St. John's Reef vs Hurghada — Dive Destination Comparison
St. John's Reef (Egypt) scores 72.6/100 vs Hurghada's 72.3/100 in OkToDive's 12-category rating. Choose St. John's Reef for reef diving with 20–40m visibility. Choose Hurghada for reef diving at ~$55/dive.
Last updated: 2026-07-22
Side-by-side comparison
| Metric | St. John's Reef | Hurghada |
|---|---|---|
| OkToDive Score | 72.6/100 | 72.3/100 |
| Country | Egypt | Egypt |
| Visibility | 20--40m | 15--40m |
| Water temp | 22--28 C | 20--28 C |
| Max depth | 40m | 40m |
| Current | moderate | mild |
| Cost per 2-tank dive | $80 | $55 |
| Budget tier | mid range | budget |
| Best months | March, April, May | March, April, May |
| Dive types | reef, wall, drift, cave, pelagic | reef, wreck, shore, drift, wall |
| Min certification | Advanced Open Water | Open Water |
| Key species | hammerhead shark, grey reef shark, manta ray | dolphin, dugong, napoleon wrasse |
| Google rating | 4.8 (150 reviews) | 4.4 (1500 reviews) |
Which should you choose?
Choose St. John's Reef when...
- + Marine life enthusiasts seeking hammerhead shark encounters
- + Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
- + Wide-angle photographers wanting crystal visibility
- + Dedicated divers willing to commit to a liveaboard trip
Skip if
- - You don't have Advanced certification
- - You get seasick or prefer shore-based diving
Choose Hurghada when...
- + Budget-conscious divers — avg $55/dive
- + Newly certified divers building confidence
- + Wreck diving enthusiasts
- + Experienced drift divers comfortable in current
Skip if
- - You don't have Advanced certification
- - You need shore access — this is boat-only
Bottom line
St. John's Reef wins on overall score (72.6 vs 72.3), but the right choice depends on your priorities. Hurghada is more affordable ($55 vs $80/dive). Hurghada has better peak visibility (40m vs 40m).