Sharm El-Chic

Barefoot all day and drunk all night. Countless people could, and generally do, describe their seaside vacation in Sharm El-Sheikh this way. Although drunken debauchery seems to take center stage at this haven for coastal crowds, the best thing about Sharm is the fact that you can find almost anything that suits your mood at any time of the day or night.

Sharm El-Sheikh’s rapid ascent into the top tier of coastal holiday destinations has brought with it some brilliant additions, but also the less appealing trappings of any tourist boomtown. On the plus side, the city is now by far the best place to party within 1,000 kilometers of Cairo.

Throngs of wealthy tourists have also lifted the standards of the local hospitality scene. When it comes to hotels, restaurants, recreation and service standards, Sharm El-Sheikh is now truly world class — something that cannot be said of any other Egyptian tourist town. Sharm is now more Las Vegas than Goa: Those seeking a mellow Sinai vacation have migrated north in search of what once was in places like Dahab and Ras Abu Ghalum. Not to worry though, the great thing about Sharm is you can find anything to suit your fancy and budget.

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Spectacular diving on the wreck of the El Arish El Tor, Safaga

Captain Karmi starts the two outboards and the speed boat ‘Mimi’ roars to life. It takes only a few minutes until we reach the site. A back roll gets us into the water where we descend on the line.

All I can see in the beginning is blue water and a school of fusilier but as I continue down, at 17 metres we reach the wreck. She came to rest on her starboard side and we start our dive right at the bow. The name ‘El Arish El Tor’ is still legible and the anchor chain is covered with soft corals.

We dive past what has once been the bridge, descend further to 35 metres and shine our torches beneath the vessel. The orange rescue boats are tucked underneath and life vests are hanging all over the place. It’s an eerie scene, but fortunately the sinking of this ship did not cost any lives.
On the chimney we discover the logo of the Sayed Nasr lines and I spot a blue spotted sting ray that has made its home here while a very large school of soldier fish attempt to hide in the wreck.
We swim through what once was a shaded seating area. Now only metal frames and the roof of corrugated metal are left; fire sponges and purple fan coral give it new life. As we round the stern the two enormous propellers are silhouetted against the surface, covered with huge soft corals and I stop to take a few pictures. On our way back we encounter thousands (!) of yellow tail barracudas that are forming an actual layer of fish over the top of the wreck, sweeping back and forth as some large mackerels shoot through them in pursuit.

It’s time to ascend and during our safety stop we watch a group of Indian mackerels fishing for plankton, their mouths wide open as they swim in synchronised splendour. As we finally break the surface the captain is ready to help us with our kit and during the swift ride back we start to discuss all the things we’ve see on this dive! We continue recalling more and more details all the way through the beautifully cooked BBQ at the Safaga Beach Club restaurant until it’s time for our next dive.

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Emaar set to create Dubai along Red Sea!

Emaar Properties, after having mobilised Dubai’s property market, is now involved in creating another Dubai along the Red Sea .

Located in Rabigh near Jeddah, King Abdullah Economic City (KAEC) is the single largest private sector project in the region with a total land plot area of 168 million square metres, which generates a built-up area of 144.75million sqm. It has the potential to create one million jobs and be home to 1.5 to two million residents.

KAEC is one of the six economic cities being set up in Saudi Arabia to promote balanced regional development, achieve economic diversification, create jobs and upgrade competitiveness.!


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Petra History

Petra wasn't exactly a lost city. But by the early 1800s only the Bedouin herdsmen of the desert in what is now Jordan visited this ancient capital of the Nabataeans. To the world at large, its location was a mystery. The fabled city was said to lie concealed in a gorge somewhere between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba -- but maps were as hazy as the blowing sands.

Then in 1812, Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt disguised himself as "Ibrahim ibn Abd Allah," a bearded, turban-wearing, Arabic-speaking pilgrim. So convincing was his masquerade that no one stopped him from entering Petra, the "city in the rock," which no outsider had seen since the 12th century.

He found a city whose golden age had begun in the second century B.C., its prosperity stemming from expansive trade. Commerce brought cross-pollination from many other cultures and influenced Petra's architecture, which blended Arabic traditions with Hellenistic and Egyptian styles to create astonishing tombs, temples, and theaters -- all carved into cliffs of Nubian sandstone.

In the first century A.D., Rome took control of Petra, and the Nabataeans' territory soon yielded much of the Empire's profits. Six centuries later, earthquakes hit the city, and it was eventually abandoned.

