Red Sea Diving

By Author: Constance Martinez
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The Red Sea, it's name coming from the red tinted mountains that surround it, is said to be one of the 7 Wonders of the underwater world, narrow, elongated in shape and its incredible depth (9,350ft) have led to an unequalled diversity of marine life.

With more than 1,100 species of fish, and over 200 species of soft and hard coral, with the calm warm sea and clear visibility it makes Egypt a world class dive destinations for divers of all levels.

One of the sunniest countries in the world, Egypt averages 11 hours of sunshine a day in the summer (April to October - average temp. 21-28C [70-83°F]) and 8 hours a day in the winter (November to March - average temp. 13-20C [55-67°F]).

An exception to this is the Mediterranean coast, which, although still warm, can experience periods of cloud and rain during the winter months. On the coast and in the Nile Delta during the spring months the Khamsin desert winds blow strong. The winters in Egypt remain warm allowing pleasant travel all year round.

You will need to have light clothes for the daytime when temperatures are high ...
... and warm clothes for the night-time when temperature can plummet.

Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary and are subject to change. so you must consult your GP on current vaccinations needed for you trip.

With the trade route between Africa and the Middle East, Egypt has had an important role in history. Birthplace of one of the greatest civilisations known to man, Pharonic Egypt has left an indelible mark on modern day Egypt. Occupations by Alexander the Great, The Romans, Byzantium, Muslim Dynasties and the Ottoman Empire all have added their character to make what is now one of the world's most visited countries

Egypt is widely regarded as an cultural nation of the Middle East, with some great places to visit, so between your diving try and see some of it's famous monuments, including the Giza pyramid complex with its Great Sphinx , the southern city of Luxor which contains numerous ancient artefacts, such as the Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings.

The Red Sea is a fine choice for diving any time of year but the water temperatures do vary significantly. From June to August the water can reach 28°C but it falls to a chilly 20°C in February. Do plan to bring an appropriate exposure suit to suit the time of year.

In the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea you can see tropical marine life ranging from dolphins and sharks to fantastic fans and feather stars, turtles, blue spotted rays, jacks, snappers, barracudas, lionfish, there is no shortage of variety, with the depths of the reef and the abundance of marine life.

Your diving can include some of the interesting wrecks, vibrant reefs, plateaus, lagoons, caves and gardens, divers will tell you that the Red Sea is unbeatable.

For experienced divers who have seen it all, the further south you go, the better the quality. Marsa Alam and Hurghada can be a good starting point from which to explore incredibly rich sites such as the Elphinstone and the Big Brothers.

If you base yourself close to a selection of the finest dive sites, you will find many dive centres, diving schools to choose from and the owner of any holiday accommodation will be pleased to help with most of your diving needs.

So if diving is your thing, the Red sea offers one of the best destinations in the world. Alan Liptrot writes for Your Holiday Rentals.com, providing worldwide holiday rentals More on that on Red Sea Diving