Situated between the Red Sea's Gulfs of Suez and Aquaba, the Sinai Desert forms the Peninsula that joins Africa to Asia. At its tip lies Sharm el Sheikh, a Mecca for divers and sun-worshippers alike. This is a favourite spot for Europeans to learn to dive, and it's no wonder since it's cheap, warm (that's the water - on land is hot!), not too far from home (5 + hours from London Gatwick) and you're guaranteed to see an abundance of fish. Bearing all this in mind, don't expect to have the place to yourself.

The resort areas tends to be centred around Naama Bay or the Ras Umm Sid headland and there are plenty of hotels, restaurants, bars, shops and tourist facilities to choose from. Sharm el Sheikh itself is an old fishing village near Naama Bay. The resort has developed over the last twenty years and has transformed the area into a cosmopolitan resort with a boulevard running along the beachfront and a pedestrianised town centre offering everything from toy camels and belly dancing outfits to traditional perfumes and Egyptian cotten bed linen.

There are all kinds of good restaurants offering excellent vaue for money and different cuisines. There is even a Hard Rock Cafe and several well known fast food chains. Locals recommend Tam Tam near the Ghazala Beach Hotel and El Fanar (The Lighthouse) at Ras Umm Sid. Try venturing into Sharm itself for the Sinai Star, a traditional fish restaurant.

A holiday in Sharm will suit everyone. There is plenty to do outside of diving: excursions to Cairo, Luxor, St Catherine's Monastery, Yacht trips, quad biking in the desert, Bedouin feasts, horse riding, water sports, and of course wonderful shopping. Don't miss a chance to see the beauty of the Sinai peninsula - the rock desert is simply stunning.

Whilst Sharm is very much a resort town which has only emerged over the last 30 years, the Sinai is as old as civilisation: it was across the Sinai that Moses made his Exodus and at Mount Sinai where he is said to have received the Ten Commandments from the Burning Bush. It was also at Mount Sinai where Mohammed's horse, Baroque, ascended into heaven. Hence there is much religious significance to Christianity, Islam and Judaism. The Monastery of St. Catherine, built at the site of the Burning Bush, at the foot of Mount Sinai, dates back to the C6 BC and houses, among plenty of works of art, one of the world's largest collections of illuminated manuscripts. Trips to the Monastery can be combined with climbing Mount Sinai to see a spectacular sun rise (hard work in summer). St. Catherine is a 2 hour bus journey from Sharm. Don't forget that the diurnal temperature range is very big in the desert so expect to freeze at night and boil in the day. It is also worth noting that you should not embark on a trip into the mountains after a day's diving as the altitude is too high.

There are resorts to suit every pocket and taste. You can pick a small divers-only dormitory style hostel or a six star luxury resort and every shade in between. Even if they are outside of the main town, it is easy to pick up a local taxi and all of the dive shops will pick you up. Diving departs from one of the two harbours - a chaotic scene - but somehow all the day boats leave on time with the right people onboard.

Sharm is also a main point of departure for liveaboard dive boats. These will typically visit the dive sites of the Northern Red Sea such as Ras Mohammed, the Straits of Tiran, The Thistlegorn and the wrecks on Abu Nahas reef.

Diving
Diving is readily available everywhere. There are over 40 dive centres in the Sharm and Naama Bay area, so choose carefully! All divers are required to dive with a professional local guide, and safety standards tend to be very high. No sport diving is allowed below 30 metres.

The reef is fringing so there are opportunities for shore diving, but most centres arrange daily boat trips for easy access to the best reefs. Day trips usually include 2 dives on 2 different reefs with the option of a third dive in the afternoon, and a buffet lunch is normally available on board, although this is not included in your dive price.

Daily boats can go from the Straits of Tiran in the north, made up of 4 satellite reefs with steep drop-offs, fast currents and exciting marine life (!) to the beautiful Ras Mohammed National Park in the south (home to the famous Shark and Yolanda reefs) and out to the incredible WW 2 wreck of the S.S.Thistlegorm at Sh'ab Ali in the Gulf of Suez (this is a 4 hour boat trip and usually involves an early start). Some centres offer day trips to the wreck of the S.S.Dunraven at Beacon Rock (2.5 hours) as well. Liveaboards operating the 'northern route' will visit all these sites and many more, so are a good option for serious divers as you are likely to dive at less crowded times. Note that whatever level your experience, all centres require all divers to dive 'locally' for one day before allowing you on a boat to Ras Mohammed, Tiran or further a-field since fast surface currents and drift-diving don't create good opportunities for weight checks.

It's also worth mentioning that the Red Sea is very salty so expect to carry more weight than you would imagine necessary with your warm water kit.

Please note that the whole area is protected and no touching or breaking of coral, feeding of fish, fishing, wearing of gloves or littering is allowed; offenders are liable for prosecution.

There is a US $5 entry fee to the Ras Mohammed National Park, per person, per visit. This is normally paid by your diving centre and charged to your account. Many diving centres will also ask you for a contribution to the recompression chamber of US $1 per day.

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Naama Bay has a good selection of restaurants and bars to cater for every taste.
Evenings in town are lively and it is a great place to walk around and soak up the atmosphere.Some of the sights are extremely popular but quite a distance from the town so be prepared for large groups of visitors and long coach journeys.

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