Ras Mohammed National Park

Ras Mohammed National Park: Where the Red Sea's Treasures Converge

At the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulfs of Suez and Aqaba converge, lies Ras Mohammed National Park, a protected marine sanctuary established in 1983. This iconic dive site, located near Sharm El Sheikh, is renowned globally for its exceptional biodiversity and dramatic underwater topography.

Diving Conditions and Certification

Divers will find conditions at Ras Mohammed to be intermediate, with a required Open Water certification. Depths across the park's numerous dive sites typically range from an average of 26 m to 49 m, though some vertical walls, like Shark Reef, plunge to charted depths of over 800 m. Water temperatures are inviting year-round, generally ranging from 21°C to 30°C, with summer months seeing the warmest waters. However, be prepared for variable and potentially strong currents, which are a defining characteristic of these nutrient-rich waters and contribute to the vibrant marine life. Other hazards include significant depth, boat traffic, and the presence of dangerous marine life.

Dive Site Features

Ras Mohammed offers a diverse array of dive site types, including spectacular walls, vibrant reefs, exhilarating drift dives, and dramatic drop-offs. Within the park, you can explore some of the Red Sea's most storied named dive sites:

• Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef: Often considered one of the top ten dives in the world, this legendary duo features a breathtaking wall covered in stunning hard and soft corals, dropping to immense depths. A drift dive here typically takes you from Shark Reef to Yolanda Reef, where the remains of the 'Yolanda' wreck – a cargo ship that sank in 1980 carrying bathroom supplies – add a surreal touch to the coral plateau.
• Anemone City: As its name suggests, this site is a kingdom of anemones, with the seabed literally carpeted by these undulating creatures and their resident Red Sea Clownfish.
• Shark Observatory: This site offers a plunging wall dive, rich in soft corals, gullies, and small caves. While boat traffic has reduced sightings from the cliff tops, divers still keep an eye out for passing pelagics.
• Jackfish Alley: A steep wall featuring several small caves filled with glassfish, providing refuge for various marine creatures.

Marine Life Encounters

The strong currents that sweep through Ras Mohammed enrich its waters, attracting an astonishing diversity of marine fauna. Divers will find a thriving ecosystem teeming with life. We frequently encounter Grey Reef Sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos) and Whitetip Reef Sharks (Triaenodon obesus) patrolling the reefs. Keep an eye out for the majestic Humphead Wrasse (Napoleon) (Cheilinus undulatus), Giant Morays (Gymnothorax javanicus), and the vibrant Regal Angelfish (Pygoplites diacanthus).

The park is particularly famous for its schooling spectacles, especially during the summer months, when divers can witness massive aggregations of Chevron Barracuda (Sphyraena qenie), jackfish, batfish, and snapper. Spotted Eagle Rays (Aetobatus narinari) gracefully glide through the blue, and lucky divers might even spot the elusive Scalloped Hammerhead Shark (Sphyrna lewini) or other pelagic species like manta rays and whale sharks. The vibrant coral walls are also home to hundreds of bright orange Jewel Fairy Basslets, adding to the kaleidoscopic underwater scenery.