Nearly 1,500 km2 of coastline
The Red Sea borders Egypt on about 1,500 km2 of coastline, from the Shalateen Triangle in the south to the Sinai Peninsula, and the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba in the north. It is an almost enclosed tropical sea, linked to the Gulf of Aden and the Indian Ocean by the Strait of Bab el Mandeb, the Gate of Wailing. According to an Arabic legend, the name refers to the laments of the drowned victims of the earthquake that separated Asia from Africa. The region is mountainous, including the high mountains of Sinai in Egypt and the Hijaz in Saudi Arabia. The Red Sea is the result of the remoteness of the Arabian and African plates. It is in fact a real ocean in formation!
One of the warmest seas in the world
The Red Sea enjoys an arid desert climate, pleasant in winter but very hot in summer. Rainfall is extremely rare, and the region is prone to sandstorms! This climate and the limited exchange of water with the ocean make it one of the hottest seas in the world. Its temperature never drops below 22°C, and can rise to 30°C in summer. These slight variations in temperature make it one of the best places to enjoy a swim, even in the depths of winter. Tides are generally low, but are felt more strongly in the "dead ends" of the Gulfs of Aqaba and Suez. Travelers should take this into account, especially when snorkeling, as even a limited low tide can make it difficult to swim over coral reefs. The Sinai coast is particularly windy and popular with windsurfers.
The best places to dive... and rest!
The Egyptian coast has many exceptional scuba diving sites. The best-known are for experienced divers, but there's plenty for beginners too: introductory courses, diving courses and certification, as well as snorkeling over magnificent coral reefs. There's a wide range of holiday options to suit all tastes and budgets.
To combine relaxation with the pleasure of diving, choose Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada or El Gouna. These cities offer solutions at a variety of prices and standings, and there are always diving agencies on hand to help travellers plan the best possible stay. Most hotels offer swimming pools and even luxury spas. Many agencies offer full-board packages, so you don't have to worry about a thing! For the more adventurous, Dahab and the campsites of Sinai are a magical experience, while the more sporty will prefer cruises that provide access to numerous sites far from the coast.
Dahab and Sharm el-Sheikh. These are the two main dive sites in Sinai, Sharm el-Sheikh at the tip of the peninsula, and Dahab further north on the coast of the Gulf of Aqaba. Sharm el-Sheikh has an airport and numerous hotels of varying standards. The construction of numerous hotel infrastructures has made it the major tourist center on the Egyptian Red Sea. At the crossroads of the Red Sea and the Gulfs of Aqaba and Suez, the city and its surroundings offer a huge number of diving sites for all levels. The Ras Mohamed nature reserve in particular attracts divers from all over the world. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are reputed to be among the top ten dive sites in the world! Located at the junction of the two gulfs, the site is home to exceptional biodiversity: turtles, tuna, napoleon fish, blacktip sharks, dolphins and rays. The list of species is as impressive as the magnificent colors that await divers below the surface. Between two coral gardens, what a surprise to come face to face with dozens of untouched toilet bowls! This is the cargo of the Yolanda, a cargo ship that sank in 1980 and of which only the cargo is easily identifiable.
The reefs of the Straits of Tiran are also renowned for their great beauty and the presence of numerous pelagic species.
Dahab, a small town built on the edge of a cove, offers a less urban and more relaxing way of life. There are no huge hotels here, just small establishments, numerous restaurants and bars, and shops. North of Dahab, as far as the Israeli border, you'll find campsites offering rustic but unforgettable stays. They are set up on the peninsula's deserted beaches, in perfect isolation for a complete break from the world! They are popular with young Israelis, who flock to them especially during holiday periods such as Pessa'h.
The snorkeling is extraordinary and very easy. The Blue Hole, for more experienced divers, is located just north of Dahab. It's one of the most exceptional dive sites in the world! It's a vertiginous shaft over 100 metres deep in the coral massif. It attracts many divers because of its beauty, but also because of the challenge of traversing the tunnel, located at a depth of 55 meters, which links the shaft to the open sea through the coral. Unfortunately, it is also the most dangerous dive site in the world, and many experienced divers have lost their lives here. So it's not a site to be approached lightly, and you can also be content to admire the corals that line the well and the numerous fauna that reside there.
