“THE CONTRAST OF THE
SEA AND MOUNTAINS
IS BREATHTAKING.”
SHARM
EL-SHEIKH
Situated on the Sinai Peninsula at the northern end of the Red Sea, Sharm El Sheikh is a favourite with the European dive community because of its year-round warm climate, its abundant marine life and its landscape of sparkling sapphire sea set against rocky desert mountains.
Sharm El Sheikh has around 30 dive sites. The wreck of the SS Thistlegorm—a World War II British merchant navy ship discovered by French diver Jacques Cousteau in the 1950s—is considered one of the world’s best penetration dives. Since the vessel’s stern was blown off, it’s easy to get inside and inspect the cargo of trucks, motorcycles and Wellington boots.
Twenty kilometres to the west of Sharm El Sheik, Ras Mohammed National Park is particularly rich in marine life due to the differing salinity of the waters that meet there. The nutrient-rich water, changeable currents and lush reefs attract around 1,000 species of fish as well as pelagic giants like whale sharks, hammerheads and manta rays.
The Straits of Tiran—four reefs separated by canyons—offer an amazing variety of experiences for divers: drift dives and deep dives, sandy plateaus and canyons, and marine life ranging from clownfish and butterfly fish to giant tuna and whitetip reef sharks.
* Sources include Egyptian Tourism Authority, Tripadvisor, National Institute for Environmental Studies etc.