Scuba Diving Sinai Dive Ras Mohammed Tiran Red Sea Egypt

The Gulf of Aqaba is a approximately 2000 meter deep cut in the bottom of the ocean. At the southern end of the Gulf, the island of Tiran is located. Here the Gulf narrows and becomes shallower. With the change of tides, huge quantities of water flow through this bottleneck and cause very strong currents. In the center of the Straits of Tiran, a ridge pushes up, running from north to south. On its highest elevation four coral reefs (Gordon, Woodhouse, Thomas and Jackson, which are named after British cartographers) have formed.The currents around these reefs are the cause for the extraordinary diversity of corals and big fish swarms. Among others, you can see barracudas, snappers as well as sharks.

Ras Mohammed is situated at the extreme southern part of the Sinai Peninsula. Here, where the Gulf of Aqaba meets with the Gulf of Suez the ocean floor drops down to depths of more than 1000 meter. Here an underwater world has developed which is unique in the Red Sea. Due to the topographical position, there a strong currents throughout the whole year which are often hard to predict even for experienced divers. However, it is exactly these currents which provide the reefs in the best possible way with the necessary nutrients. No other dive site in the northern part of the Red Sea offers as much of a variety and density of species as Ras Mohammed.

Surrounded by vast deserts, the Red Sea expands 2000 km (1300 miles) from the north, the Gulf of Aqaba, to Bab el Mandeb in the south. The Gulf of Aqaba ending at the Straits of Tiran reaches a length of 180 km (110 miles).Following the Syrian-African Rift Valley the Gulf is 25 km (14 miles) wide, and 1800 m (6000 feet) deep. Fringing coral reefs developed all along the coast line. There are many special aspects in this area : Water temperature is relatively constant. During summer maximun 28 º C and in winter not less than 21 º C. Seldom storms and rainfall (occasionally in winter), as well as mild currents prevent sediments to slow coral growth and allow excellent visiblility.