Diving red sea : 5 destinations not to be missed

Egypt

To dive in Egypt is certainly a magical experience as it is definitly one of the best scuba diving destinations in the world and also one of the most diverse for its small underwater wonders. Whether you are fond of macro photography, eager to make your learn scuba diving in Egypt or an experienced diver, you will be amazed by the diving trip. In Dahab, and more specifically on the site of the Blue Hole, you can admire a huge chasm whose funds, both mysterious and fascinating, are full of nudibranchs, turtles but also pelagics like some species of sharks and Manta rays.

The most striking remains the impressive topography between drop offs, caves and tunnels which we do not see the end! In Sharm El Sheikh, the dive sites are so numerous and diverse that an immersion will not be enough for you to observe all the variety of the environment that is there. Around the main beach of Sharm Naama Bay, Ras Um Sid or Ras Nasrani, corals, in excellent health, are everywhere. There are large potatoes and red gorgonians along the canyons of the region. The rock formations are a playground for the “glassfish” who wander in the middle of sting rays, lion fish and parrot fish. This is also home to one of the most beautiful shipwrecks in the world, the Thistlegorm, a former ship of the Second World War discovered by Commander Cousteau in 1956, still in very good condition. What to take full eyes!

The seaside resorts of Hurghada, Safaga, Quseir and Marsa-Alam have sumptuous and intact coral reefs as these areas are, for the most part, protected and preserved. The same multicolored fish can be seen there as on other nearby sites, but also many pelagics and marine mammals such as dolphins, turtles and reef sharks. The most famous reef in the area for its hammerheads and sharks longimanus is probably Elphinstone Reef.

Jordan

Diving in Jordan has a great advantage, it is much better preserved and much less touristic than Egypt, making it a popular destination where marine biodiversity can grow in peace. Are you looking for “little” and “big” in a swirl of colors in the heart of an extraordinary relief? All this is possible in the area of Aqaba where the majority of diving sites more than twenty are accessible at all levels. Redfish, groupers, nudibranchs, shrimps and “glassfish” benches are visible in these waters. Rock structures and beautiful coral formations dominate the seabed. In short, this is an ideal environment for the fauna and flora of the area! The wrecks found in Jordan are steeped in history and are part of some of the most beautiful in the world like Cedar Price. Boats, planes and tanks were sunk to create real artificial reefs. Soft corals, rookery benches, trevallies, moray eels are the delight of photographers, tek divers and other professionals who venture there.

Djibouti

Like Jordan, Djibouti is much less crowded than many other destinations for scuba diving. The area is perfect for a diving cruise in Djibouti at 7 Brothers or in the Gulf of Tadjourah. The current, which can sometimes be violent, attracts large pelagics like sharks and dolphins. Huge whale sharks come to breed between the months of November and February. It’s an amazing sight to see and see again if you go nearby! The architecture consists of vertiginous walls, caves, tunnels and cracks is also interesting to observe and hides pretty black corals.

Sudan

In the mysterious waters of Sudan, whose dive sites are among the most remarkable in the world, abounds a dense marine life. Sudan offers the best dives of the Red Sea in terms of animal and plant species. North of Port Sudan, there are piles of small reefs that stand in the clear waters, colored by the fauna and the flora present here. Some sites are even classified as World Heritage by UNESCO.

This is particularly the case of Sanganeb Reef, atoll known for its abundance of hammerhead sharks and gray sharks. Dolphins even have fun with divers wanting to do some snorkeling in the red sea. In the area, it is impossible to miss the most popular diving spot of Sudan which is none other than Sha’ab Rumi. This reef made of lagoons, drop offs and shoal has an impressive amount of marine species such as humpback parrots, jacks, snappers or barracudas. But the element that has made the site famous for decades is the one and only Precontinent II. This is an experiment conducted by Commander Cousteau in 1963 during which five men lived one month at 10 meters deep and two others for a week at 25 meters. Imagine the challenge of this project! Here, nature has taken over and everything is now covered with coral and alcyonaries. Do not miss this visit!

South of Port Sudan, opt for a dive-stay on sites much less populated but which offer guaranteed sensations! The underwater topography offers beautiful landscapes where beautiful soft and black corals proliferate. The fauna is no less interesting than in the north. At Pinnacle, Shaab Ambar or Protector, day and night, you’ll see hammerhead sharks, eagle rays, gray sharks and parrot fish with bumps in every direction. In conclusion, you will find a rich and colorful atmosphere for unforgettable dives!

Saudi Arabia

To discover the region, the best solution is to book a liveaboard in Saudi Arabia and divers are coming from all around the world wishing to visit the nearby reefs and islets. Here, the dive sites offer a mixture of vertiginous drop offs and coral plateaus where abound an incredible fauna like many species of sharks: the silver tips, the silky ones or even the hammerhead sharks. Whether you are in the North at Yanbu Reef or South in the Farasan area, you will be able to enjoy great dives. You will dive with tunas, schools of jacks, barracudas and all kinds of rays. Although Saudi Arabia is little known for its dives, it deserves a trip because of its aquatic population and its impressive underwater architecture!

Israel

A veritable land of contrasts with arid deserts, mountainous, massifs and lush plains, Israel is certainly one of the most fantastic countries in the Red Sea. For a diving trip in Israel, this country has a myriad of possibilities in transparent waters whose bottom is rich in coral reefs where the rays of the sun are reflected. The spots are, as you have understood, incredible and you will dive on extraordinary wrecks and archaeological sites, all in the heart of a protected and preserved reserve. The sites we want you to remember are: Achziv, Caesarea and Eilat. Achziv is a gigantic underwater canyon full of octopuses, turtles and rays. The flora is also very present with beautiful sponges and beautiful soft corals. In Caesarea, the change of scenery is striking. This site has a rich history that goes back several centuries. Indeed, you will find vestiges dating back to ancient times in the middle of limestone cliffs, caves and underwater galleries. It will be a real entertaining, thrilling and fun excursion! In Eilat, more than 800 rare species live in an explosion of colors from coral clusters. This exceptional environment accessible to all levels, will leave you speechless! Your eyes will fail to capture all these beauties!