diving in sharm el sheikh

The location most commonly referred to when discussing any scuba diving destination has to be diving in sharm el sheikh. The red sea boasts some of the best diving in the world, the diving in sharm el sheikh offers a variety of dive sites from reefs and walls to wrecks. Situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula it marks where the red sea and the gulfs of Suez and Aqaba split in two. Diving is readily available everywhere, there are nearly fifty dive Centres in the region ensuring the opportunity cannot be missed.
Directly located on the eastern Red Sea coast, it is one of the best liked place for divers thanks to many diving sites accessible in a few minutes from the majority of accommodation. Liveaboards are common however unnecessary for the more popular dives in the area. The diving in sharm el sheikh is famous for its transparent and mild water, the abundance of colours and the presence of many different kinds of coral. Not to mention when diving in sharm el sheikh the abundance of marine life is astounding from sharks to dolphins and turtles.

Another massive attraction for those wanting to go diving in sharm el sheikh is the temperature of the water, its good all year round making diving and snorkelling possible constantly. In the depths when diving in sharm el sheikh it is very easy to find a number of wrecks. In these waters besides all the bentonic species it is very easy to meet big pelagic, tiny fishes, barracudas and sharks.

In Sharm el Sheikh, both diving and snorkelling can be rewarding just by stepping out from the beach or your house reef as part of the accommodation, which is a common occurrence. There are great reefs in Na'ama Bay, Ras Um Sid and Shark's Bay. But you will soon see plenty of offers for short or long excursions. Not only does this offer variation, but also experiences that should not be missed. When joining an excursion for snorkelling and diving in sharm el sheikh remember to note that the value for snorkellers can sometimes be limited. Many visitors diving in sharm el sheikh take dive courses while there. The quality of the courses vary somewhat, but many are of good quality. For many foreigners, prices are attractive, but not for all. Western countries with many dive centres, often offer better prices as well as better preparation for cold-water diving. If you do choose to take a course whilst there I recommend seeking a PADI or BSAC registered centre, Active Diving have a handful of outfits across the Red Sea and will be able to help you arrange this before you leave the UK (http://www.activediving.co.uk, 087 123 11 122).
More Europeans learn to dive here than anywhere else in the world and diving is ideal for beginners. Whatever your experience, dive centres require you to do one local dive before they will take you on a boat trip in order to give you an opportunity to orient yourself to Red Sea diving. The popularity of some of the more popular sites when diving in sharm el sheikh does mean that the water can get rather crowded, particularly once the day boats arrive. The dive sites are diverse and covered in coral formations and a range of marine life, including jacks, snappers and barracudas. The areas covered by Sharm are from the Straits of Tiran through to the marine park of Ras Mohammed. The Straits of Tiran have four circular reefs rising out of deep water and surrounded by steep drop offs. Ras Mohammed has steep coastal cliffs that drop away underwater to depths of over seventy metres. There are coral gardens that are shallow and calm as well as some excellent drifts in strong currents. For the more advanced diver, with day boats going as far as the wreck of the Thislegorm if you are willing to get up early for a four-hour boat trip. There is also the possibility of diving the Dunraven, which takes 2 1/2 hours by boat.
When not diving, if you have not had enough of the water it is possible to snorkel, swim, and do other water sports such as parasailing and banana boat rides. The resorts are quite lively with restaurants, bars, discos and shops and food and drink is relatively cheap. There are also various organised day trips such as quad biking or jeep safaris in the Sinai desert, trips to Mount Sinai and the 6th Century St Catherine’s Monastery. Close to the resort is a nature reserve where there are lakes and mangroves.
Author: Emma Parker (11/08/08)

To find out more about diving in sharm el sheikh and other areas across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.ActiveDiving.co.uk and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)

That’s all for now on diving in sharm el sheikh