is a deep and narrow offshoot of the Indian Ocean boasting a fully developed and colorful reef system. European divers blazed the trail to resort cities and live-aboard ports on the Egyptian coast and Sinai Peninsula, plus the shores of Israel and Jordan. Now, North American divers are following.
Wrecks. Accessible from the tip of the Sinai or the Egyptian coast, the narrow and treacherous Gubal Straits are littered with large, intact wrecks. Some date back to World War II.
Seamounts. Undersea plateaus attract a full range of marine life, from dense schools of tropicals to pelagic sharks and rays.
The Brothers Islands. These remote islands, reached by live-aboard, are considered the healthiest-and most advanced-reef diving in the Red Sea.
Shallow Reefs. Accessible from shore or by day boat, nearshore reefs throughout the region are popular diving and snorkeling sites.
Dive In
Temperatures can reach 100F or more during the day, but chill considerably at night.
Range from the low 70Fs in winter to the low 80Fs in summer.
Consistently around 100 feet, except during localized plankton blooms.
You'll need a valid passport (one at least six months before expiration) and tourist visa to enter any of the countries surrounding the Red Sea. Dive shops and live-aboards tend to be hotel-based.
touregypt.net/vdc.
