Red Sea
The Red Sea is a natural border between Asia and Africa, surrounded by the mysterious desert landscape with spectacularly sheer mountains providing a backdrop on each side. It is the world’s most northern tropical sea which means it is enriched with an abundance of unique marine life, some of it unseen anywhere else.
In the coral gardens of Jordan you can spy the rare black corals and huge Gorgonian sea fans. In Eilat (Israel) you will visit sites such as Coral Beach national park and the Japanese gardens. Coral (Pharaoh) Island national park offers some of the best of Egypt. Throughout your trip keep a lookout for groupers, eels, napoleon wrasse, angelfish, butterfly fish, parrotfish, frogfish and turtles amongst other creatures.
Another attraction of the Red Sea is its shipwrecks, both old and more recent. We will explore some of these which, owing to the clarity of the water, can be seen from the surface and so are an experience for snorkellers as well as divers.
From the deck you can take in the sights of the Sinai Desert where you will get a glimpse of Bedouin life. Visit the city of Aqaba, the jewel on the Jordanian Coast where you can satisfy your urge to shop or venture into the casino. Dine ashore in one of the restaurants of the brand new luxury resort complex in Tala bay. If it’s nightlife you’re after, check out one of the many bars in Eilat.
Climate
Winter climate here is ideal with comfortable daily temperatures the norm. Evening and night time temperatures can fall to around 10º centigrade so a jumper or lightweight jacket is advised. Visibility remains good all year round and average rainfall is only 0.6 metres per year. As winds usually blow from the north, the waters in the north are nearly always calm being protected by the landmass of Sinai. We do recommend the use of a wetsuit for extended periods in the water. Guests may bring their own or they can be hired locally.
Geography
The Red Sea is the body of water stretching from the Indian Ocean in the south and terminates in two gulfs to the north, the Gulf of Suez to the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east. In between is the Sinai Peninsula, which is part of Egypt, although it lies in Asia. It forms a land bridge between the two continents.
It is uncertain as to why the Red Sea is so named. It is perhaps due to the mineral rich red mountains that surround it. Another suggestion is because of the deep red colour of the sky as the sun sets over the water. Occasional algal blooms also give the sea a reddish colour for short periods of time.
The Red Sea is part of the East African Rift Valley system. It was formed along a fault line created by the African and Arabian tectonic plates shifting apart in a process that begun 55 million years ago. Whilst the Gulf of Suez opened up around 30 million years ago, the Gulf of Aqaba is a relatively recent addition forming only 3 to 4 million years ago. Your journey will be centred around the northern part of this gulf, along the Israeli, Jordanian and Egyptian coasts. The gulf is 24 kilometres wide and 1676 metres deep.
Volcanic activity on the sea floor helps to make this one of the hottest seas in the world. High temperatures causing evaporation and low rainfall in the area make the sea quite salty. These two factors combined allow prolific coral growth much further north than it would normally occur. The uniqueness of the marine life is thanks to its 2 kilometres of coral reef which extends along its coastline. These fringing reefs are between 5 and 7000 years old, made up of both stony and soft corals. The Red Sea is also home to sea grass beds, salt pans, mangroves and salt marshes which provide habitat for a whole new range of plant and animal species.
The shallow shelves of the Red Sea (approximately 25% is under 50 metres deep and 40% under 100 metres) are perfect for snorkelling as well as diving. Where these shelves drop off you are provided with a unique opportunity to view deep water fish from the surface.
History
Our first historical records of this area being settled date back to the first dynasty of Egypt. Since then numerous other cultures have settled or passed through including the Mamluks and the Ottomans. Being the only land link between Asia and Africa, the region would have seen many traders passing through over the centuries, further diversifying the culture of the area. Modern history has witnessed many border changes. Only an area so steeped in history as is the Red Sea and its surrounding territories could produce such a range of archaeological treasures and such an eclectic mix of culture.