Sindbad Submarines – Hurghada (Egypt) – 2 Hours

The main attraction here is simple: you sit inside a real recreational submarine, then travel 25 meters below the Red Sea without putting on a mask, learning to swim, or getting wet. Each of the 44 passenger seats has its own round viewing window, so you are not fighting for a place at the rail.

I like the easy access for families, especially those with young children or anyone nervous about snorkeling. I also like the mix of the boat ride and the underwater section, plus the air-conditioned cabin and included soft drink. The main caution is that hotel pickup is not always dependable, and the photo and video sales can feel too forceful.

Key points to know before booking

• The submarine reaches 25 meters below the surface: This gives you a real underwater view rather than a glass-bottom boat ride.
• Every seat has a viewing window: You receive an assigned seat and stay there during the submarine trip.
• The underwater ride lasts about 45 minutes: The full outing takes roughly three and a half hours, including transfers and the boat journey.
• It suits non-swimmers and families: You can see coral and fish without snorkeling or scuba equipment.
• Divers add a bit of theater: They feed fish, perform for the windows, and may point out sights such as a sunken ship.
• Photo sales are separate: Photography is not included, and the pricing and delivery process need careful attention.

What the Hurghada submarine experience is really like

Sindbad Submarines offers one of Hurghada’s more unusual outings. This is not a standard sightseeing boat with underwater windows. You board an actual recreational submarine, sit in an enclosed, air-conditioned cabin, and descend to about 82 feet, or 25 meters.

The submarine carries 44 passengers and two pilots. The sizeable round windows are placed beside the seats, which is a thoughtful design. You do not need to stand, lean over a railing, or squeeze beside another person to see the water. That matters with children, older family members, and anyone who would rather enjoy the Red Sea from a dry seat.

The claim that these are among the only real recreational submarines in the region adds genuine interest. You are not simply watching marine life. You are also taking part in an unusual form of transport, one that gives the outing its value even if the fish sightings vary from day to day.

From Little Buddha to the submarine terminal

The stated meeting point is Little Buddha Hurghada in the Touristic Villages area. Hotel pickup is offered, and the company describes the service as point-to-point transport, including the land and sea portions of the journey.

In the best cases, this works well. Communication can begin through WhatsApp soon after booking, and the driver arrives on time in an air-conditioned vehicle. A few bookings have even received help with pickup from hotels outside the usual service area. That door-to-door approach is useful in Hurghada, where resorts stretch along a long coastal road.

Still, you should treat the transfer as the part most in need of checking. Some bookings have had no pickup at all, despite attempts to confirm by message and phone. In those cases, people had to arrange a taxi and nearly missed the start. I would confirm the pickup time and exact hotel location shortly after booking, then check again the day before.

The total outing is advertised at about three hours and 30 minutes. That includes the hotel transfer, waiting time, the ride to the submarine, and the return journey. The submarine portion itself is about 45 minutes, so do not expect three hours underwater.

The boat ride before the descent

The route includes land and sea transportation to the submarine. The boat ride is part of the experience, not just a transfer, and gives you a chance to enjoy Hurghada from the water before entering the submarine.

At the terminal or departure point, you are allocated a seat number. The process is organized around keeping each passenger in a specific place once inside the submarine. That can feel restrictive if you want to move around, but it also means every passenger has a window and nobody needs to race for a good spot.

Soft drinks or juice are included, along with cold water in some accounts of the outing. These are small touches, but they matter in Hurghada’s heat, especially during the waiting periods. The included vehicle is air-conditioned as well.

Timing can be less precise than the advertised schedule. One family was asked to arrive at 10:30 for an 11:00 start, only to wait until around 11:30 without a clear explanation or an offer of water. Build some patience into your day. This is not the best choice if you have a tightly timed lunch, airport transfer, or another booking immediately afterward.

25 meters below the Red Sea

The central part of the outing is the descent to 25 meters. You stay seated for the whole submarine journey and watch the water through your personal window.

The view changes with the position of the submarine. Coral may be concentrated on one side, then appear on the other side on the return route. If one side seems quieter at first, stay patient. The submarine’s movement gives different seats a better look at different portions of the reef.

Expect coral formations, schools of reef fish, and occasional sightings of other marine life such as rays. A sunken ship is also part of the sights mentioned during the route. The exact amount of fish and coral activity depends on visibility, the route, and the day’s conditions. This is not an aquarium with a guaranteed parade of large animals.

That point is important when judging value. Some people see plenty of fish and find the underwater setting memorable. Others find the range of species limited and the scenery less dramatic than expected. If you already snorkel or scuba regularly in the Red Sea, the submarine may feel less impressive than it does to someone seeing the underwater world for the first time.

For a first underwater experience, though, it has a strong advantage. You can remain dry, seated, and comfortable while still seeing a real reef at depth. The cabin removes many of the worries that stop people from trying snorkeling or scuba activities.

The divers who entertain outside the windows

A scuba diver accompanies part of the underwater presentation. The diver may feed fish, wave at passengers, and perform for the windows. This gives the submarine trip a bit of showmanship, particularly for children who may not yet understand why the fish are gathering around the vessel.

The divers are often described as funny and energetic. That entertainment helps fill the quieter stretches when the submarine is moving past less active sections of the reef. It also gives children something immediate to watch, rather than asking them to identify small fish in the distance.

Keep your expectations realistic. The divers are part of the presentation, not a personal guide for each passenger. You may see them on one side of the submarine more clearly than the other, and the amount of marine life can vary. The experience works best when you enjoy the novelty of being underwater as much as the individual sightings.

Is the $75 price fair?

At about $75, this is not the cheapest way to see the Red Sea. You can find less expensive local water activities, and a standard snorkeling trip may give you more time in the water. The submarine charges a premium for its unusual equipment, the comfort of staying dry, and the novelty of traveling inside a real vessel.

