Diving Sinai Peninsula

Ras Mohammed National Park

About 20 km south of Sharm El Sheikh, on a slim peninsula towards the most southern tip of Sinai, lies Ras Mohammed, the first and best kept national park in Egypt. The area can be accessed from both resorts and liveaboard diving cruises.

It is said that the name is from a wind-carved cliff in the area, which resembles the features of Prophet Mohammed, believed to have visited here in the 7th century.

Surrounded by fringing coral reefs that emerged after a change in the coastline 70,000 years ago, the park is characterised by vertical overhangs at least 100m deep. Due to its location on the Sinai Peninsula at the juncture of the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba, the combining waters of varying salinity from each gulf has resulted in a spectacular array of reef and pelagic fish, diverse coral reef and luxuriant sea walls; ideal for some unforgettable Red Sea scuba diving on the Sinai Peninsula.

Because of its exceptional beauty and scientific significance, the Egyptian government declared Ras Mohammed a protected area in 1983, at the time with an area of only 97 km². The park has since been extended to 480 km² and is a success today because of local awareness and the rangers who patrol the grounds and surrounding seas. Diving is allowed in designated areas only and visitors must leave the park by sunset. It is believed to be one of only a few popular tourist areas in the world that has no effluent discharge in to its waters.

Highlights

The following dive sites in Ras Mohammed Marine Park require special mention:

Shark Reef & Yolanda Reef - Surely the prize of Ras Mohammed, this on the Sinai Peninsula reef offers an opportunity to spy every single species of fish in the Red Sea. Watch out for scorpionfish, rarely seen on other dive sites, as well as the wreck of the Yolanda.

Anemone City - Get caught up in the hustle and bustle of this busy underwater metropolis with sprawling highways and by-ways of hard and soft corals. Prolific anemone's harbour a permanent populace of anemonefish, but with plenty of other fish species to give it a truly cosmopolitan feel.

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How to Dive Ras Mohammed

Diving the Sinai Peninsula is mainly by day-trip boat and so a resort stay will therefore be your best option. See our Sharm El Sheikh resorts information for a choice line-up.

However, if you're planning on diving Ras Mohammed, a liveaboard is your best option to maximise your diving time on these delectable dive sites. Check out our Sinai liveaboards for the best selection.

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Diving Season

Ras Mohammed, as part of the Sinai Peninsula, favours the diver all year round, with warmest water in summer (June to August). Colder waters are prevalent in and around February time.

This is the best area in the Sinai Peninsula to see schooling barracudas from mid July until September.

Reef Summary

Good for: Reef life and health and drift dives
Not so good for: Beginner divers
Depth: 5 - >40m
Visibility: 10 - 40m
Currents: Moderate - strong
Surface conditions: Generally calm
Water temperature: 20 - 28°C
Experience level: Beginner - advanced
Number of dive sites: >12
Distance: 16 km (1 hr) southwest of Sharm El Sheikh, 65 km (4½ hrs) northeast of Hurghada
Access: Resort daytrips and liveaboards
Recommended length of stay: 1 week

Dive Site Descriptions

More detailed information on the Ras Mohammed's dive sites:

• Sharm El Sheikh tourist information

View a map of:
• Sinai Peninsula  -  Egypt

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