Red Sea - Sharks Bay

Shark Bay

Diving

Snorkelling

By Boat

By swimming

By Live-aboard

All Divers

3

3

Yes

Yes

Yes

Yes

Location:

On the coast at Shark Bay, south of Ras Nasrani

Access:

By shore, local or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh or other ports

Average Depth:

20m (65ft)

Maximum Depth:

60m+ (197ft+)

Average Visibility:

20m (65ft)

Shark Bay is a small bay that is located north of Na'ama Bay. This bay consists of a rugged shoreline that drops down below the surface to a sandy canyon. There are many crevices that contain numerous soft corals and many red fish. The red fish, which are called "lyretail coralfish", are said by some divers to be the reason it is called the Red Sea. The reef is very beautiful, but you might take a look out into the blue waters every now and then. You might see a barracuda, a spotted eagle ray, or a shark, for which the bay was named.

This site, lying just in front of the Shark Bay Camp and Dive Center, is sloping reef broken by a large sandy area which houses the dive center's jetty and boat area. To the south, the reef has a moderate slope and is well covered in coral. North of the jetty is a shallow area good for relaxed snorkeling.

Directly in front of the sandy shore entry point, a deep canyon drops through the reef. Its mouth lies at the foot of the reef wall forming the sand slope's southern edge. The canyon's steep and sandy floor descends rapidly to depths of 60m (197ft) and more.

Exiting the canyon, you can explore the moderately sloping reef to the south, gradually ascending before turning back to the north. This section shows dense growth of both hard and soft corals, although less pristine than at some places along this coast. Fish life is diverse and interesting, with angels, parrotfish, grouper, wrasse and morays among the attractions on the reef, and rays and flatfish lying on the sandy entry slope

The typical depth range of Shark Bay is from 30 to 85 feet. It is accessed by a boat dive or a local guide. The expertise required for this area is novice to advanced.

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Last Updated: May 29th, 2011