COPYWRITING: Tourism: Diving in Egypt (6)

Top 5 diving sites in Egypt

Egypt - one of the most fascinating countries in the world, boasting its over five-thousand-year history and ancient monuments. However, perhaps not everybody knows that Egypt also offers something else: one of the most interesting diving sites in the world.

In this article, we present top 5 diving sites in the Pharaohs Country. However, because different people usually like different attractions and it is really hard to make a definitive choice, we present these diving sites in the alphabetical order. Let us to invite you to discover underwater beauty and secrets of Egyptian seas.

Seas bordering Egypt

Egypt’s shores are washed by waters of the Mediterranean Sea in the north and the Red Sea in the southeast. Diving conditions in both seas are different. Waters of the Red Sea are warmer and clearer, ensuring excellent visibility, than waters of the Mediterranean Sea, so the former is usually considered as more attractive for divers. However, both seas offer lots of attractions. So, if you dream about an amazing diving trip, pulsing with underwater beauty, marine life, history and adventure - Egypt is really an ideal place!

Alexandria

Alexandria is located at the Mediterranean coast. The diving site is in a bay near the city’s shore. It is a sunken island of Antirhodos. Divers may admire a.o. the ruins of Queen Cleopatra’s Palace, the Lighthouse, lots of sphinxes and Roman columns as well as different species of marine creatures and seaweeds. Diving in Alexandria is like diving into history of ancient Greece, Egypt and the Roman Empire. Who knows? Maybe you will also feel the spirit of important historical events or the love story between Julius Caesar and Cleopatra?

El Quseir

El Quseir is an ancient 5-thousand-year-old town, featuring a relaxing laid-back atmosphere, about 120 kms south of Hurghada. The diving site features plenty of shallow diving locations so it’s an excellent place also for entry-level divers. An underwater world in the vicinity of El Quseir combines nature and history. You can admire there unspoilt colourful coral reefs (e.g. the Elphinstone Reef) full of typical Red Sea animals like e.g. lionfish, sea snakes or guitarfish as well as a famous wreck of a passenger ship - Salem Express.

Hurghada, The Brothers

The Brothers are 2 size-varied islands (Little Brother and Big Brother) in the Red Sea. They lie about 150 kms southeast of Hurghada. Islands are accessible only by liveaboards. One can see impressive pristine coral reef, dive and swim with colourful reef fish such as barracudas, giant trevallies and even various species of ... sharks! So, you can admire underwater marvels of nature with a shiver of emotion.   

Sharm El-Sheik, Jackson Reef

Jackson Reef is located about 20 kms northeast of Sharm El-Sheikh, in the Tiran Straits which separate the Sinai Peninsula form Saudi Arabia. This amazing underwater coral reef is considered one of the most beautiful in the world. Jackson Reef lies at the depth of about 28-47 metres and is famous for incredibly rich marine life - e.g. fabulously colourful corals and anemones (especially rare red anemones), schools of butterflyfishes or anemonefishes. No wonder it’s often called ‘the coral garden’ or ‘The Aquarium’!

Sharm El-Sheik, Sharm and Yolanda Reef

This resort, located at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, is famous for a large coral reef called Sharm and Yolanda Reef. It is situated at the area of Ras Mohamed National Park. This diving site is suitable both for entry-level and certified divers.  Sharm and Yolanda Reef is abundant in large schools of fish, e.g. mantas and whale sharks. History lovers can also find something interesting for them - one of the most famous wrecks in the world - SS Thistlegorm.

Summary

We hope that we have inspired you to choose a diving holiday in Egypt. Diving in Egyptian seas, full of maritime life and historical relics, is possible all over the year. However, the best diving conditions are from late June to early December, when the temperature of waters is around 30 degrees and they are usually calm. Egyptian seas are eagerly waiting for you!   

(Written by Adam Trela, March 2020, 4137zzs)