Divers’ paradise on the Red Sea

The world’s eyes are on Sharmel-Sheikh, which hosts the 27th United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP27).

The conference brings together tens of thousands of people, including statesmen, government heads, business leaders, environmentalists and international organizations’ officials, who are in the Red Sea city to find ways to mitigate the effects of climate change.

Located at the confluence of the gulfs of Aqaba and Suez on the Red Sea, Sharmel-Sheikh is an irresistible tourist magnet.

The city covers an area of 480 kilometres, making it the largest city in South Sinai Governorate.

It contains beautiful beaches frequented by visitors from all parts of the world.

Sharmel-Sheikh is a famous international diving centre that attracts amateurs and professionals of this sport.

The city was built in 1968. It is known as the ‘City of Peace’.

Since its construction, the city has fascinated the world, being viewed as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Scuba diving is considerably new in Egypt. Nevertheless, it has become a very popular sport among locals and foreigners.

This sport has so far attracted over 100,000 Egyptians. South Sinai is also the most popular scuba diving centre at the national level, even as Egypt boasts a number of other equally beautiful sites.

South Sinai has unique characteristics that put it at the forefront of the scuba diving practice.

This is because this part of Egypt is unique as a diving site. It has matchless underwater treasures that boost its status as a prime diving area.

Around 10,000 people dive in Ras Mohammed annually.

Popular diving sites in South Sinai also include Ras Umm Sayed, the Tower area and the Gulf of Aqaba. These diving spots attract divers from all parts of the world.

The Jackson Reef site is also famous for the wreck of a giant Cypriot merchant ship called ‘Lara’. This ship sank on the northern edge of the reef in 1981. The shipwreck has not been preserved yet.

There are over 20 internationally recognized diving training centres in the area.

These centres give trainees diving licenses and are supervised by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors.

There are also over 100 diving operators that offer services, ranging from certified scuba diving courses for beginners to professional and technical diving courses.

A guided dive is offered also to the region’s distinct coral reefs in the Red Sea.

With its rich cliffs, coral gardens and incredible fish life, Sharm el-Sheikh is one of the favourite places for divers on the Red Sea Riviera.

Most of the beaches in Sharmel-Sheikh have reliable and well-regulated diving centres, officially registered with the South Sinai Diving and Marine Activities Association.