The city is approached through a snaking mountain fissure, varying from 16 to 650 feet deep. After nearly a mile, the passage suddenly opens to reveal one of the world's most dramatic sights, al-Khazneh, the Treasury, thought to have been the tomb of a Nabataean king. Its facade -- some 100 feet wide and 140 feet high -- is embellished with soaring columns and statues of gods, mythological figures, and animals. Carved into the soft rock, the building takes on an otherworldly appearance when the sun strikes it, a rose glow that seems to come from within the rock itself.

The route into Petra next opens on a broad canyon where the Nabataeans built the bulk of their hidden city. The city includes a 7,000-seat theater, temples, and more royal tombs, all carved in rose-colored rock. Over everything hangs a hush, the silence of a lost world.

Tackling the Rubbish

We all know that the amount of rubbish in the Red Sea region is unsightly, unhealthy and unacceptable; but things are being done to help tackle the problem…

One such initiative is the Material Recovery Facility (MRF), now open in Marsa Alam. The Facility is part of HEPCA’s Solid Waste Management Strategy for the Red Sea, undertaken in cooperation with USAID, the EEAA, the National Parks of Egypt and the Association for the Protection of the Environment, and with private donations.

Separated waste items are collected at source and transported in our stunning new trucks to the Facility. Organic waste is passed on to the local community for animal feed. Non-organic waste is sorted, processed and traded through to recycling firms where possible, or otherwise placed into a managed dumpsite for non-recyclables.

Contracts with hotels, dive centres and other tourism establishments in the Marsa Alam region are currently being concluded. The Solid Waste Management Strategy not only focuses on the collection and recycling of waste, but also provides valuable employment opportunities to the local community. A second MRF is due to open in the Hurghada area later this year.

SpotRedSea.com - number 1 on google

Whatever you are searching for on the Red Sea coast, be sure that SpotRedSea.com will be shown in the very first results on google.
It's a must for each business owner to have his company listed in the first ever online business directory in the Red Sea.

Just give it a try:
Do a search for your company on SpotRedSea.com - if it's not there, contact us with your company details.
If it is there and you would like to add your contact details to your listing, just send us an E-mail.

It's all FREE!

Tamer Hosny's big heart

It is unfortunately common for artists to be blinded by the limelight and forget what is happening around them and hence do very little about it. However, one man who hasn’t forgotten what his country did for him and that there are needy people everywhere is Tamer Hosny. In an attempt to make a change Tamer has decided to go on a tour with the title ‘Bahebek Ya Balady’ which will cover several cities in Egypt, what is special about this tour is that Tamer will make no financial gain from it. Tickets to his concerts will be priced at approximately 5 E.P and all the revenue will be donated to Egyptian charities.

In a statement made to the press Tamer says he has been considering this for a while and that he doesn’t care if this affects his career badly as long as he can help the needy children out there. Tamer will be visiting approximately 27 areas in Egypt and will be setting up an email and phone number for any companies wishing to make donations to his cause. I personally think this initiative is outstanding! If every artist decided to use their fame not to get into clubs but to help the needy then the world would be a different place.

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Saudi Arabia Red Sea Health & Hospitals

No specific vaccinations are required to travel to the Red Sea, but it is recommended to consult with your physician 2 months before leaving. Your Tetanus, Diphtheria, Polio, Typhoid and Hepatitis A and B should all be up to date before leaving. If Malaria is endemic in the area you are traveling to, you should make sure to get a specific anti-malaria medication from your physician. An international health insurance policy is highly recommended. Most insurance policies do not cover divers, so check if you need additional insurance for this.

When traveling to the Red Sea with its desert environment, the three major hazards are dehydration, sunburn and an upset stomach. Drink plenty of mineral water and isotonic drinks (like coke and sprite), use high-factor sunscreens, and wear a hat and sunglasses. A change in diet often results in upset stomachs. Never drink tap water, and check the seal on bottled water. Prefer cooked food or peeled fresh fruit/vegetables, and use mineral water to brush your teeth, and to wash fruit/vegetables. Eat in restaurants that are busy, and where both the establishment and the staff look clean.

Public toilets are better avoided. Use the toilet facilities of mid to top-range hotels, and of western-style or tourist restaurants. Toilet paper, if available, should be disposed off in the bins provided, as local toilet systems can only take so much of it. If you travel to the desert, don't throw toilet paper away or bury it, take a plastic bag with you and dispose of it later.

