Diving in the Red Sea

The Red Sea Riviera is made up of a number of resorts that lie down the western shore of the gulf of Aqaba as well as along the eastern coast of Egypt below the gulf of Suez. Thousands of kilometres of golden sands line the sea shores here, and the wonderful warm sunshine that warms not just land but sea as well has helped to create some of the most amazing marine life on any shores of the planet.

For people holidaying here in the Red Sea Riviera, expectations of enjoyment are quite natural for the place is full of interesting things to do and see as well as amazing marine life and coral reefs to explore. Over the last 30 years quite a number of resorts have grown up in this region meaning that whether you’re looking for somewhere bursting with life, or something a little more sleepy, there’s plenty to choose from.

Sharm el Sheikh at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula is known as one of the prettiest resorts locally. It’s backdrop of mountains framing the sandy beaches and offering a peaceful background to an area which is quite lively. From the shores here you can explore some of the best coral reefs in the region.

The former fishing town of Hurghada has transformed into a holiday resort where modern and old meld well. In the older part of the town you’ll find traditional lifestyles carrying on peaceably with Bedouin markets filled with traditional hand crafted goods, while in the more modern resort area as well as many hotels there are also plenty of shisha cafes, restaurants and bars as well as modern boutiques to shop in.

Makadi Bay lies about 35km south of Hurghada, and sports a much more laid back atmosphere. Day and night the focus is on relaxation and gentle pleasures and is generally more low key than in Sharm el Sheikh or Hurghada. Despite this, it has successfully established itself as one of the best beach resorts in the area.

There are a number of national parks in this region and many of them protect not just the wildlife on land, but that of the seas too. One such National Park is Ras Muhammad which spans 480km2, over 300km2 of which is over water. It is just this marine life which attracts many people to the region, and it’s not really surprising when you learn that there are over 1000 species of fish to be found here, and more than 250 coral reefs as well. Because of this, snorkelling and diving are very popular and as many people come bringing their own equipment as hire it while here.

Whether you choose to view the fish by diving amongst them, snorkelling or from a glass bottom boat, the colourful world that you’ll be seeing is quite stunning. Fish you might spot include coral grouper, parrotfish, Napoleon wrasse, butterfly fish, threadfins, scorpion fish and map angelfish and for many this can be the experience of a lifetime.