Egyptian Red Sea vs Maldives — Dive Destination Comparison
Egyptian Red Sea (Egypt) scores 79.1/100 vs Maldives's 78.8/100 in OkToDive's 12-category rating. Choose Egyptian Red Sea for wreck diving with 18–40m visibility. Choose Maldives for channel diving at ~$150/dive.
Last updated: 2026-07-22
Side-by-side comparison
| Metric | Egyptian Red Sea | Maldives |
|---|---|---|
| OkToDive Score | 79.1/100 | 78.8/100 |
| Country | Egypt | Maldives |
| Visibility | 18--40m | 15--40m |
| Water temp | 21--29 C | 27--30 C |
| Max depth | 40m | 40m |
| Current | variable | variable |
| Cost per 2-tank dive | $60 | $150 |
| Budget tier | budget | ultra luxury |
| Best months | March, April, May | January, February, March |
| Dive types | wreck, reef, wall, drift, liveaboard | channel, reef, drift, night, pelagic, cleaning station |
| Min certification | Open Water | Advanced Open Water |
| Key species | oceanic whitetip shark, hammerhead shark, dugong | manta ray, whale shark, grey reef shark |
| Google rating | 4.5 (15200 reviews) | 4.8 (9500 reviews) |
Which should you choose?
Choose Egyptian Red Sea when...
- + Marine life enthusiasts seeking oceanic whitetip shark encounters
- + Budget-conscious divers — avg $60/dive
- + Wreck diving enthusiasts
- + Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
Skip if
- - You don't have Advanced certification
- - You need shore access — this is mixed-only
Choose Maldives when...
- + Marine life enthusiasts seeking manta ray encounters
- + Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
- + Couples where one partner doesn't dive
Skip if
- - You don't have Advanced certification
- - You're on a tight budget — avg $150/dive
Bottom line
Egyptian Red Sea wins on overall score (79.1 vs 78.8), but the right choice depends on your priorities. Egyptian Red Sea is more affordable ($60 vs $150/dive). Maldives has better peak visibility (40m vs 40m).