Sharm el Sheikh diving with Whale Sharks

The Egyptian city of Sharm El Sheikh holds a plethora of wonders; however the most priceless beauty of all is hidden beneath the water. The lethal combination of the sea, sand and sun creates a place of beauty and a paradise for the majority of water sports lovers, diving especially. Sharm El Sheikh diving is perhaps the most accessible in Egypt, often the first port of call for divers looking to experience The Red Sea.

It’s an established fact that Sharm El Sheikh diving is a diver’s paradise. With a bounty of marine flora and fauna the divers get to enjoy some of the best sites below the sea. The place has more than fifty diving spots but scuba is essentially offered at the best diving destinations which are well equipped with modern apparatus.

The whale shark is often seen by divers in the Red Sea, especially the Sharm El Sheikh area. However the highest concentration of whale sharks to be found anywhere in the world is in the Philippines.
The red sea boasts some of the best diving in the world; Sharm El Sheikh diving offers a large amount of this with a vibrant and varied underwater life throughout. The first port of call for Sharm El Sheikh diving is Na'ama Beach, Shark's Bay, Sharm El- Moya, Ras um Sid, and the Terrazina Beach. The Tiran Island is an excellent scuba diving spot at Sharm El Sheikh. Don't be disappointed if you are not a professional diver, there are many tour operators in the UK whom can arrange courses for when you arrive (Active Diving: http://www.activediving.co.uk). Equally there are plenty of dive schools in the area for once you arrive, it is definitely worth getting your PADI Open Water certification either before you arrive of once your there to ensure you can sample some of the best diving in Egypt.

Whale sharks as a species, despite their size pose little to no threat towards humans. They are actually quite gentle and can often be found playful towards divers. There are unconfirmed reports of whale sharks lying still in and around the Sharm El Sheikh area, upside down on the surface to allow divers to scrape parasites and other organisms from their bellies. The only risk posed to divers and snorkellers when with whale sharks is the possibility of being struck by the shark’s large tail fin.
Exploring the spectacular reefs of Ras Nourani under the guidance of expert divers leaves an indelible impression on the minds of the visitors ensuring Sharm El Sheikh diving is a memorable experience for all. Sharm El Sheikh diving is unsurpassed in Egypt and renowned for diving across the globe. The red sea had been a source of wonder and mystery throughout the world for various reasons. But its now an interesting site of Egypt because of a plethora marine treasures hidden beneath its emerald waters.
When in Sharm El Sheikh diving the reefs at Ras Mohammed are a must, they are magnificent, their beauty and diversity always amazes me. Thousands of colourful fish and other marine creatures together form a complete ecosystem. You will find microscopic creatures to whale sharks all looking for food or hiding from predators. The coral spreads its wings in many forms, shapes and colours. From the largest colonies of hard corals to the tiniest swaying soft ones. Sharm El Sheikh diving is most definitely in the land of dreams, filled with crystal clear water, splendid corals, awesome underwater vegetation and atypical Piscean species which will not only please your eyes but present you with an opportunity of witnessing some of the best surprises in the sea.
Within 2 hours of Sharm El Sheikh diving is the Tiran and Ras Mohammed reefs, two of the most renowned diving spots in the world.. Ras Mohammed is the southern tip of Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Gulf of Suez. Ras Mohammed is another destination where the underwater reefs drop beneath to seventy metres. The Straits of Tiran are perhaps the best of Scuba diving spots with its four stupefying circular coral reefs. You will find schools of barracuda and a variety of sharks. It may be worth arranging a diving safari with a dive school in order to get away from the sometimes overcrowded dive sites allowing you to catch a glimpse of less popular sites:
- Active Diving
- Red Sea Diving College
- Red Sea Diving Safari
- Oonas Dive Centre
Most of the scuba diving spots have to be reached by a boat. Not to worry, because the calm waters of the red sea is suitable for the amateurs too. The dive sites are endowed with intricate coral formations and an assortment of marine life like snappers, jacks and barracudas. The shallow coral gardens around are also interesting to be explored. For the expert scuba divers the Thislegorm or the Dunraven, a bit far away from the coast are the ideal spots of relaxing and looking over the wonderful sea life. All in all I would recommend a visit to Egypt for the Sharm El Sheikh diving alone, the fact that the city offers a plethora of alternative activities, nightlife and a culture that welcomes anyone and everyone ensures that your experience will be a memorable one.
Without a doubt Whale Sharks are some of the most magnificent creatures in the ocean, managing to maintain absolute grace and serenity despite their enormous size, an astounding experience for anyone diving or snorkelling.
To find out more about diving with Whale sharks across The Red Sea, Lanzarote and South Africa visit http://www.activediving.co.uk/diving_whale_sharks.html and quote: ART
Author: Emma Parker (15/08/08)
That’s all for now on Sharm El Sheikh diving