The coral reef along the Sinai coast is world famous and it is a major international diving destination. Apart from scuba diving snorkeling is also very popular and so are other water sports, such as free-diving, windsurfing, kitesurfing. There are also glass-bottomed boat excursions for families and those who are less keen to submerge into the water. Most of the coast is quite rocky, but there are little stretches and bays with fine sandy beaches. Most places of interest for visitors are on the Gulf of Aqaba coast. On the Gulf of Suez coast there is no coral and diving, but the beaches around Ras Sudr are popular with people from Cairo and it is a great windsurfing spot.
Dive Sites in South Sinai
Sites from North to South: Pharaoh’s Island, Baer el Benet, Maxwell’s, Ras Amira, Zack’s Table, Angel’s Net / Aquarium, El Muqabila, Morgana House Reef, Ras el Shetan, Ray Hole / T-Reef, Al Ma’gana, Um Raicher, Swiss Care House Reef, Pipeline, MFO Sinker or Bouy, Bawaki Dolphin Bay, El Hibeq, Ras Mumlach, Red Tooth Trigger Bay, Ras Abu Galum, The Blue Hole, Rick’s Reef, Coral Garden, The Canyon, Shoe Stump, Eel Gardens, Lighthouse, Mashraba, The Islands, Napoleon Reef, Lionfish Rock, Moray Garden, Three Pools, Umm Sid, Caves, Gabr el-Bint, Kormoran, Jackson Reef, Woodhouse Reef, Thomas Reef, Gordon Reef, Ras Ghamila, Ras Nasrani, Ras Bob, White Knight, Shark’s Bay, Tiger Bay, Fiddle Garden, Far Garden, Middle Garden, Near Garden, Sodfa, Tower, Pinky Wall, Amphoras, Turtle Bay, Paradise, Temple, Ras Katy, Ras Umm Sid, Ras Ghozlani, Marsa Bareika, Ras Za’atar, Ras Burg, Shark Observatory, Shark & Yolanda Reef, Jackfish Alley, The Alternatives, Stingray Station, Lonely Mushroom, Dunraven (Beacon Rock), Small Crack, Thistlegorm, Shag Rock (Kingston)
Natural & Historic Sites
Ras Mohamed National Park
Ras Mohamed National Park is famous for its underwater life and coral reefs and so is usually visited for snorkeling and scubadiving, either by car or boat. It is the southernmost point of the Sinai Peninsula and there are a number of little cute beaches and look-out points. There are toilets and sun-roofs but camping is not allowed.
Nabq Protectorate
The northernmost point where mangroves can still be found along the Red Sea coast, Nabq Protectorate is at the wide floodplains of the mountain wadis. The main tracks are either from Wadi Khrezi – marked as Wadi Kid in several maps – and from the Sharm suburb of Nabq. There is a National Park Visitor Center, and simple huts providing fresh seafood and accommodation at the Maria Schroeder wreck and at a location known as Ghurgana. The shallow bays are good for little kids but the open sea is rough. There are good diving spots all along the coast.
Abu Galum Protectorate
One of the coastal nature protectorates, extending both into the sea and inland, Abu Galum provides a pristine coast line between Nuweiba and Dahab. Approachable by cars via Bier Zweir only from the north, it is also connected on foot or camel-back to the Blue Hole and Dahab to the south. There are camps at Bier Zweir and simple beach huts on the shores at the Laguna and Ras Abu Galum.
Nuweiba-Taba coast
The coast between Nuweiba and Taba is lined with simple beach camps and it is a pleasantly undeveloped sea shore. There are a few bigger hotels along the way, but fortunately they don’t dominate. The main areas are Ras Shaitan and Bier Sweir, with the later offering finer sandy beaches.
Pharaoh’s Island
Pharaoh’s Island is a small granite island in the Gulf of Aqaba, a short distance from Taba. It is best known for its impressive medieval fortress, often called Saladin’s Castle, which was strengthened during the 12th century to help control trade and shipping routes through the Gulf of Aqaba. The island is surrounded by clear waters and coral reefs, making it a popular destination for boat trips, sightseeing and snorkelling. From the fortress, visitors can enjoy panoramic views of Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Jordan and Israel.
Hamam Faraun
Hot thermal water surfaces along the coast at Hamam Faraun and steam turns a few little caves into natural saunas. It is not the top tourist attraction, so making a detour might not be worth just to see this site. However, it is on the Cairo-Sharm el Sheikh road between Ras Sudr and Abu Zenima, so if you are coming this way you might as well stop for a short visit.
ATTRACTIONS: Red Sea Coast > St Catherine & Mt Sinai > The High Mountain Region > The Desert > North Sinai