This is an overview of Sharm el Sheikh, one of the most beautiful and famous deep-sea diving paradises in the world. Situated on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula on the coastal strip between the Red Sea and Mount Sinai, it has been described as a place where your dreams of crystal clear water, magnificent corals, exotic under water flora and rare tropical fish all come true.
Sharm el Sheikh is a place where the simplicity of sun, sea and sand all come together perfectly, and the diving, snorkelling, wind surfing, para-sailing, boating, and canoeing make it almost impossible for a visitor to ever suffer from boredom here.
The city was formerly a busy port, but commercial shipping has been greatly reduced as the result of strict environmental laws introduced in the 1990s, and large areas of the coast now boast National Park status. These areas provide some of the most famous dive sites in the world, containing coral gardens amidst stunning underwater scenery and warm waters, with 250 different coral reefs and over 1000 species of fish in the area. It is also good to note that a hyperbaric medical centre has been founded in the area to assist with diving related illnesses and complete the area's reputation as a world class dive destination.
There are many diving sites along the 10 mile beach between Sharm el Sheikh and Ras Nusrani, and as you might expect in such a prime diving location there are a vast number of private companies offering diving courses. These are available at all levels and it is one of the cheapest places in the world to pick up a Professional Association of Diving Instructors qualification (PADI).
Flights to Sharm el Sheikh are regular, and cheap flights to Sharm el Sheikh can be found as the major industry is foreign tourism. Sharm el Sheikh hotels are mostly of a high standard, but all budgets are caterered for.
