Sharm el Sheik diving

Sharm el Sheik was founded by the Israelis, who felt a need to improve control over the land they occupied in 1967. This control is still adding character to the destination, the wealth tourism is bringing to the area is accelerating this growth in leaps and bounds. Sharm el Sheikh is Egypt's more luxurious resort with a plethora of eateries and entertainment in the evenings. There are no budget hotels, but a nice range of good-valye 3 star places. Sharm el Sheikh offers a ferry running to Hurghada, and good communications lines going up on either side of Sinai.

Diving is compulsory when around the Red Sea, Sharm el Sheik diving offers coral reefs and tropical fish, among some of the greatest you can get across the Red Sea. If you don’t already have your PADI openwater certificate it may be more cost effective to pick it up out in Sharm el Sheik.

Na'ama Bay for Sharm el Sheik diving is the perfect House Reef, ranking among the most in the Red Sea. Here you will commonly encounter Groupers, Jacks, Barracuda, Moray Eels, Napoleon Fish and a wealth of different species of colourful reef fish. Mantas and even Whale Sharks come in to Naama Bay itself to feed on the rich plankton in spring. Dolphins and Beluga Whales are frequently enjoyed between here and the Straits of Tiran so keep your eyes peeled when you arrive.

Sharm el Sheik diving offers some of the most spectacular night dives in the world, species which usually hide by daylight are amongst the reefs many grottos and caverns. Night Sharm el Sheik diving brings out these creatures from their daytime hiding places to hunt, you can marvel at then colours and luminescence only experienced in these epic conditions.

Irrelevant of your diving experience you will most probably have the experience of increasing your knowledge of diving from a boat excursion. Under the guidance of your instructor or guide both you and non-divers alike can share the experience through snorkelling, sunbathing or relaxing.

Sharm el Sheik diving offers short and long term excursions to the following dive sites: The straits of Tiran, Sharks bay, the national park of Ras Mohamed and even more sites which are found only through local knowledge.

The Straits of Tiran are formed by the island of Tiran to the East and the Sinai mainland to the west. The reefs are named after British cartographers and are called Jackson Reef, Woodhouse Reef, after Thomas Reef and Gordon Reef.

The effects of deep waters, continental plate and narrow channel combine to funnel a strong supply of nutrient rich waters to the coral reefs across Sharm el Sheik diving. This in turn creates a food chain linking the plankton, coral and marine organisms and reef fish to the Sharks, Manta and Eagle Rays that are frequently encountered here. These unique reefs, which feature steep walls, canyons and caverns, provide a wealth of outstanding colours and huge schools of fish such as Snappers, Barracudas, Bat Fish and Jacks. Sharm el Sheik diving currents can be dangerously strong at the extremes of the reefs and care must be taken to assess both their direction and strength to avoid danger.

Shark's Bay is a popular tourist destination, as a result there isn't much free space left, but Sharm el Sheik diving is a testimony that heavy tourism can work. It is quite beautiful and the reef just off the beach is well-preserved, colourful and full of fish that loves swimming rich under you.

The National Park of Ras Mohamed, the centre of Sharm el Sheik diving can definitely be described as "wall dive" paradise, the dive sites in the vicinity of Ras Mohamed predominantly. Few places in the world can rival the sheer vertical walls that plunge into the depths 800 metres and more below these towering cliffs.

The wealth of marine flora and fauna is astounding and each site of Sharm el Sheik diving offers divers different attractions. The main Sharm el Sheik diving sites are Jackfish Alley, Shark's Observatory, Shark's Reef and Jolanda Reef.

The Local Sites found between Sharm El Sheikh and Ras Nasrani (opposite Gordon Reef at the mouth of the Straits of Tiran) provide a wealth of unrivalled diving adventures for beginners and experienced divers alike. The geography of this coastline restricts access to many of the sites by land and therefore Sharm el Sheik diving is mainly done from daily boat excursions.

The dive sites differing features range from stunning walls and canyons to coral slopes and gardens. The main dive sites are known as Ras Nasrani, Ras Bob, White Knight, Shark's Bay, Ras Umm Sid and the Temple, the Tower, Ras Katy, Amphoras and the Gardens.
If Sharm el Sheikh is the best place for swimming and relaxing in Egypt, Na'ama is the best in Sharm. Na'ama Bay boasts of great hotels, good restaurants and almost all activities imaginable. There are reefs off the beach at Na'ama, but the best places for going snorkelling are the Gardens (Near, Middle and Far) slightly east of Na'ama centre.
Central Sharm

The Red Sea contains more than 1,000 species of fish and has over 2,000 kilometres of fringing reef, making it one of the most bio-diverse seas in the world. Extreme heat in this region results in a very rapid rate of evaporation which results in a high concentration of salt. This makes the Red Sea among the saltiest bodies of water on Earth.

The Egyptian Red Sea has always been known as one of the most coloured sea of the world. The geological movements of the past created a unique condition that permitted marine life to grow in a fantastic variety of corals and reef fishes resulting in the widest possible range of colours.

To find out more about Sharm el Sheik and diving across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.activediving.co.uk/diving_destinations_sharm_el_sheikh.html and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (03/08/08)

That’s all for now on Sharm el Sheik diving