The Red Sea

The water is so clear you can see the anchor chain disappearing into blue fifty metres below. On the reef wall beside the boat, a lionfish drifts in slow motion past a fan of purple coral, and further along a hawksbill turtle pulls itself through the current without effort. The Red Sea is one of the most isolated and biologically extraordinary bodies of water on Earth — a narrow, landlocked strip of ocean between Africa and Arabia that has been evolving its own unique marine world for five million years, cut off from the rest of the ocean, answering to no one.

🌊 The Story
The Red Sea stretches 2,250 kilometres between northeastern Africa and the Arabian Peninsula, bordered by Egypt, Sudan, Eritrea, Djibouti, Saudi Arabia, Yemen and Jordan. It has no major rivers flowing into it, receives almost no rainfall, and loses more water to evaporation than it gains — making it one of the saltiest and warmest seas on the planet. That high salinity, combined with the absence of freshwater sediment, creates extraordinary water clarity that makes it one of the most photogenic diving destinations on Earth. The sea takes its name most likely from seasonal algae blooms that tinge the surface reddish brown, though its waters run pure deep blue. Feather

🐠 Nature & Outdoors
The Red Sea is home to over 1,200 species of fish, roughly 10% of which are endemic — found nowhere else on the planet — and more than 200 types of coral. Its reefs have four times the coral diversity of the Caribbean. Beneath the surface lie some of the most celebrated WWII shipwrecks in the world — none more iconic than the SS Thistlegorm, a British cargo ship sunk in 1941 and now draped in coral, its holds still containing the motorcycles, trucks and ammunition it was carrying when it went down. Above the waterline, the desert coastline holds its own wonders: Mount Sinai, the Nabataean city of Petra in nearby Jordan, and some of the most dramatic desert landscapes on the planet. Feather + 2

🗺️ Top 9 Things to Do at the Red Sea

1. Dive the SS Thistlegorm wreck — One of the top ten dive sites in the world; a WWII cargo ship perfectly preserved on the seafloor. A Thistlegorm wreck dive day trip departs from Sharm el-Sheikh or Hurghada.
2. Snorkel the house reef straight from the beach — The Red Sea’s fringing reefs come right to the shoreline. Most resorts offer direct beach entry into extraordinary coral gardens. A Red Sea snorkelling tour guides you to the best sites.
3. Dive the Brothers Islands — Remote offshore seamounts famous for hammerhead sharks, oceanic whitetips and pristine coral walls. A Brothers Islands liveaboard dive is the only way to reach them.
4. Explore Ras Mohammed National Park — Egypt’s first marine park, at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula, with dramatic walls, huge schools of fish and strong currents. A Ras Mohammed diving day trip goes from Sharm el-Sheikh.
5. Night dive on the reef — A completely different world emerges after dark; octopus hunting, sleeping parrotfish and coral polyps opening to feed. A Red Sea night dive experience goes with a guide.
6. Swim with spinner dolphins at Sataya Reef — A resident pod of spinner dolphins inhabits this southern Egyptian reef. A Sataya dolphin snorkel cruise heads south from Marsa Alam.
7. Sunrise hike to the summit of Mount Sinai — A 2,285-metre sacred peak above the desert where many traditions believe Moses received the Ten Commandments. A Mount Sinai sunrise hike sets off at 2am to catch the dawn.
8. Day-trip to Petra, Jordan — The Nabataean rose-red city carved into the cliff face, two hours from Aqaba on the northern Red Sea. A Petra day tour from Aqaba covers the full site.
9. Learn to dive — The Red Sea’s warm clear waters, gentle currents and abundant marine life make it one of the world’s best places to complete an open-water certification. A Red Sea learn-to-dive course is available from most resort towns.

🍴 Where to Eat
Egyptian food along the Red Sea coast combines the rich flavours of the Nile Delta with the fresh seafood of the sea itself. In Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh, grilled fish, shrimp and calamari straight from the morning catch are the highlights. Try koshari — layers of rice, lentils, pasta and spiced tomato sauce, Egypt’s beloved street food — alongside fresh flatbread and mezze. In the old town markets of both resort cities, simple local restaurants serve slow-cooked foul mudammas and ta’ameya at breakfast for a fraction of the resort price.

📅 When to Go

• October to May — the prime diving season; comfortable air temperatures, calm seas and excellent visibility
• March to May — spring brings particularly good conditions for photographers with balanced light and high visibility Medium
• June to September — very hot above water, but the sea stays warm and clear; fewer tourists and lower prices
• Year-round — the Red Sea offers diving year-round, with water temperatures staying between 22 and 30°C regardless of season Medium

ℹ️ Good to Know

• Getting around: Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh are the main diving hubs, each with international airports. Marsa Alam in the south reaches more remote and pristine reefs.
• Currency: Egyptian Pound (EGP); US Dollars widely accepted at resorts and dive centres.
• Language: Arabic; English is widely spoken throughout the resort and diving industry.
• Local tip: For the most pristine reefs and fewest boats, head south — the further from Hurghada, the less dived the sites. A liveaboard reaching the Deep South or Sudan border reefs delivers conditions most divers never see.

🧳 Plan Your Trip
Ready to drop into one of the clearest, most biodiverse seas on Earth? Start here:

• 🏨 Find hotels and dive resorts on the Red Sea → [Booking.com]
• 🤿 Book Red Sea diving tours and wreck dives → [Viator]
• 🐠 Explore snorkelling, dolphins and liveaboard experiences → [GetYourGuide]

❓ Red Sea FAQ

Where is the best base for Red Sea diving?
Hurghada for the northern reefs and Thistlegorm wreck; Sharm el-Sheikh for Ras Mohammed; Marsa Alam for the southern reefs, dolphins and remote sites.

Is the Red Sea good for beginners?
Yes — warm, calm, clear water and accessible house reefs make it one of the world’s best places to learn to dive or snorkel.

What is the Red Sea famous for?
Its extraordinary water clarity, endemic marine life, the SS Thistlegorm WWII wreck, coral reefs with four times the diversity of the Caribbean, and year-round diving conditions.

What is the best time to visit the Red Sea?
October to May for comfortable temperatures and peak diving conditions; the sea is diveable and beautiful year-round.