Hurghada, El Gouna and the Giftoun Islands. In just a few decades, the small fishing village of Hurghada has become one of Egypt's most important tourist centers, alongside Sharm el-Sheikh. Like Sharm el-Sheikh, Hurghada offers a wide variety of hotels. The town is particularly recommended for beginner divers, who can practise their diving skills at numerous sites protected from strong currents but still boasting exceptional biodiversity. A real small town, Gouna offers a pleasant setting for strolling and relaxing in one of the many trendy restaurants and bars. The Giftoun Islands offer a less urbanized environment of exceptional beauty! Snorkeling and diving are superb. Hurghada is the departure point for most of the diving cruises, which will delight the more sporty traveler. They offer a wide range of dives for all levels of certification, combining the pleasure of diving with the calm and beauty of a stay at sea.
The wreck of the SS Thistlegorm lies in the strait between Sharm el-Sheikh and Hurghada. This sunken ship is reputed to be the best wreck dive in the world! This former British transport ship was sunk by a German air raid in 1941. 128 metres long, it now lies at a depth of 30 metres. The marine life that has developed here is magnificent: snapper, barracuda and jackfish rub shoulders with the usual Red Sea fish. Discovered in 1952 by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, the wreck contains some incredible treasures! Two tanks, two locomotives, trucks, jeeps and motorcycles, as well as rifles and numerous spare parts, lie in the ship's holds, which are accessible to divers. It's a real plunge into history.
Hurghada and El Gouna are also close to the Sha'b Abu Nuhas reef, very popular with wreck divers. Indeed, there are no less than seven of them, littering the seabed around the reef. The luckiest divers will even be able to spot the immense whale shark - harmless, it's the largest of all fish - which regularly makes an appearance off the Egyptian coast.
Port Safaga. Located south of Hurghada, Port Safaga is also popular with divers for its magnificent coral walls and gardens. The sites of Ras Abu Soma and Tobias Reef are well known, as is the spectacular Panorama Reef with its 200-metre-deep wall! Middle Reef is famous for its magnificent coral gardens. The waters off Port Safaga are home to one of the most unique dives in the Red Sea: the wreck of the Salem Express. On the night of December 17, 1991, this ferry carrying pilgrims returning from Mecca sank within minutes of hitting Hyndman's Reef. More than 490 people lost their lives in the overloaded vessel. Lying on its side, the wreck lies at a depth of 30 meters. Diving is possible, but it is strictly forbidden to enter the ship, a veritable maritime burial ground. Most of the bodies were removed from the wreck after it sank, but the many personal effects of the passengers still lie there.
El Quseir and the Two Brothers. Unlike the other coastal towns, Al Quseir has been a settlement center for 5,000 years! In ancient times, it was known as the white port, Leucus Limen. Relatively untouched by tourist development, it's a quieter, more unspoilt spot. The coast offers great diving, but it's the remote Deux Frères islands that attract the most experienced divers. Located over 60 km from the coast in an area of strong currents, these two islets are only accessible by cruise. Several wrecks litter the sides of the islets, including the magnificent Numidia (sunk in 1901) and Aida (sunk in 1956). These remote reefs are the perfect place to encounter large pelagic fish. Hammerheads are the main attraction, but thresher sharks, barracuda and other large fish can also be seen.
Marsa Alam. Even further south is the small town of Marsa Alam. It's renowned for the quality of its coral and especially for the popular Elphinstone Reef. Here, you can encounter not only great longfin sharks, but also hammerheads! If you're lucky, you might even spot manta rays or tiger sharks. Don't miss Marsa Abu Dabab, where large Dugongs graze peacefully on the seabed. 80 km offshore, Daedalus Reef is only accessible by cruise. Home to large fish, sharks and manta rays are not uncommon!
Saint John's and the South. The closer you get to the Sudanese border, the more beautiful and unspoiled the dive sites become. Most are only accessible by cruise. The best-known reef is Saint John's, with its breathtaking biodiversity and variety of underwater landscapes. Its incredible network of underwater caves is appreciated by beginners and experienced divers alike. On the more remote sites of Zabargad and Rocky Island, sharks and other large pelagic fish are the most common sight.
