|
|
| |
 |
Diving Sites-
Sharm El Shiekh |
|
| |
|
|
| |
Strait of Tiran
The Strait of Tiran lies at the mouth of the Gulf of
Aqaba and is edged by the west coast of the Sinai on one
side and the island of Tiran on the other. In between
are the coral reefs of Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and
Gordon - all named after the 19th Century British
cartographers that were the first to map the area.
Strong currents characterize this area and with it they
bring large quantities of plankton and other nutrients.
This provides food for the corals which brings in the
reef fish which in turn are eaten by the large pelagic
such as barracuda, trevally, tuna and of course sharks -
all of which makes great diving.
|
|
Ras
Nasrani
|
Lying 11 kilometers north of Na'ama Bay and just south
of Tiran, Ras Nasrani varies between a moderate to steep
slope. The steepest part is to be found just south of
the corner and then it flattens out into a spectacular
coral plateau. Here at about 10 meters is a perfect
example of a red anemone after which you discover large
gorgonians, and massive coral heads. Fish life is in
abundance with morays hiding in crevices, fusiliers and
barracuda schooling off the reef and electric rays
skirting around the sand.
|
|
Ras Mohammed
|
|
At the southern most tip if the Sinai, Ras Mohammed is
probably the most famous dive site in the region.
Because of its geographical position the district is
distinguished by massive currents and is famous for its
profusion of marine life. Of the various dive sites in
the area, Shark and Yolanda reefs are the most popular.
On Shark Reef the sheer wall drops over 800 meters in to
the abyss. Keeping the wall to your right you will reach
the saddle connecting Shark to Yolanda reef named after
a Cypriot ship that ran aground here in 1980. The ship
latter disappeared in to the blue leaving behind its
cargo of bathtubs, wallpaper and household toilets! The
best time to visit is in the summer months when the
massive schools of barracuda, snapper, unicorn fish and
batfish makes it a spectacular dive, never to be
forgotten. Dunraven and Beacon Rock Built by Mitchell &
Company of Newcastle, the Dunraven was officially
described as an "Iron Screw Steamer - Planked" and
launched in December 1873. Three years later she became
the wreck 7 kilometers from Ras Mohammed at the southern
tip of Sha'ab
|
|
Shark Bay
Also known as Shark's Bay or Beit al-Irsh, this low-key
resort camp is about 5 km north of Na'ama Bay.
Located on a pebbly beach from which you can walk in to
some quite good snorkeling, it is particularly popular
with Germans and Israelis, most of whom dive a nearby 15
to 20m deep canyon with the Embark dive club there.
Unfortunately, the solitary bliss of this place has been
spoilt a bit thanks to the new Pyramiza Hotel being
built right.
|
Shark Reef
This is the most popular site in the Ras Mohammed
region, thanks to the luxuriance of its marine
life, its unusual reef structure, its permanent
network of moorings, and its easy accessibility
for dive boats.
The site comprises two huge patch reefs spiraling
up to the water
surface from the sheer
|
 |
face of the
massive wall which joins Ras Za'atir in the north
to Ras Mohammed.
Together, these pinnacles define a type of shallow
lagoon with average
depths of 8-10m (26-33 feet).
The northern patch reef, which lies perpendicular to
the current, is the more interesting of the two.
Shaabrhur Umm Gammar: South of the Island, this reef
offers superb wall diving with possibilities of
encountering reef sharks and sizeable groupers.
Small wreckage.
|
|
|
The Gardens
Just north of Na'ama Bay, the bay bordering Na'ama
Bay to the north is probably the oldest diving
region in the area.
Because of its proximity to Na'ama, diving began
here, in The Gardens, long before the hotels,
commercial dive centers and live-aboard first
appeared.
It is perhaps natural |
 |
that the
nearest corner to Na'ama became known as Near
Garden and the
furthest, Far Garden.
Near Garden had the edge as far as popularity was
concerned.
A gentle slope curves down to depths of 20 m (66
feet), then falls off more steeply to depths of
50m (164 feet).
Coral outcrops cluster around the large sand patch
towards the middle of the slope.
This is an excellent spot for night dives, as you
will no doubt discover.
The central region of the bay, Middle Garden, is a
moderate slope reaching depths of 25 m (82 feet).
Your preferred dive route takes you between the
six largest coral formations which stand out
against the background of many smaller ones.
The Far Garden features a narrow slope which
becomes a wall just beyond the corner of the reef
at depths of about 15 m (49 feet).
Five imposing patch reefs are arranged in
something approximating a straight line in the
upper section of the slope.
At the base of the slope at a depth .
|
|
The Temple
One of the oldest and most famous diving sites in
the area, lies in the middle of the bay. Countless
divers have performed their check-out dives here
before setting out on their trips. Conditions are
very appropriate for this purpose: seas are calm,
depths are not particularly great, and visibility is
good. The
|
 |
|
Temple is a massive rock cracked along its length on
one of its sides, and surrounded by other smaller
coral and rock formations. The top of this boulder
reaches sea level. The large local fish population
seems undeterred by the volume of divers who throng
to this site. A friendly Napoleon wrasse is often
found among them. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
