Dive Sites of EgyptFor scuba divers looking to make their next big trip abroad, there are few places in the world that can match Egypt. It is renowned as being one of the very best places to dive in the world, with dozens of outstanding dive sites along the coast. Tropical fish, coral reefs and ancient wrecks are all to be found beneath the Red Sea and the numerous high quality dive schools make it easy for those who wish to learn to scuba dive on their holidays to Egypt. Hurghada A few years ago, it was a simple fishing village, now Hurghada is one of the principal resorts for holidays to Egypt, attracting a large number of visitors each year to its outstanding hotels and splendid beaches. Off the coast, a treasure trove of great dive sites are waiting to be found beneath the waves. The Careless Reef is justly one of the more popular dive sites in Hurghada, with its many coral forests and a dense population of fish (including the occasional hammerhead shark.) One of the best sites is Abu Rimata, nicknamed 'The Aquarium', which is famous for the teeming schools of tropical fish that are to be found there. Another must-see is Shaab Abu Nahas. Weather conditions need to be good to visit this exposed site, but the five shipwrecks that are found here make it well worth the wait. If you like shipwrecks, the Wreck of the El Minya is also well worth visiting. Sharm el Sheikh In contrast to Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh has been a major Egyptian city and sea port for many years and is one of the most popular places to go on holidays to Egypt. The city itself continues to be a major attraction in the area, but most visitors stay at one of the coastal hotels nearby to take advantage of the outstanding beaches and the great opportunities for diving that are to be found all along the coast. It's hard to choose from the many excellent dive sites around Sharm el Sheikh, but one of the top runners has to be Ras Ghazlani. Its stunning coral reefs (closed to divers for many years) and high numbers of fish and manta rays make it an essential place to visit. Ras Mohammed is another local highlight, regarded as one of the best dive sites in the world and home to a unique and diverse ecosystem. For a really unforgettable dive, head over to Shark and Yolanda reefs. Barracudas, silky sharks, coral forests and the wreck of the Yolanda to finish up with - this truly is a dive site that has it all! In this category we have placed all the articles regarding the many Egyptian dive sites. A vast majority of the scuba diving in Egypt takes place in the Red Sea, a body of water famous for its remarkable underwater visibility and rich profusion of marine species. Egypt also borders to the Mediterranean Sea, but scuba diving off the Mediterranean coast is much less common than Red Sea diving during scuba diving vacations to Egypt. The water of the Red Sea is not red. According to one of the most popular theories the name is instead derived from the seasonal blooms of a certain red cyanobacteria named Trichodesmium erythraeum. Other theories suggests that the name could be referring to the mineral-rich red mountains that can be found near the water, that the name is connected to the Hebrew name for the red-faced biblical character Esau, that the name Red Sea originated as a mistranslation where the Hebrew name Sea of Reeds were changed into the Red Sea, or that the name comes from a local ethnic group called Himarites whose name means red. Red can also refer to the geographical direction south. The dive sites in Egypt can be visited year round, but the most popular season is between July and September since this period offers the highest water temperatures. In September, you can expect an average temperature of 81° F (27° C). If you instead arrive in February during the low season, the average water temperature will be around 68° F (20° C). Keep in mind that the air temperature can be very high during the summer season and heat peaks where the air temperature reaches 104° F (40° C) or more in August are not uncommon. The winter season offers a milder climate and the air temperature average 68° F (20° C). If you decide to visit the dive sites in Egypt between November and April a 3 mm or 5 mm wetsuit is recommended. The most popular dive destinations in Egypt are Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, Marsa Alam and Nuweiba/Taba since these coastal cities are surrounded by many interesting dive sites. Shore based dives as well as boat dives are common. You can stay in a hotel on land or book a trip on a live aboard boat. Examples of popular dive sites near Hurghada are the wreck of Thistlegorm, the reef at Bluff Point and the Stingray Station off western Ras Muhammad. Thistlegorm became famous during the 1950s when Jacques Cousteau mentioned it in his Red Sea book. The exact location of the wreck did however remain unknown until 1992 when it was rediscovered by a group of divers. The reef at Bluff Point consists of a steep wall decorated with excellent hard and soft coral growth. The reef features a richness of caves and crevices and plenty of cliff-like sections. Stingray Station is famous for its Bluespotted and Blackspotted stingrays, but you may also encounter Leopard sharks, White tip sharks and Gray reef sharks at this dive site.
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