 The Sinai
is Egypt's peninsula in the Red Sea, with the Gulf of Suez to the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, the Mediterranean Sea to the north and the Red Sea to the south, it is a bridge between Africa and Asia. The Sinai's desert is the third largest in Egypt. The mountains reach their peaks at Mount Saint Catherine and Mount Moses, among which stands Saint Catherine, the oldest known Monastery that has been continually inhabited.
The Red Sea, crystal clear water, drop-offs on your doorstep, with soft vivid colours of corals, to be found nowhere else in the world. Diving put Sinai on the tourism map and is still a favourite pastime.
Red Sea in Numbers
- Length: 2.250 km
- Average Width: 300 km
- Width at Bab el-Mandeb: 29 km
- Area: 438.000 km²
- Average Depth: 2000 m
- Max. Depth: 2850 m
- Average Salt: 41 o/oo
- Maximum Temperature: 30° C
- Minimum Temperature: 20° C
- Average Air Temperature: 25° C
- Average Huminity: ~70% (morning)
- Average Huminity in Aqaba: ~45%
- Species of fish: 1.248
- Endemic species of fish: 17%
- Species of coral: approx. 250
- Endemic species of coral: 8%
Marine Life
Think of any coral species and you will almost certainly find a living example in the Egyptian Red Sea. Even if you concentrated on the species to be found on a single site, the list would be unending. The fish are as unbelievable as the coral and every dive is like a visit to the world's best aquarium.
The People
The inahibtors of the Sinai are a blend of people as disparate as Bedouin Arabs and Nilotic Africans, with a mix of cultures that combines Islam, Coptic Christianity, and the rich traditions of a dozen ancient Mediterranean empires. Rooted in the rich soil of religious faith and cultural tradition, Sinai’s society is nonetheless adapting to meet the needs of a modern world. And what all Sinai people seem to share is an open, friendly outlook which is as warm as the Egyptian sun.
Dive Highlights
Especially in the area of Nuweiba you will find some of the least spoiled reefs on the Egyptian coastline, with none of the hustle and bustle of the more developed areas to the south. Luxuriant coral gardens and offshore canyons attract a dense population of reef fauna, and the clear waters bring crystal clear visibility to add to your diving pleasure.
Climate
The Sinai’s climate is a long summer - with an average rainfall of less than 5 cm a year. Blue skies and baking sun are the norm year-round. Temperatures may fluctuate - from below freezing in the desert in winter to 50°C or more in the summer - but clouds are rare occurrences in any season.
Conditions
Below the surface, the endless summer continues. Water temperature rarely falls as low as 20°C in the depths of winter and summer highs can be around 30°C. Visibility is usually a superb 20m average for most of the Sinai, with highs of 30m or more. Current movement is generally benign, but the autumn wind change - from late September on - can bring big waves and swells that make access to isolated offshore sites difficult.
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