Dive Sites
Local
dive sites
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.
Ras
Mohamed (National Park)
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
Straits
of Tiran
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.
Wreck
Diving
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. Armored
Bern-Gun Carriers, BSA Motorcycles, jeeps, trucks, rolling stock,
airplanes 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.
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.
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