The Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh stretches along the seashore for several tens of kilometers. The most famous resort area for tourists is Naama Bay, called the local Vegas because of the vast and varied entertainment industry. In the city center, you will find casinos and hotels of all price categories, restaurants with a rich menu and nightclubs that never stay empty. And yet the main treasure that attracts thousands of travelers to the Egyptian shores is, of course, the sea. In Sharm el-Sheikh, whose name translates from Arabic as “Sheikh's Bay,” the Red Sea forms the Gulf of Aqaba, which stretches further northeast to the shores of Jordan and Israel.
The climate in the resort is classified as tropical desert, and therefore in summer thermometers often reach + 45 ° С. The sea warms up to + 28 ° С - + 29 ° С in summer, but in winter the water temperature never drops below + 20 ° С - + 22 ° С, which allows vacationers on the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh to swim quite comfortably even in January.
Choosing a beach
The Red Sea occupies the first lines in the ratings of the most beautiful on the planet. Choosing a hotel in Sharm El Sheikh, you can be guided by any preferences, but you can be sure that bright fish will delight you on all beaches. But corals can cause certain inconveniences, so you should stock up on special shoes for safe entry into the water or prefer a beach with pontoons:
- There are many coastal areas in the Naama Bay area, partially filled with imported sand. Corals will not interfere with swimming, and special buoys serve as a reference point for such comfortable zones.
- Sharm El Maya is the most favorable area in the resort for families with children. Fine sand and a gentle entrance to the sea, which remains shallow for a long time, are necessary conditions for the safe bathing of babies and those who consider themselves not too experienced swimmers. The beaches in this area are equipped with rescue towers, from where they monitor the possible approach of predators.
- In Ras Umm el-Side, on the other hand, the depth begins immediately from the entrance to the sea. The coastal strip is narrow, it is convenient to dive from pontoons, but some areas are suitable for swimming for children, because they are cleared of corals.
- If you chose Nabq, you can get into the water on most beaches without any problems and on the soft sand. Coral thickets begin only a few tens of meters away, and the shallow waters of Nabqa are also ideal for families.
- When heading to Shark's Bay, be prepared to dive from the pontoons. There is no other way to safely enter the water on local beaches. But the fauna of the Red Sea in this part of Sharm el-Sheikh will delight you more than anywhere else.
When going for a swim, pay attention to the signals of the rescuers and the weather forecast. The sea often brings unpleasant surprises, the consequences of which can be avoided by following the accepted rules of conduct.
Diving in Sharm
For lovers of underwater beauty, Sharm El Sheikh is an ideal place to fulfill the most cherished desires. The diversity of the Red Sea fauna is known to divers all over the world, and you can dive or snorkel here in almost any part of the resort coast.
Seasoned divers have more than a dozen sites, among which you can find safe diving sites for beginners and challenging areas for pros.
Among the most famous are the Ras Mohammed Nature Reserve and Tiran Island. The first is a national park that was founded at the end of the last century. Popular diving areas in the reserve: Jackfish with a white reef plateau; Ras Za'Atir with a 50-meter high reef with caves and crevices; Anemone City with many fish and a sunken ship carrying plumbing; Stingray station, where huge mantas swim in the spring.
In the waters off Tiran Island you can see turtles and barracudas, as well as sunken ships: a German boat and a ship that remained at the bottom of the Red Sea in the second half of the 20th century. The waters of Tiran Island are known for their underwater canyons, arches and natural amphitheaters.
There are diving centers in Sharm in almost any large hotel. Russian-speaking instructors are also not uncommon, which is why you can take diving lessons and receive a certificate of completion.