I think the price makes more sense for a family with young children, a non-swimmer, or someone who is curious about the sea but uncomfortable with snorkeling. You are paying for access as much as for the fish. The air-conditioned cabin, assigned window, return transport, and included drink also reduce the small extra costs that can add up on a day out.

The value is weaker if your main goal is the best possible reef viewing. A person who is confident in the water may get more marine life and more freedom from a snorkeling or scuba outing. The submarine gives you a controlled, easy introduction, not the closest contact with the reef.

Photography is not included. A photographer may take pictures during the boat transfer or arrange images of the submarine underwater with a diver. Several bookings describe photo packages as expensive, with one account mentioning a $50 charge and a 24-hour wait for delivery. Another person paid for a photo link and received nothing.

I would decide in advance how much you want to spend on photographs. Do not assume a photo link is included in the ticket, and confirm the price, delivery method, and delivery time before paying. You can enjoy the trip without buying a package.

The family factor

This is one of the better Hurghada activities for a mixed-age family. Children as young as four have enjoyed the first sight of fish through the window, and toddlers can watch the moving divers and marine life without the demands of a boat-based water activity.

You also avoid several common problems. Nobody needs to swim, float, snorkel, or manage scuba equipment. You do not need special skills, and most people can participate. The submarine is air-conditioned, and each passenger has a seat.

There are limits. You remain seated during the underwater ride, so a young child who needs to move constantly may become restless. The overall outing lasts around three and a half hours, with transfer and waiting time included. Bring enough patience for that length of day, even though the actual submarine ride is much shorter.

The experience can also work well for grandparents or family members who prefer not to enter the water. Everyone can share the same outing, rather than dividing the group between swimmers and non-swimmers.

Comfort, safety, and practical details

The submarine is designed for 44 passengers and has two pilot seats. It is described as clean, air-conditioned, and comfortable, with a round window for each passenger. The assigned seating system means you should not expect to walk around and change viewpoints during the ride.

Most people can participate, and the activity is near public transportation. The service operates daily between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. during the stated 2025 operating period. Your exact departure time depends on the booking selected and the pickup arrangement.

Good weather is required. If conditions force a cancellation, you should be offered another date or a full refund. The same applies if the minimum number of participants is not reached. Normal cancellation allows a full refund when you cancel at least 24 hours before the start time. Changes or cancellations within 24 hours are not accepted for a refund.

Keep your phone and small belongings secure during the transfer and boarding process. One family recovered a phone left behind with help from the agency, which is encouraging, but it is still better not to rely on lost-property luck.

What the experience does well, and where it falls short

The strongest point is the sense of occasion. Few standard Hurghada excursions let you sit below the water in an actual submarine. That novelty carries the outing, even when the reef itself is modest.

The second strength is ease. You get hotel transport, a dry and cool cabin, a window at your seat, and no need for swimming ability. The friendly crew and playful divers add warmth, and the arrangement is especially accessible to families.

The weak spots are logistics and sales pressure. Pickup appears excellent when communication works, but failed pickups are serious problems, not minor annoyances. Waiting times can also stretch without much explanation.

The photo service is another concern. You may want a family record of the submarine below the sea, but the separate pricing can be high and the delivery process needs to be clear. Politely decline if you are not interested, and agree on the cost before any pictures are taken.

Marine life is the final variable. You should see fish and coral, but nobody can promise a dramatic range of species. Think of this as a memorable submarine ride with marine life along the route, rather than a guaranteed wildlife spectacle.

Who should book Sindbad Submarines?

I would recommend it to families with children, non-swimmers, nervous first-timers, and anyone who wants an unusual Red Sea experience without getting wet. It is also a good choice if one person in your group cannot or does not want to snorkel.

I would be more cautious if you are an experienced snorkeler or diver seeking extensive time with coral and fish. You may find the 45-minute underwater section too short, the fixed seating limiting, and the $75 price hard to justify.

Before booking, confirm three things: your hotel pickup point, the exact start time, and the price of optional photographs. If those details are clear, the outing offers a comfortable and unusual way to see Hurghada’s underwater world. If pickup communication is vague, arrange a backup plan and leave plenty of room in your schedule.

Should you book it?

Book Sindbad Submarines if the thought of a genuine submarine ride appeals to you, especially if you are traveling with children or do not swim. The best part is not simply the fish. It is the chance to share an underwater experience with your whole group while sitting in comfort.

Skip it if your priority is the strongest reef encounter for your money. In that case, another water activity may offer more time near the coral. For everyone else, this is a distinctive, family-friendly outing with real value, provided you confirm the transfer and ignore any photo package that does not suit your budget.

FAQ

How long does the Sindbad Submarines experience take?

The full outing takes approximately three hours and 30 minutes, including transportation, waiting, the boat journey, and the submarine ride. The submarine portion itself is about 45 minutes.

How far below the water does the submarine travel?

The submarine reaches approximately 25 meters below the surface, which is about 82 feet.

Do I need to swim or snorkel?

No. You can see the Red Sea marine life from inside the submarine without swimming, snorkeling, or getting wet.

How many people can the submarine carry?

The submarine has 44 passenger seats and two pilot seats. The activity has a maximum of 44 participants.

Is hotel pickup included?

Return hotel transfers are offered as part of the experience, with point-to-point land and sea transportation. Because pickup problems have occurred, confirm your hotel location and collection time before the day of the tour.

Are food and drinks included?

Soda or pop is included, and complimentary juices or soft drinks are provided. The vehicle is air-conditioned.

Are photos and videos included in the price?

No. Photo and video sessions are not included. Optional photographs may be offered separately, so confirm the price and delivery details before paying.