Discover the Beauty Beneath:
Diving the Red Sea
The Red Sea has long been a source of fascination. Said to have been parted by Moses 3,000 years ago, the salty waters that stretch south for more than 2,250km to the Indian Ocean have been criss-crossed by the ancient Egyptians, the Romans, the Persians and the Greeks.
Today, the Red Sea is bordered by Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea to the west and Saudi Arabia and Yemen to the east, and it is best known as a holiday destination for European tourists on the hunt for winter sun. However, the area’s favourable climate, warm sea and kilometres of flawless sandy beaches ensure year-round visitors, which has resulted in many resort towns dotting the coastline, particularly in Egypt.
And where the arid Egyptian sand ends, a marine paradise begins. The Red Sea’s coral reef is a miracle of nature. Some of the coral is more than 5,000 years old and the reef stretches 2,000km along the African coastline, making it the third-largest in the world. This marine wonderland harbours a rich and diverse ecosystem, supporting around 200 types of coral and an abundance of wildlife, including 1,100 species of tropical fish — about 10% of which are found nowhere else in the world — 44 species of sharks and an array of turtles, dolphins and dugongs.
EXPLORING THE RED SEA’S WONDERS
There are numerous ways to explore the reef. While the Egyptian coastline sees little rainfall and consistently warm temperatures, it is at its best from April to October: land temperatures can reach a balmy 40°C, but the water temperatures — around 29°C — are a pleasant reprieve. The sea is also calmer than during the winter months.
It is possible to view the reef from a scenic flight or a glass‑bottomed boat, but the best way to gain the full experience is to don a mask and fins and get up close and personal with the kaleidoscopic underwater offerings. Most of the diving is boat-based via day trips, but there are also live-aboard boats that sail out to remote spots and allow up to four dives a day, including at night.
Under the sea is a different world, far removed from the arid landscape along the coasts. The Red Sea is a tropical sea — the world’s most northerly — and a stunning diversity of life weaves its way in and out of the coral, with the reef up to 9km wide in places. Ras Mohammed National Park, at the northern tip of the sea, protects 480km2 of this marine environment, with many exceptional diving spots, including the intriguing SS Thistlegorm, a British WWII supply ship sunk in 1941, often listed as one of the world’s top dive sites.
Diving the SS Thistlegorm
The SS Thistlegorm combines breathtaking underwater scenery with a vivid reminder of the region’s wartime history. The Thistlegorm was running as part of a convoy to Egypt, loaded to the gunwales with military equipment, including trucks, motorbikes, clothing, arms and ammunition, as well as two heavy freight locomotives strapped to the deck. As the heavily laden vessel lay at anchor, she was targeted by German bombers; two direct hits sent her 30m to the bottom, with the loss of nine lives.
Part of the fascination for modern divers — apart from the depth, which allows relatively easy access — is the wealth of equipment scattered around the wreck, including the two steam trains. Responsible dive operators can bring you up close to give you an unforgettable glimpse into this spectacular time capsule.
Getting away from the crowd
Five-star accommodation, such as the Savoy Hotel in Sharm el Sheikh, is abundant throughout Egypt’s Red Sea Riviera, but if you’re in search of a more authentic experience it’s best to head south.
The El Gouna resort serves as a first-class base for the more remote diving spots, such as the isolated, 400m-long Daedalus Reef, or St John’s Island, just off the Sudanese border. Luxury hideaways, such as the elaborate La Maison Bleue place you on the seafront, from where private charters and local dive centres are on hand for the most isolated sites, including Careless Reef, Umm Qamar and the horseshoe-shaped Shaab El Erg, where you can swim among dolphins.
The Red Sea’s coral reef offers divers and submariners an invaluable insight into the richness and beauty of our planet and, above all, the importance of preserving the fragile maritime environment.
Article reproduced from the PrivatSea Magazine.
Sixth image credited to Meinrad Riedo/RexFeatures/Shutterstock
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