From the Sinai Peninsular down to its southern reaches, the Egyptian Red Sea offers some of the world’s best diving opportunities, due to its clear conditions and rich biodiversity, with some 20% of species endemic to Red Sea waters. Away from the city breaks of Cairo and Alexandria Egypt holidays are often centered about diving excursions. Here are five of the best dives that Egypt has to offer.

 1. The Brothers is the name given to two islands, little more than rocks, in the South Red Sea, made conspicuous by the presence of a Victorian lighthouse from Imperial British times. Because of the Brothers’ isolation, this is a live aboard trip.

Seen from above, Little Brother Island would seem to taper away on one side, where there is a gentle slope down to the lower plateau at around 40m depth. This plateau is good for seeing resident grey and silver tip sharks, along with visitors of other shark species.

Little Brother drops away steeply on all other sides, where it is covered by fans and black coral. Copious amounts of fish school here too.

Big brother Island is a steep sided reef with healthy populations of tiny fish, such as anthias and sweepers. It is also home to two Twentieth Century wrecks: the Numidia and the Aida.

2. HMS Thistlegorm is a British World War Two cargo vessel of over a hundred meters, which was sunk whilst carrying a heavy compliment of war machinery, including motorbikes, tanks, planes, guns and trucks. Much of this remains in remarkable condition, both in the wreck and scattered around on the surrounding sea bed.

The main hull sits upright at just over 30 meters and the holds are fully accessible. There is so much to see that most people take two days diving this wreck. This abundance of features, in addition to the high level of preservation, makes Thistlegorm one of the most dived on wrecks in the world.

3. The strong currents produced in the Straights of Tiran draw large numbers of pelagic fish, including tuna, barracuda and shark. There are four reefs to dive in this area, named after the British men who first mapped them: Jackson Reef, Thomas Reef, Woodhouse Reef and Gordon Reef.

In contrast to the pelagic wildlife, these coral reefs attract multitudes of brightly coloured fish, eels and turtles, in addition to marauding predators, including hammerhead and white tip shark.

There are also several wrecks, including the Luilla, which struck Gordon Reef in 1981.

Be advised that there can be strong currents in some areas of the reefs and so full exploration requires some background experience.

4. Zabargad Island is the largest of Egypt’s national marine parks. From Turtle Bay you descend to 30 metres, where you are met by a maze of coral pinnacles, sporting multi coloured sponges, fans, nudibranchs and urchins, along with the usual reef species of fish, octopus, cuttlefish and ray.

North of the island is the wreck of the 70 metre Khanka, a Russian cargo vessel that sank in 24 metres of water and has stayed almost fully intact, so that the interior can be fully explored.

5. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef lie in the Ras Mohammed National Park; two conically shaped reefs in close proximity. These, most famous of Red Sea dives, play host to the vast majority of species to be found in this part of the world.

The East side of the reefs has a sheer wall and attracts hoards of large pelagic species. It has its own resident shoal of Barracuda and snappers, along with plenty of sharks. To the West, there is a shallower coral plateau, with multi-coloured anthias, rays, scorpion fish and jacks, to name a few.

The Yolanda Reef receives its name from the wreck of the Yolanda cargo vessel, with its load of toilet basins and other bathroom accoutrements. Most surreal!

image credit to divers adventure

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Cave diving is one of the most challenging and potentially dangerous kinds of diving, but it can also be one of the most rewarding. It offers an opportunity to explore underwater landscapes that are otherwise entirely inaccessible and can lead to truly unforgettable experiences. Descending into the depths of a cave can be like entering an entirely new secret world: alien and unfamiliar, but often breathtakingly beautiful. Repeated diving allows you to get to grips with the strange and sometimes disorientating atmosphere of caves, so liveaboard diving holidays are ideal for exploring them thoroughly. Here are some suggestions of the best places to go cave diving:

The Great Blue Hole, Belize

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Perfectly circular, 300 metres across and 124 metres deep, the Great Blue Hole at Belize’s Lighthouse Reef is a popular spot among divers looking to get their PADI Deep Diver certificate. Jacques-Yves Cousteau declared it one of the top ten scuba diving sites in the world. The caves here are home to a number of species of shark, as well as elaborate stalactite and breathtaking coral formations.

St John’s Caves, Egypt

The southern Red Sea is home to a number of spectacular reefs and caves, and St John’s is one of the most impressive. Home to an amazing variety of marine life, as well as a kind of serenity hard to match, St John’s is the perfect focal point for Red Sea liveaboards.

Blue Abyss, Mexico

Home to a series of intense and fragile cave decorations, as well as some of the most vivid blue you’re likely to see, Mexico’s Blue Abyss is a rare treat for serious divers – and one that few manage to experience.

Cuzan Nah Loop, Mexico

This stretch of the world’s longest cave system, the Sac Aktun in Mexico, is filled with enormous, beautiful cave decorations. It’s perfect for less experienced divers, with easy access, but that makes it no less interesting for even the most hardened and serious of you.

Chinhoyi, Zimbabwe

‘Spiritual’ and ‘addictive’ are words that are often used to describe the experience of diving at Chinhoyi. While Zimbabwe might not be everyone’s ideal holiday location, these caves are some of the most special on the planet, offering divers a chance to experience incomparable serenity in caves linked to eons of folklore and myth.

Alghero Caves, Sardinia

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Home to the Nereo cave, the largest in the Mediterranean, this complex is home to more than 300 caves, making it the most important diving site in Europe. Combined with the local wine and the warm Sardinian waters, cave diving here is perfect for a relaxing break.

