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Rocking Ras Mohammed
Ras Mohammed is, almost certainly, the most popular dive area for any divers who come to Sharm el Sheikh. It is located on the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsular and has been a national park since 1983, with both fishing in the sea and building on the land being stopped to prevent the once ever growing Sharm extending into this beautiful headland. It provides some of the best diving in the Red Sea with the atmospheric wreck of the Dunraven close by, wondrous reefs, caverns and a whole bunch of toilets!
As we board our pristine dive boat, Camel Tribe, we chat to the other divers on the boat about what is in store for us. The journey will take us about an hour and many of those on the boat have dived here before, but a couple are here for the first time and we cannot wait to see their reaction when they get back up onto the boat. We have done two trips to Ras Mohammed during our stay here, and could have easily done two more given enough time. First stop – Shark & Yolanda. During the summer months, huge schools of fish aggregate here, but in the winter, it is no less exciting. We started our dive on Shark Reef. A gorgeous wall dive, with purple and red soft corals and thousands of orange and purple anthias to entertain you as the current gently nudges you along the vertical. As you round the corner, the current dies off and this leaves you plenty of time to explore for huge moray eels, lionfish, stonefish and turtles. Soon you reach Yolanda, a reef system that was hit by the cargo ship Yolanda in 1980, which deposited her cargo of bathroom supplies onto the sea bed. Rows of toilets and baths are now covered in coral and marine life. We were also joined here by a huge Napoleon Wrasse who seemed more than happy to cruise by our group of divers, dwarfing us in size, and always swivelling its eye to keep you in sight. This is a dive site that we could do over and over again and it would be different every time. You can dive across the saddle, rather than around the wall, or do a mixture of both… it really is a truly world beating dive.
The Dunraven Wreck is another great dive that lies within the Ras Mohammed National Park. This wreck is much older than Yolanda, having sunk in 1876, and whilst it is broken up, you can still get inside her upturned hull and swim through to the boilers, where numerous glassfish have made their home. There is an old BBC documentary about her discovery over 40 years ago that wreck lovers may enjoy:
If you want to dive the Dunraven, you have to set off from the dive centre (in our case, Camel Dive Club) a little earlier to allow for the additional distance to travel. It is certainly worth the early start though!
Jackfish Alley offers divers an extraordinary marine landscape. Cut into the reef are two caverns that give divers a very special light show. Sunlight streams in through tiny cracks in the reefs and the beams dance on the cavern floor below. As the Sun is always shining here, you could spend your whole dive in here, especially as a photographer. But the reef has plenty to offer too, with huge table corals providing shelter for butterfly fish pairs, anemonefish dart out to “greet” you from their anemones on the sea floor and the shallow reef at the end of the dive is spectacular. Red Fire Coral reflects on the surface as you do your safety stop – it is truly breath-taking.
Whilst there are loads of other dive sites here to explore, we only had time for one more dive and this was on Ras Ghozlani. This is the most northerly dive site within the national park and its name means headland of the Gazelle. The dive is situated near the protected area where divers are not allowed, due to nesting turtles, and it is a visual treat. Once again you have beautiful fringe reef, a sandy plateau with coral covered pinnacles to explore.
Ras Mohammed should be on every diver’s wish list and it is one of the highlights of diving in Sharm el Sheikh. The area offers diverse diving at a world class standard; the coral is vibrant and healthy, the marine life covers every inch of the reef, there are great wrecks and there is always the chance of a fantastic encounter with one of several pelagics that cruise the area.
www.egypt.travel/diving-in-egypt
For more from Nick and Caroline visit www.frogfishphotography.com.
The GO Diving Show – the only consumer dive and travel show in the UK – returns to the NAEC Stoneleigh on 1-2 March 2025, just in time to kick off the new season, and early bird 2-for-1 tickets are now available, representing fantastic value for money.
Buy your ticket before 31 January 2025 for £17.50, and get your buddy, your spouse or your best friend in with you absolutely free! Or why not bring that non-diving mate along so they can see all of the wonders of the underwater world they are missing out on!
Effectively, the 2-for-1 offer equates to each ticket being just £8.75. And as always, this includes complimentary parking. And under-16s go free of charge, so bring the kids along for a fabulous family day out!
The Main Stage headline presenter is TV star, author and adventurer Steve Backshall, making a welcome return to the GO Diving Show after a few years away. He’ll be joined by NASA-trained NEEMO Aquanaut and Head of Scientific Research at DEEP Dawn Kernagis, fellow TV presenter, author and perennial favourite Monty Halls, and the dynamic duo of explorers Rannva Joermundsson and Maria Bollerup, who will be talking about their recent Expedition Buteng in Indonesia.
The dedicated UK Stage, Tech Stage, Photo Stage and Inspiration Stage are filling up with some familiar faces and a host of fresh speakers, and the show floor is getting fill to capacity with hundreds of exhibitors, including tour operators, resorts, dive centres, liveaboards, tourist boards, training agencies, manufacturers, retailers, and the ever-popular British Isles Experience.
You can take advantage of the Go Diving Show 2-for-1 ticket deal here.
Following a period away, Palau – a dream destination for countless divers – is excited to rejoin the boot water sports show in Duesseldorf, Germany.
This prestigious water sports show, taking place from January 18 to 26, 2025, provides Palau with a platform to showcase its unique offerings in diving, snorkelling, and sustainable tourism.
Located in the western Pacific’s Micronesian region and part of the Caroline Islands, the Republic of Palau comprises over 340 picturesque islands. Although small in landmass, Palau is a natural wonder both above and below the water.
Palau is renowned as a global leader in environmental conservation. Years ago, the nation implemented forward-thinking measures to preserve its natural resources. In 2009, Palau became the world’s first national shark sanctuary, banning commercial shark fishing. To further protect its marine ecosystem, home to over 1,500 fish species and about 700 coral species, Palau established a fully protected marine sanctuary spanning 193,000 square miles in 2015.
Palau’s return to the boot shows marks a significant moment for the island nation, celebrated for its crystal-clear waters, pristine coral reefs, and extraordinary marine biodiversity. Visitors to the Palau booth will discover a vision of sustainable tourism, as environmental stewardship is deeply ingrained in the islanders’ way of life.
“We are thrilled to return to Germany and share the beauty and diversity of Palau with the world,” says Kadoi Ruluked, Managing Director of the Palau Visitors Authority, who will lead the delegation at the trade show. “boot provides an outstanding platform to position Palau as a premier destination for sustainable tourism and a true paradise for underwater adventures.”
Amid growing global efforts toward eco-friendly tourism, Palau continues to set benchmarks with initiatives such as the “Palau Pledge.” By signing this pledge, visitors commit to respecting and protecting the environment during their stay. These and other measures will be highlighted at the event to raise awareness of marine ecosystem conservation.
The boot water sports show offers a unique opportunity for visitors to immerse themselves in Palau’s culture and natural beauty while planning unforgettable diving and snorkelling trips. The Palau Visitors Authority warmly invites all attendees to explore their booth and experience the unspoiled charm of Palau.
Learn everything there is to know about this extraordinary destination at
Hall 12, booth nr. E42.
The exhibition runs from January 18 to 26, 2025, in Duesseldorf.
For more information or to schedule interviews and meetings, please contact: Judith Hoppe, WhatsApp: +49-151-5523 1966, e-mail palau@tourism-unlimited.com
For more information about Palau, please visit: www.pristineparadisepalau.com or follow us on social media at https://www.instagram.com/visitpalau/ or https://www.facebook.com/pristineparadisepalau/
Photo credit: © Judith Hoppe
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