people felt the sales pitch was too forceful, especially after they had already declined. If you do want pictures, ask exactly what you are buying, how much it costs, and how you will receive the files. One person paid for a photo link and received nothing, while another paid around $50 for an underwater photo package with delivery expected after 24 hours. These experiences are inconsistent enough that I would not count on the photos as part of the value.

Inside the 25-meter submarine

The main attraction is simple: you are sitting in an actual submarine beneath the Red Sea. There is no wetsuit, mask, breathing equipment, or need to know how to swim. For a child who has watched a parent snorkel or scuba dive, this can be a memorable way to see what lies below the surface.

Each passenger has a viewing window, and the seats are allocated. You stay seated throughout the underwater ride. The submarine turns so that the coral side can be viewed from both sides of the cabin, and the return route gives the other side a better look. This arrangement is useful, although it means your view may change depending on the direction of travel.

The underwater route covers coral and marine life rather than a long list of separate attractions. You can expect fish moving around the reef, coral formations, and possibly rays. A sunken ship is another feature mentioned during the route. The scuba divers outside may feed fish or perform playful gestures for the people at the windows.

The divers are entertaining, but their presence also tells you something important about the experience. This is partly a marine-life viewing trip and partly a staged family attraction. The divers help bring fish into view and give children something active to watch. If you expect a completely natural wildlife encounter, you may find the presentation a little manufactured.

Visibility and marine life will vary. The Red Sea is famous for its coral and fish, but this particular route does not guarantee a constant parade of unusual creatures. Some outings offer plenty of fish and a clear view of the reef. On others, the range of species may seem limited, and there may be no single moment that feels spectacular.

How much will you actually see?

The answer depends on your expectations. If you want a gentle introduction to the underwater world, the submarine does its job well. You can see coral and fish without the physical effort or nerves that come with snorkeling. For young children, that can be the whole point.

If you have already snorkeled or scuba dived around high-quality Red Sea sites, the view may feel modest by comparison. You remain in one seat, looking through one window, and the submarine follows a defined route. You will not explore at your own pace or stop whenever something catches your eye.

The best moments are likely to be close fish activity, a ray, the sunken ship, or the divers working outside the windows. The coral is the steady backdrop. The experience is less about covering a huge area and more about giving you a safe look at a place you might otherwise never see.

I would choose a seat based on comfort rather than trying to predict the perfect side. The submarine changes direction, and both sides get a chance to look toward the reef. Since the seats are assigned, you may not be able to move around freely.

Why families and non-swimmers like it

This is a strong choice for a mixed-age family. A four-year-old can experience the sea without a mask, breathing tube, or fear of waves. Older children can enjoy the submarine itself, the divers outside, and the novelty of being below the surface.

It also works for adults who cannot swim or who simply do not enjoy water activities. You stay dry, seated, and inside an air-conditioned cabin. The submarine feels more adventurous than a normal sightseeing boat without demanding any special skill.

Most people can participate, and the maximum group size is 44. That is not a private trip. It is a full passenger experience, but the individual windows reduce the usual problem of everyone crowding one viewing point.

The main limitation is that you cannot treat the submarine like a flexible sightseeing platform. You must remain in your assigned seat during the 45-minute ride. If you or your child needs to move frequently, this fixed format may feel restrictive.

Is $75 fair for this Hurghada outing?

At $75, the price is high compared with many ordinary local excursions. You are not paying only for fish viewing. You are paying for the unusual equipment, the submarine operation, hotel transport, the boat connection, air-conditioning, and the chance to reach 25 meters below the surface without getting wet.

That makes the price easier to justify for first-time visitors who want a distinctive activity. How many people can say they have ridden in a real submarine? The novelty has real value, especially if you are traveling with children or with someone who cannot swim.

The price is harder to justify if your only goal is to see as much marine life as possible. A good snorkeling or scuba outing may offer more direct contact with the reef, although those activities require the right conditions, confidence, and equipment. The Sindbad experience trades freedom and variety for comfort and simplicity.

I would also budget mentally for no extra purchases. Photos and videos are optional and are not included. You do not need them to enjoy the trip, and refusing them politely is reasonable if the price seems too high.

Service, timing, and practical weak spots

The submarine itself is generally described as clean and comfortable, and the crew is often friendly. The smoothest outings include prompt pickup, clear communication, short waiting times, and polite staff at the terminal. Those details make a big difference because the activity involves several handoffs.

The biggest concern is not the underwater ride. It is coordination. A missed hotel pickup can waste much of your day, especially if the operator does not respond to calls or messages. I would confirm the pickup a day before and again on the morning of the tour if possible.

Build flexibility into your schedule. The listed operating hours are 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Sunday, but the exact departure time depends on the booking. Do not place an airport transfer, long-distance bus, or fixed dinner reservation immediately afterward.

The experience requires good weather. If poor weather causes cancellation, you should be offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not met. For a standard cancellation, you can receive a full refund if you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Within 24 hours, changes and refunds are not accepted.

Who should book the Sindbad Submarine?

I would recommend it most strongly to:

• Families with children who are curious about fish and coral
• Non-swimmers and people uneasy about snorkeling
• Anyone wanting the unusual experience of riding in a real submarine
• Visitors who prefer air-conditioning and a fixed seat to open-water activity
• Couples or friends looking for a short, easy marine excursion in Hurghada

I would be more cautious if you are an experienced snorkeler or scuba diver seeking a large variety of sea life. You may find the fixed route and limited viewing area less satisfying. I would also think twice if your hotel is far from the regular pickup area and you cannot get clear confirmation about transport.

Should you book it?

Book the Sindbad Submarine if the submarine itself is the attraction for you. The experience offers a simple, safe way to see coral, fish, rays, and perhaps a sunken ship at 25 meters below the Red Sea. The individual windows, air-conditioning, included drinks, and hotel transfers make it easy for families.

Skip it if $75 feels steep for about 45 minutes underwater, or if you want a more natural and varied encounter with the reef. Also, confirm your pickup carefully and ignore the photo sales unless you genuinely want the package.

For the right person, this is less about seeing every possible fish and more about enjoying an unusual ride. You get a memorable family story, a glimpse of Hurghada below the surface, and no wet hair afterward.

FAQ

How long does the Sindbad Submarine experience take?

The full outing takes about three and a half hours, including transfers and the boat connection. The submarine ride itself lasts about 45 minutes.

How deep does the submarine go?

The submarine reaches a depth of about 25 meters, or 82 feet, below the Red Sea.

Do I need to know how to swim?

No. You remain inside the submarine and view the marine life through the windows, so swimming and snorkeling skills are not required.

Are hotel transfers included?

Yes. Return hotel transfers are offered, along with land and sea transportation. Pickup arrangements should be confirmed before the tour because some bookings have experienced transfer problems.

What is included in the price?

The experience includes an air-conditioned vehicle, soda or soft drinks, and all fees and taxes. Photo and video services cost extra.

How many people can ride in the submarine?

The submarine has 44 passenger seats and two pilot seats. The maximum group size for the activity is 44 travelers.

Can I cancel for a full refund?

Yes, if you cancel at least 24 hours before the experience starts. Cancellations or changes made within 24 hours are not refunded. Poor weather or failure to meet the minimum number of participants may result in an alternative date or a full refund.