Egypt’s Red Sea is a jewel of clear, warm waters with a paradise of coral reefs and the sun bathing its shores. It is located in the Indian Ocean, between Africa and Asia, and is visited every year by thousands of tourists attracted by water sports.

Introduction

The Red Sea has more than 2,200 km of coastline south of the Sinai Peninsula, with a width of more than 300 km and many cities built around its beaches. The best known are Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh.

But the charm of the Red Sea does not end here but continues centuries back through the history of mankind, as with everything in Egypt. The whole world knows the Red Sea without having visited it, since it was the scene of one of the most important biblical episodes in history: the one that narrates how Moses parted its waters for the Jewish people who were escaping from the yoke of Pharaoh.

Because of the small thermal variation of the water throughout the year and because it is the warmest sea in the world, the Red Sea is perfect for scuba diving or snorkeling. and see exotic and colorful species: fish, mollusks, corals and other typical exponents of marine flora and fauna. A wide variety of aquatic life that can be seen at temperatures between 20 and 40 degrees.

Red Sea must-see destinations

Hurghada

It is one of theis the most important Egyptian seaside resorts located on the shores of the Red Sea, with colorful seabeds and crystal clear waters. The third most populated in Egypt and one of the newest. Founded in the early 20th century by fishermen as a small village that grew into a large city. It stands out for its beaches, dunes and good food, as well as for its aquarium with thousands of species and for the Gubal Strait, where the best reefs of Hurghada are found and also the remains of many important shipwrecks, which makes it an ideal place for diving.

Sharm el-Sheikh

Famous for its transparent waters for diving or snorkeling, Sharm el Sheikh is one of the main cities of the Red Sea coast and treasures a rich fauna of colorful fish and impressive corals. And one of the great bastions of Egypt’s coastal tourism. It has a rich heritage of mosques and bazaars, as well as restaurants to eat good fresh fish and seafood. Its coastline is home to wonderful coral reefs and the sunsets from any point of the city are very famous.

Marsa Alam

It is located southeast of Egypt, on the western shore of the Red Sea and year after year sees a considerable increase in tourist activity. The reason is its variety of offers, since it not only has paradisiacal beaches but also native species that are not so visible on other beaches, such as sea turtles, crocodile fish and octopuses. It is also known as one of the most important windsurfing destinations in the world and a starting point for safaris. And as if this were not enough, it is home to emerald mines that can be visited on guided tours and the Wadi El Gemal National Park or “Valley of the Camels”.

Berenice and Hamata

They are two cities on the Red Sea coast very close and with different charms. Berenice owes its name to Ptolemy II Philadelphus, a historic city that was an important port in antiquity and still maintains the profile of a port city. Hamata is a smaller town and ideal for diving and also, due to its characteristic winds, ideal for kitesurfing.

Tips for first time divers

Many people choose to dive for the first time in the clear waters of the Red Sea. And although you will receive prior instruction from a specialist, these tips for diving for the first time will be of great help to you.

  • Choose the right day. For your first dive, it is best to have good weather because weather conditions can affect your dive.
  • Ask everything to the monitor. Don’t have any doubts before getting into the water, remember that you won’t be able to communicate with anyone down there.
  • Breathe and relax. You carry an oxygen cylinder on your back, so you can breathe normally and nothing will happen to you. Don’t let your nerves get the better of you once you’re down.
  • It is looked at and not touched. The sea is a natural heritage of mankind, so try not to touch anything. Even for your own safety, think that there are species that you do not know and that you do not know the effect they can cause if you touch them.
  • Climb carefully. When you want to ascend, do it slowly and slowly, because a sudden ascent can affect your lungs due to the sudden change in pressure. The measure of how you rise is the column of bubbles you emit on each exhalation of air: your rise should be slower than the bubbles.
  • Check your equipment. Before a dive it is vitally important that you check your equipment, making sure that your wetsuit and goggles fit properly and that your oxygen tank is working properly.

How to get to the Red Sea

  • Hurghada. The city is connected to Cairo through an international airport that also connects it with some of the main European cities such as London, Rome and Paris.
  • Sharm el Sheikh. You can reach the city by direct flight from Cairo or Luxor (there is no direct flight from Aswan) and from these cities and many others by train or bus.
  • Marsa Alam. You can arrive by plane from Cairo, Luxor or Sharm el Sheikh.
  • Berenice and Hamata. It has an international airport recently opened in Berenice and has flight combinations with Cairo, Luxor and other areas of the Red Sea. Between one city and another you can move by private car, as they are very close.
Other articles that may interest you...

City of the Dead

The City of the Dead in Cairo is one of the strangest and most different visits you will make during

Red Sea

Egypt’s Red Sea is a jewel of clear, warm waters with a paradise of coral reefs and the sun bathing