Even though most pharmacies are very well supplied and any medication can be obtained without prescription, a basic first aid kid is also a good idea. It should contain painkiller/antipyretic/anti-inflammatory tabs, antihistamine tabs & cream, decongestant, multi-vitamins/iron, wide spectrum antibiotic, seasickness tabs, intestinal antiseptic, diarrhea tabs, rehydration salts, antiseptic solution, antibiotic spray & cream, antifungal cream/powder, insect repellent, sting relief cream/spray, bandages, plasters, adhesive & sterile dressings, non-sticking antibiotic dressings, gauze, steri-strips, cotton wool, syringes & needles. Check the expiry dates on all medicines and prescriptions. When traveling (especially in Saudi Arabia) it is highly recommended that you keep the written prescription with your medication. Many of the larger Hotels in the Red Sea have a doctor on call, and the bigger cities have private hospitals, of which some offer very reliable medical care, are clean and equipped with latest technology.

Saudi Arabia Red Sea Local Time & Weather
Time: GMT plus 3 hours

Saudi Arabia Red Sea Currencies & Banks

Saudi Cairo Bank ATMs are linked to the Cirrus and Plus networks. This is a good way to avoid carrying a lot of cash and ensures that you get the latest exchange rate. However, check with your bank before leaving home as some PIN numbers are not compatible due to foreign keypads and some banks charge a small fortune to withdraw money overseas. Cash advances can be taken out on Visa and MasterCard at most major banks, be sure to have your passport ready for this.

Changing travellers' cheques can be a real pain. Many banks and moneychangers either won't take them, will only change brands they sell or will only cash them for account holders. Always carry your original purchase receipt with you, as the few places that change cheques will require it. Also, don't forget your passport for cashing travelers cheques. If you're changing cash, moneychangers will give you a slightly better rate than banks.

Saudi Arabia uses the Saudi Arabian Riyal

Red Sea - Saudi Arabia

Saudi Arabia has intrigued travelers for years with its vast deserts and holy cities. It is the birthplace of the Arab race and the Arabic language. Saudi Arabia has the largest petroleum reserves in the world and continues to host modern, oil rich metropolises. Its Red Sea Coast line is vast and varied making it an ideal place to dive.


Red Sea Jeddah

Known as the Paris of Saudi Arabia, Jeddah is mid-way down the country's Red Sea coast. It is considered the most interesting & friendly of Saudi Arabia's big cities. Jeddah is centered on Al-Balad, the strip of buildings along the coastal road with the old city directly behind them. Jeddah's Red Sea coast is full of reefs, creeks and wadis to keep even the most advanced diver busy. There are numerous underwater wrecks just waiting to be explored.

Red Sea Mecca

The Holy City of Mecca lies inland 73 kilometers east of Jeddah. Mecca is the place where the Prophet Mohammed was born and where God's message was first revealed to him. Most Muslim visitors to the Kingdom come solely to visit Mecca which is inaccessible to non-Muslims. Mecca is Islam's holiest city and all muslims who are not prevented by personal circumstances make the pilgramige to Mecca at least once in their lives. Every day, five times a day, all devout Muslims around the world turn towards Mecca and pray.

Red Sea destinations

Why is the Red Sea called 'Red'? Some believe it was named after the majestic red mountain ranges lining its shores. Or is it from the strange phenomena that occurs every few years when rare floating algae give it a reddish-brown tinge?

The Red Sea is known the world round for its clear blue waters, pristine beaches and abundance of underwater life. The Red Sea is the habitat of over 1000 invertebrate species and 200 soft and hard corals, of the many vertebrate species there are over 300 types of sharks. It is the second saltiest body of water in the world-second only to the Dead Sea which lies between Israel and Jordan.

The Red Sea's most northerly point forms the Sinai Peninsula and stretches over a thousand miles south to join the Indian Ocean, between Djibouti and Yemen. It is roughly 1900 km long and 300 km across at its widest point. The Red Sea has long been used as a highway between East and West facilitating trade between many countries. Bordering countries on the African continent include Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea and Sudan. On the Asian continent, Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen border its shores.

From the resort towns of El Gouna, Eliat and Hurghada to the spectacular diving at Dahab and Sharm el Sheikh, the Red Sea offers something for every traveler. Explore the almost untouched dive sites of Marsa Alam & Lahami Bay in the Southern Red Sea, snorkel your way through pristine waters off the shore of Makadi Bay, or embark on a liveaboard diving safari off the pristine waters of the Red Sea coast.

For those who like to venture off the beaten track, head to Sudan where the coast is riddled with reefs or to Saudi Arabia where much of the Red Sea coastline is now open to scuba diving. Jordan is one of the most welcoming, hospitable countries in the world and Aqaba, located in the far South, boasts some of the best diving.