Swim with sharks and visit Hurghada's seabed

An oasis in the middle of the desert, the Red Sea is an expanse of water nestling between North Africa and the Middle East. Covering an area of around 450,000 square kilometres, the Red Sea has had many names. Over the centuries and the peoples who have crossed it, it has been called the "Sea of Reeds" or the "Arabian Gulf".

Some will be disappointed, but the Red Sea is unfortunately not red.

The origins of its name probably lie in the fact that, several times a year, blooms of algae give the water a reddish colour.

Be that as it may, the Red Sea is very important for trade and the exchange of goods between the countries of the Middle East, as it provides a link between the Mediterranean Sea and the Indian Ocean, without bypassing the African continent.

The conditions in the Red Sea are perfect for swimming, snorkelling and scuba diving, with a year-round surface temperature of between 21 and 25°C. It is one of the warmest seas in the world!

It is one of the warmest seas in the world, with excellent visibility down to a depth of around 200 metres. The extreme salinity of the Red Sea, around 42 practical salinity units, means that swimmers can float almost effortlessly. This feature tends to reassure novice swimmers.

The Red Sea was created when the Arabian and African tectonic plates separated, and the Egyptians were the first to attempt to explore it. Religious or not, we all know the story of the Exodus, which tells how Jesus, through the power of God, split the Red Sea in two to lead the Israelites to freedom.

The Red Sea today

Today, the Red Sea is a popular tourist destination, with many scuba divers coming to discover the volcanic seabed of this incredibly salty sea.

Before you can visit underwater caves, the ocean floor or wrecks hundreds of metres below the surface, scuba diving always starts with a first dive. The aim? To familiarise you with the scenery, breathing techniques, the language of diving and, of course, safety instructions. A first dive is an opportunity to get an idea of the fascinating world of scuba diving and to try out something new during your holiday in Egypt.

Hurghada is a very popular place for diving.

Divers come from all over the world to admire the 4 shipwrecks on the Abu Nuhas reef, the wreck of the Rosalie Moller at a depth of 50 metres and the wrecks on the Giftoun Islands, which were once local vessels and are now accessible to beginner divers taking the PADI or CMAS 1 Open Water certificate. In the water, you can see turtles, stingrays, scorpion fish and barracudas, and in some places, such as Dolphin Reef, you can dive with dolphins - a magical experience!

This world-famous circuit between the Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone Islands features hammerhead sharks and other specimens in three of the Red Sea's most beautiful diving spots.