The Reef
The fringing reefs of the Sinai and the Egyptian coast are spectacular, both above and below the surface of the Red Sea. The blending of turquoise and ultramarine along the entire coast, reaching across the Gulf of Aqaba to meet the terra cotta mountains of Saudi Arabia, is a visual delight, while, underwater, the diversity of corals and brilliant reef fishes that makes scuba diving in Dahab so very special, all set against a deep blue backdrop, creates an underwater photographer's paradise. The reef runs, almost without a break, from Eilat in Israel to the north all the way down to Ras Mohammed, just south of Sharm El Sheikh.
Much of the Sinai coast is designated as protected areas, so most of the reefs here are in very good condition, especially in the shallows and along the reef edge, where the colours and profusion of corals and fishes are amazing. The variety of diving around Dahab is impressive, from gentle sandy bays and wonderful coral gardens, ideal for snorkelling, SCUBA Diving Courses, or a leisurely underwater "stroll", to breathtaking drop-offs and vertical walls that plunge to more than 1,000m - straight off the shore! Shore diving is the norm in Dahab, but, with the range of sites available just a few metres off the beach, boats are simply unnecessary.
More remote Dahab dive sites are reachable by camel safari or day boat. One such location, Gabr El Bint, is probably the most varied and visually stunning site in Sinai, with sheer walls, amazing reefs, gorgonian forests, teeming fish life and beautiful coral gardens, all to be seen on just one dive.
About 100km to the south lies the famous Ras Mohammed National Park. The reefs there, and around Tiran Islands, are world renowned. Still farther down, scuba diving becomes more adventurous and exciting, and is best enjoyed on a liveaboard holiday, visiting the less frequented and more remote reefs of Southern Egypt.
Although the corals and the variety of colourful reef fishes are sometimes not as rich as around Dahab, the reefs of Ras Mohammed and those to the south are topographically spectacular, and present more opportunities to see the impressive, open water species, such as mantas, sharks and schools of barracudas, batfish, jacks and trevallies.
Conservation
All of us at Blue Realm are dedicated to the protection and conservation of the coral reefs of the Red Sea, especially where we do most of our diving in Dahab. We do our utmost to minimise environmental pressures, by ensuring that all of our divers follow simple guidelines, as laid down by The Marine Conservation Society, PADI Project AWARE and numerous other responsible diving organisations. Only in that way can we hope to ensure that the wonders we are privileged to enjoy today can be preserved for future generations.
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