Reefs a few metres from shore
Diving & snorkelling
The northern Red Sea is known for its coral reefs, wrecks and marine protected areas, from Ras Mohammed National Park and the Straits of Tiran to the southern reefs off Marsa Alam, where dolphins and dugongs are sometimes seen.
Ideas to start with
- Ras Mohammed by boat from Sharm
- Shore diving in Dahab
- Southern reefs from Marsa Alam
- Snorkelling trips for non-divers
Travel responsibly
- Dive within your certification and with a licensed centre; the Blue Hole's depths have cost experienced divers their lives.
- Don't touch, feed or chase marine life; park fees support protection.
Places
- Ras MohammedMarine national park at the southern tip of Sinai, a well-known dive destination.
© Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Dahab and the Blue HoleA relaxed Gulf of Aqaba town and its famous reef sinkhole.
© Grand Parc - Bordeaux, France from France · CC BY 2.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Sharm El SheikhSinai's resort and conference city, base for Ras Mohammed and the Straits of Tiran.
© Marc Ryckaert · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Hurghada & Giftun IslandsResort coast with reef snorkelling around the protected Giftun islands.
© E v Schoonhoven · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Marsa AlamThe quiet southern Red Sea, known for turtles, dolphins and Wadi el-Gemal.
© Marc Ryckaert (MJJR) · CC BY 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons - Red Sea coastCoral reefs, resort towns and marine protected areas from Hurghada to the far south.
© Diego Delso · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons
Combine it with another way to travel
© Berthold Werner · CC BY-SA 3.0 · Wikimedia Commons Sinai's sacred mountain + a Red Sea beach
Sunrise on Mount Sinai and Saint Catherine's Monastery, then reefs and rest in Sharm El Sheikh and Ras Mohammed.
Religious heritage & the Holy FamilyBeaches & the Red SeaDiving & snorkelling
Build this journey →
Sustainable Development Goals
- SDG 14Life below waterTarget 14.7 names tourism among the sustainable uses of marine resources; 14.2 calls for protecting marine and coastal ecosystems.
- SDG 8Decent work and economic growthTarget 8.9: devise and implement policies to promote sustainable tourism that creates jobs and promotes local culture and products.
Sources
Editorial overview. Opening hours, prices, permits and access rules change: confirm them with the responsible authority or a licensed operator before you travel.