Hurghada is really a Red Sea diving and snorkeling base, so a short trip is best spent on the water rather than in town. The Giftun Islands anchor the list, their protected white-sand beaches and turquoise shallows reachable by a quick boat ride from the marina. Hurghada Marine National Park surrounding them protects the coral gardens that make the area famous, best explored through a dedicated Red Sea Reef Snorkeling Tour that gets you into calm, colorful reef sites without much planning. Divers with extra time can use the same days to knock out Scuba Diving Certification Courses, turning a beach holiday into a useful new skill. Together these four cover the region's best reefs efficiently.