As we
head south from the straits, we reach the beginning of the local
dive sites, so called due to their closeness to the resort of
Na'ama Bay in Sharm El Sheikh, the main resort of the South Sinai.
Thanks to short sailing times we can offer local dives as a half-day
excursion as well. Ras Nasrani is a wall dive and coral life is
in abundance, particularly on the corner where currents are stronger.
Ras Bob and White Knights have shallow sandy areas and gentle
sloping walls. Beautiful coral heads and a breathtaking canyon
are the main features of these 2 dives. Proceeding towards Na'ama
Bay we find Shark Bay, and The Gardens, the first sites that were
dived from Na'ama Bay. The Gardens are a great training area.
The Middle Garden, thanks to shelter from currents, has the largest
sandy shallow plateau and the Near and Far Gardens taper off to
slowly deepening walls. Wonderful gorgonians and pinnacles awash
with sweeper and glassfish adorn these two sites.
Leaving
The Gardens, passing Na'ama Bay and heading further south, we
come to a number of sites, the most popular being Tower, Ras Um
Sid, Temple and Ras Katy. Tower has a spectacular canyon descending
to over 120 meters. The wall dive of Ras Umm Sid is always abundant
with reef fish life. Temple, situated on a sloping sandy bay,
is so named after the pillars resembling a temple. Around the
corner, Ras Katy has a sandy plateau with a gentle drop off ideal
for training. This is the last local site.
Now
we head to the southernmost point of the Sinai to one of the most
famous diving areas in the world, Ras Mohammed, well known for
its sheer walls and huge schools of fish. The first sites are
Ras Ghozlany and Ras Za'atr, situated on either side of the bay
of Marsa Bareika. Both are gentle sloping walls, and make very
relaxing drift dives. Jackfish Alley has a sandy "road"
where sharks are often seen resting, and exciting swim through
as well. Shark Observatory is an excellent wall dive and Anemone
City, as its name implies, is covered with heaps of different
colored anemones.
We come
now to the most popular dive sites, Shark and Yolanda Reefs. They
are two spectacular adjoining coral pinnacles, with the most amazing
deep drop offs full of circling schools of varied fish life. Shark
Reef is quite literally a breathtaking dive and should rank highly
on anyone's list of "must-see" dive sites. Yolanda has
the remains of a shipwreck, from which it takes its name, spread
across its sandy plateau
Starting
from the North on the Eastern side of the Sinai Peninsula lie
the Straits of Tiran, one of the most famous diving areas in the
Red Sea. Situated in the middle of the straits are four coral
reefs, Gordon, Thomas, Woodhouse and Jackson named after 19th
century British cartographers. Enjoy exciting drift dives, drop
offs, amazing coral and friendly sharks for the lucky at these
dive sites. The beautiful lagoon next to Tiran island is a popular
destination for lunch and snorkeling.
The world
famous wreck SS Thistlegorm was sunk in 1941 in the area of Sha’ab
Ali in the Gulf of Suez. She was packed to the gunwales with a
cargo of supplies destined for the British Fifth Army based in
Alexandria. Armoured Bren-Gun Carriers, BSA Motorcycles, jeeps,
trucks, rolling stock, aeroplane parts, stacks of rifles, radio
equipment, munitions, and a plentiful supply of Wellington boots
can all be seen during your dive. The Thistlegorm is heaven for
wreck enthusiasts, but is also one of the most underrated fish
dives in the area, attracting schooling barracuda and providing
a hunting ground for giant tuna and snapper. Our excursions require
an early start. After breakfast on board, you will make two dives
on the wreck before making a dive in Ras Mohammed National Park
on your way home. The supplementary charge for this excursion
includes your meals, drinks and the extra dive.
Dunraven
>>>
Another
popular wreck is the Dunraven, a Victorian steam- and sail-ship
that was carrying spices, gold and timber from India. She hit
the reef after an allegedly drunken dispute involving the Captain,
his wife, and the First mate, and sunk soon after near Sha'ab
Mahmoud in the Gulf of Suez. Although she was stripped of her
cargo by a team of archaeologists in the early eighties, the Dunraven
still makes an interesting dive, and is home to schools of glassfish,
and some of the biggest Napoleon Wrasse you will ever see.
We do
need a minimum of six people in order to make excursions to these
wrecks, so if you are interested, tell your guide and he or she
will try to get a group together for you. There are always plenty
of people interested, so it should not be a problem.
Rules:
Do
not collect, remove or damage any material, living or dead, from
Protected Areas (corals, shells, fish, plants, fossils, etc.).
It is prohibited to drive off marked tracks
and to drive any motor vehicles on any beach.
Camping is prohibited unless in designated
areas (by notice).
Do not litter. Place garbage in proper disposal
containers or take it with you.
It is prohibited to access any closed area.
It is prohibited to walk or anchor on any
reef area. Please used marked access points.
Fish feeding upsets the biological balance
on the reef and is therefore prohibited.
Fishing and spearfishing are not allowed
in Protected Areas.
All visitors must leave Protected Areas
by sunset unless using a designated camping area.
Access to diving areas is recommended at
designated access points only. This reduces damage to reef areas.
Please take note of any instructions posted in Protected Areas.Offenders
are subject to prosecution according to the terms of Law 102 of
1983.