The diving in the Sharm El Sheikh area runs from Ras Mohammed at the tip of the Sinai peninsula and runs north up the east coast to the Tiran Reefs in the Gulf of Aqaba. This area benefits from the shelter of the land and conditions are usually calm to moderate, unlike the western coast of Sinai which can get rough, as the winds blow down the length of the Gulf of Suez. Most of the diving is in the Ras Mohammed national park so do not touch the coral or feed the fish otherwise you may find yourselves with a ticket from the rangers. Where ever you dive around the Sinai you are in for some excitement, fantastic coral and great diving.
Jackson Reef
Most northerly of the reefs of Tiran and the northern limit of day boats from Sharm El Sheikh. The wreck of the "Lara" lies at the northern end. There is superb wall diving along its entire perimeter, with numerous buttresses and gullies. Sightings of sharks, turtles and other big fish are not uncommon and you will find a huge diversity of different corals and sponges as well as clouds of trigger fish, masked puffers and banner fish. At the point you may be lucky and spot a Hammerhead in summer.
Thomas Reef
Between Gordon and Woodhouse reefs, smaller round reef with walls plunging deep and fully covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colourful fish life. It is almost possible to circumnavigate this reef in one dive. The east wall plunges dramatically to great depths with a mass of brightly coloured soft corals. The west wall is darker with overhangs and caves but is a great drift dive with sightings of Trevally and Tuna in the blue and schooling reef fish close to the reef.
Jackson Reef
Most northerly of the reefs of Tiran and the northern limit of day boats from Sharm El Sheikh. The wreck of the "Lara" lies at the northern end. There is superb wall diving along its entire perimeter, with numerous buttresses and gullies. Sightings of sharks, turtles and other big fish are not uncommon and you will find a huge diversity of different corals and sponges as well as clouds of trigger fish, masked puffers and banner fish. At the point you may be lucky and spot a Hammerhead in summer.
Thomas Reef
Between Gordon and Woodhouse reefs, smaller round reef with walls plunging deep and fully covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colourful fish life. It is almost possible to circumnavigate this reef in one dive. The east wall plunges dramatically to great depths with a mass of brightly coloured soft corals. The west wall is darker with overhangs and caves but is a great drift dive with sightings of Trevally and Tuna in the blue and schooling reef fish close to the reef.
White Knight
The reef wall drops away to a sandy plateau at about 13m, at the center is a gully with swim throughs at 10m and 35m. There is an eel garden to the north. This sheltered site is home for trigger fish, groupers and the occasional manta.
Ras Ghazlani
At the Northern Tip of Marsa Bareika, Ras Ghazalani rates as one of the most beautiful dive sites in the Ras Mohamed area. Having been closed to divers for many years, this site has an extraordinary array of beautiful table corals, glass fish covered pinnacles and an overall stunning landscape. Keep your eyes open for the huge Blackspotted Pufferfish, Malabar Groupers and the occasional Eagle Ray. A very gentle drift dive, this site makes a perfect end to your diving day.
Ras Mohammed
Really several dive sites, Ras Mohammed has earned itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world, here at the tip of the Sinai where the vast bodies of water, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet has created an ecosystem like no other and wall diving is at its very best.
Shark Observatory
The site is not aptly named as it is not noted for its shark sightings, however, it is a fantastic dive. Beneath the towering cliffs that continue below the surface to disappear into the deep abyss the wall is covered with soft coral and honeycombed with numerous gullies and canyons that are home to hoards of glass fish and hatchet fish herded by red mouth grouper. An overhang, fringed with sea fans at 10m, is a great place to watch the Trevallies, Jacks and Turtles passing in the blue. At the southern end Anemone city is worth a visit.
To read more about Sharm dive sites from Emperor Divers click here
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