From
the Gulf of Akaba along the Sinai Peninsula to the Danakil depression in Eritrea
runs a deep floated rift valley, marking the geological border between Africa
and the Arabian Peninsula. The Red Sea is blue and with 4.2 % more salty than
any other tropical waters. It is 1200 nautical miles long. 150 - 200 miles wide,
between 1500 and 2000 meters deep. Its East West extension is still increasing.
The Arab peninsula is drifting NEastwards. The last tectonic move started 25
million years ago with strong volcanism in the North (Sinai was born] and in the
South - creating the lowest point of Africa -116 m in the Danakil depression. A
particular consequence of this tectonic evolution is the temperature of 21° C at
the deep bottom of the Red Sea. The location between 13° N and 29° N presents
ideal conditions for spectacular reef building corals with more than a thousand
species of brilliantly coloured fish and thousands of intriguing
invertebrates.
Egypt Northern
Route Departure from Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh: Sinai Peninsula with Ras
Mohammad, wreck diving in the Gubal Strait at the most famous Abu Nuhas reef;
Thistlegorm, Dunraven, Carnatic, Giannis D. and many other less known wrecks.
Tawila Island, Shedwan Island and the wide selection of diving sites in the
Hurghada area. A visit to the dive sites in the entrance to the Gulf of Aqaba,
Tiran Straits with the Jackson, Thomas, Woodhouse and Gordon reef and eastwards
till Sanafir island can be arranged upon group request. Temperature of water
rises from Jan. 19° C to April 23° C (65-73° F) and drops from August 32° C to
Nov. 25° C (90-77° F).
Southern
Route Departure from Safaga, El Quseir, Marsa Ghaleb or Alam for coastal
reefs like Panorama. Sha'ab Shar, Ras Torombi etc. Further southwards along the
coast to Marsa Alam the route includes Elphinstone, Erg Marsa, Sha'ab Samadai.
Fury Shoal, Erg Ghadeira. More highlights along the coast south of Marsa Alam
until the Sudan border are the reefs of Sha'ab Sharm, Wadi Gimal, Sha'ab
Sattaia, St. Johns reef. Temperature of water rises from Jan. 21° C to April 24°
C (70-75° F) and drops from Aug. 33° C to Nov. 26° C (92 -79° F).
Visit
to the famous offshore islands
Since 29 May 1998 the Brother islands. Daedalus, Zabargad, Rocky have
been declared Natural Protectorates under law 102/83 by the Egyptian Government.
Certain requirements have to be fulfilled by the diving ships in order to obtain
the now necessary sailing licence. Divers
need special permit and experience.
Sudan Embarkation
in Port Sudan. North trips of 7 days may include Umbria wreck. Sha`ab Rumi
(Précontinent II), Sha`ab Su`adi (Toyota wreck), Sanganeb, Abington light house,
Angarosh, etc. South trips of two weeks may go via Sha'ab Anbar to Jumna, Hindi
Ghider, Starkey Patch, Pinnacolo etc. and with the fast RIB (100 hp) of S/Y
Freedom to other unexplored reefs in the Suakin Group. Temperature of water is
34° / 23° Celsius high/low (94°-73° Fahrenheit) in August /
February.
Eritrea
Cruises
in the Southern Red Sea of Eritrea are possible aboard the
simply equipped sambuco Tesfa and S/Y Maila. Other dive and snorkel facilities shall be available from Club Village on Dissei island. Small boats bring divers to the genuine sites of Dur Ga'am, Dur Gella,
Dohul, Isratu, Madote, Shumma, Nakura etc. Temperature of water rises
from 24° C (75° F) in February to 35° C (96°
F) in August.
Yemen - East coast of Red Sea The island of Kamaran can be reached from the port of Hodeidah. Mohammed will organize and take care of round trips from Sana`a. You will have similar water temperature in the Farasan banks of Yemen as in the Dahlak archipelago of Eritrea.
Yemen - Socotra On Socotra island you will enjoy daily dive excursions organised by Norbert and his team. He will bring you as well to the famous sites on land.
Djibouti We included this destination recently. This small country is safe and the diving with whale sharks is nearly guaranteed.
