General information                       RED SEA                        Itineraries
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 since December 2001  aboard the simply equipped sambuco Tesfa. Other dive facilities are available from Luul Resort Hotel on Dahlak Kebir. 10 Bungalows with AC and private bathroom host up to 20 guests. Fast boats bring divers to the sites of Dur Ga'am, Dur Gella. Dissei. Dohul, Isratu, Madote, Shumma, Nakura etc. Temperature of water rises from 24° C (75° F) in February to 35° C (96° F) in August.
Chart / Aerial view of sand storm in Eritrea with Dahlak archipelago (right) and the Egyptian coast of Ras Banas (below). Photos by courtesy of Visible Earth / NASA.

Travel Information

BBC weather forecast Middle East

home