Blue Holes, Bahamas

Frequent blackouts, ancient animals, and labyrinthine passages: Bahama’s Blue Holes are not for the faint of heart, or the novice. Providing serious diving for serious divers, these caves seem to disappear into an inescapable abyss, but if you make it through, you’ll never forget it.

Devil’s Eye, Florida

One of the most dived cave networks in the world, with over 30,000 feet of mapped passageways, it’s possible to dedicate your life to diving here and still not see all of it. As part of a resort complex, your trip here will be comfortable and full of amenities that other places might not provide, such as warm showers before the dive.

Komati Springs, South Africa

A flooded asbestos mine, this is now a world-renowned technical training venue. With a maximum depth of 55 metres and varying levels of visibility, it is perfect for advanced training.

El Cenote, Cuba

Centuries of tropical rainstorms in this formerly dry cave have led to some of the most unique stalactite formations you’ll ever see in these caves, which are also home to a species of fish not found anywhere else on the planet.

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When you first think about Egypt it is most likely that you think about temples, tombs, pyramids and dry, hot desert weather. You would probably be surprised to learn about the abundance of scuba diving locations within the area. Scuba diving in Egypt is a phenomenon in and of itself and if you love diving down deep you simply have to visit this unique country. Within Egypt there are a few destinations you should seek out including Sharm El Sheik, Hurghada, Dahab and Marsa Alam.

Sharm El Sheik is one of the most exquisite diving spots within the entire Red Sea. From the lush sandy beaches, the tropical climate and the exciting nightlife including restaurants and casinos there is not too much else that you could ask for. Just picture yourself in one of the most tropical, beautiful diving locations in the world and you will have just a small sense of what it’s like visiting Sharm El Sheik. If you are thinking about going scuba diving in Egypt then you need to spend some time in this area or you will regret it.

Hurghada is another popular diving destination in Egypt. It is characterized by its sheltered reef and exciting dives close to shore. There are also quite a few, popular wrecks within the area that can be visited if you are interested in doing so. The underwater sea life varies greatly and you have the opportunity to see some exotic creatures at all times. Possibly the best part of the area is that it is perfect for beginner divers. The water is shallow, warm and extremely clear yet this does not take away from the beauty or number of sites you may be able to see. Some of the wrecks you can find just off of the shore are breathtaking and you do not need to be an expert diver to access them. While the area is less developed and not as popular as Sharm El Sheik, it is gaining popularity all the time. Many people that go scuba diving in Egypt are now electing to visit Hurghada and for good reasons, and not just for the diving. There are a number of excellent markets and bazaars where you can go shopping, or other activities such as jeep safaris or a chance to visit some famous temples.

Dahab is a much lesser known location to go scuba diving in Egypt, but should not be ignored. The village started off as a small fishing village and used to be known as a hangout spot for hippies. The Blue Hole and the Canyon are two of the most famous diving spots in Egypt but you want to make sure you take a few lessons before trying to conquer the waves within the Red Sea. The main appeal for this area is that it is a lot less uptight in comparison to Sharm El Sheikh and thus you can relax and enjoy yourself a lot more. This relaxed atmosphere by way no means that you won’t have access to all the amenities you want. Dahab offers a beautiful spot for diving, attractive beaches, warm people, laid back atmosphere and all the five star accommodations you need. If you are a little tighter in your budget, that is not a problem either. You can find the perfect hotel and dive tour to suit your desires and budget.

Now if you are looking for a truly unique and unspoiled dive spot then you need visit Marsa Alam when scuba diving in Egypt. Most dive trips within the area focus on eco diving and projects that are set up and focused on the environment and preserving the beauty within the area. From half day tours to full day tours far off the shore you can experience toiling directly with nature in Marsa Alam. No more overcrowded beaches or dive sites and no more mega resorts plastered around the area. This is nature at its best and if you want to truly experience natural diving then this is the place to be.

The best months to go scuba diving in Egypt are hard to classify. The entire year offers ideal weather but you may want to visit from December to march in order to dive more comfortably. At this time the weather is less intense and will not completely sweat you out. The water temperature in Egypt varies from between 25 degrees Celsius to 30 degrees Celsius at any given time. When swimming in the area you will most likely require extra weights as the Red Sea is extremely salty and offers extra buoyancy. The visibility you will notice underwater when scuba diving in Egypt is unrivaled. You can usually see as far as 30m below the surface at any give time. When it comes to climate in Egypt it is always warm and gets extra hot right around May where the temperatures can exceed 40 degrees Celsius. However the air cools significantly at night and the temperatures are hardly ever unbearable.

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This year Egypt’s tourism authorities will be «filtering» diving centers. This will result in their numbers to be cut by 10-15%, states the Chairman of the House of diving and water sports of Egypt (CDWS) – Hisham Gabr.

He added that in this means that every 10-th diving center in Egypt will be closed.

According to him, in 2009, all diving centers of Egypt will be required to switch to the new standards of ISO, developed by the European Underwater Federation and the Austrian Institute of Standards and obtain a new license from CDWS.

«Now diving services in the Red Sea are offered by more than 350 licensed diving centers, – explained H. Gabr. – Last year it 18 centers were closed that offer substandard services».

According to him, until March 31, all of the diving center of Southern Sinai will be required to complete the procedures, to obtain the new license corresponding to new standards.

«Until the end of June licensing in Hurghada and El Gunne will be completed. Those centers which do not receive a new license in time, can obtain a temporary license for a month, which may be renewed for up to three months».

License are issued by the Ministry of Tourism of Egypt for a year.

President of CDWS noted that to deal with diving centers, which received complaints from tourists is planned to create a marine police, which may prevent access to the sea boats carrying the clients of these centers.

«Punishment will be closure of these diving centers for a period of 1 to 6 months», – he added.

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