When you hear people talking about Egypt, the first thing that surely comes to mind are pyramids, the country’s historical legacy and its immense archaeological wealth dating back 5000 years. But it also has a lesser known side that’s increasingly attracting more and more tourists. Although Egypt is almost entirely desert, its seas and coast are ideal for all water sports.
The weather obviously plays an important factor in the popularity of these sports. Egypt has an unusually hot and dry climate, and it’s difficult to see rain at any time of the year. Annual temperatures range from 30-40ºC, although in autumn and winter it can drop to 25º, which make it a more attractive time of the year to visit. More and more water sports enthusiasts are now choosing Egypt and its coast as the perfect destination for scuba diving and diving throughout the year.
Both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean are great for water sports. Hurghada, Sharm El-Sheik, Marsa Alam, El Gouna and Taba are all great spots for scuba divers to enjoy the reefs and marine life.
Egypt has seized this business opportunity, and whether you’re travelling as a beginner or an old hand, there’s a whole range of schools offering courses to suit all levels that are approved by the Egyptian Chamber of Diving and Water Sports.
Instructors from all over the world teach about life beneath the waves and show the best way to discover it. Those starting out will be delighted to know that you don’t need to dive to great depths as you can discover reefs and marine life and flora just a few metres underwater.
Both the Red Sea and the Mediterranean have plenty of resorts offering sun, beach and underwater experiences where you don’t need to be an expert, but simply want to enjoy and discover the Egyptian waters.
Although Egypt is now popularised, it’s not like it happened overnight. As far back as the 1950s, well-known divers such as Hans Hass and Jacques Cousteau were coming to Egypt to explore and film thousands of species in the deep waters of the Red Sea.
The land of the pyramids holds an equal amount of surprises underwater as it does on land, making it the perfect place for water sports and to enjoy its spectacular coastline.
Ras Mohammed, south of Sinai, is one of the top spots in the world for water sports enthusiasts. The National Park is ideal for novice divers as the thousand-year-old fringing coral reefs emerge from the water without the need to dive to great depths. However, if you’re a confident diver, we recommend checking out the vertical overhangs and wrecks a little deeper. It’s easy to see why many divers repeat the experience over and over again.
Discover all that Egypt has to offer in and out of the water.
