Ras Mohammed National Park: Premier sinai Diving Destination

Nestled at the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba, Ras Mohammed National Park stands as Egypt's first marine reserve, established in 1983. This breathtaking protected area represents one of the world's most spectacular diving destinations, offering visitors an unparalleled glimpse into the vibrant underwater ecosystem of the Red Sea.

Location and Geography

Located approximately 12 kilometers from Sharm El Sheikh, Ras Mohammed is easily accessible to tourists visiting Egypt's Red Sea Riviera. The park's name, which translates to "Cape of Muhammad," reportedly comes from the cliff's contour resembling a bearded man's profile.

Spanning an impressive 480 square kilometers, the park encompasses 135 square kilometers of land and 345 square kilometers of marine environment. This vast protected area includes dramatic coastal landscapes, pristine beaches, mangrove forests, and the crown jewel—some of the world's most pristine coral reefs.

World-Class Diving and Marine Biodiversity

What makes Ras Mohammed truly exceptional is its extraordinary marine biodiversity. The park is home to more than 1,000 species of fish, 40 species of starfish, 25 species of sea urchins, over 100 species of mollusks, and 150 species of crustaceans. The coral reefs themselves are staggering in their diversity, with more than 220 species of coral, including 125 species of soft coral.

The fringing and hermatypic coral reefs create underwater walls and gardens that attract divers from every corner of the globe. These reefs benefit from the protection afforded by the park's status, remaining largely free from pollution and carefully managed to minimize human impact.

Shark and Yolanda Reef: A Diver's Dream

Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are rated as one of the top ten dives in the world and stand as the most famous dive sites within Ras Mohammed. These twin pinnacles rise dramatically from the depths, with Shark Reef featuring a vertical wall dropping off up to 700 meters, fully covered with amazing corals.

The dive experience here is nothing short of spectacular. Hanging out on the wall are snappers, bat fish, barracuda and many more especially when they mass together in the July/August peak period. Divers often describe the sensation as swimming through fish soup, surrounded by swirling schools of marine life.

Between the two reefs lies the remains of the Yolanda, a ship that crashed on the reef in the 1980s while carrying toilets, bath tubs and sinks, all now encrusted with corals. This unusual cargo has become an artificial reef, creating habitat for blue-spotted stingrays, scorpionfish, stone fish, giant morays, and the resident Napoleon wrasse.

Other Notable Dive Sites

Beyond Shark and Yolanda, Ras Mohammed offers numerous other exceptional diving locations:

Anemone City features a broad shoulder of reef covered in prolific anemones that harbor permanent populations of clownfish. The site bustles with cosmopolitan marine life and serves as a popular entry point for dives toward Shark Reef.

Jackfish Alley is accessible as a shore dive and features caves filled with glassfish, sandy plateaus with coral pinnacles, and opportunities to spot white-tip reef sharks taking afternoon naps on the sandy bottom.

Ras Ghozlani offers a tranquil drift dive experience through one of the healthiest and most diverse coral sites in the Sinai region. The site was closed to divers for many years, allowing its delicate ecosystem to flourish.

Terrestrial Wonders and Climate

While the underwater world draws most visitors, Ras Mohammed's terrestrial environment holds its own unique appeal. The park features acacia trees and doum palms around the wadi mouths, along with ephemeral herbs and grasses. Above water, the park is home to ibexes, gazelles and a wide range of birdlife.

The mangrove forests at Ras Mohammed deserve special mention. These rare northern mangrove stands grow in shallow channels and serve as important breeding areas for birds, providing crucial habitat within the arid Sinai environment.

The climate at Ras Mohammed is characteristically hot and dry. Summer temperatures often exceed 40°C with lows around 27°C, while winter offers more moderate conditions with daytime highs averaging around 23°C and lows of 14°C. The best time to visit for diving is generally between August and March, when temperatures are more comfortable and marine life is particularly active.

Magic Lake: A Natural Phenomenon

One of the park's most intriguing terrestrial features is Magic Lake. Its name comes from the fact that its water changes colors 7 times a day according to sunlight. The lake contains high concentrations of minerals, and local Bedouins call this lake "Lake of Wish," as they swim in it and then throw some stones loaded with wishes.

Conservation and Visitor Information

Ras Mohammed stands as a testament to successful marine conservation. The park carefully restricts the number of visitors and does not allow any hotels to be built, ensuring that this precious ecosystem remains protected for future generations. The Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency established this reserve specifically to protect the area from urban sprawl and destructive fishing practices that once threatened the coral reefs.

Visitors can access the park easily from Sharm El Sheikh via taxi, bus, or organized tour. Entry fees are modest, typically around $5-10 USD per person for day visitors, with additional fees for diving activities. The park features a visitor center that provides maps, educational videos about the area, and information about the color-coded trails leading to different beaches and attractions.

Why Visit Ras Mohammed National Park?

For diving enthusiasts, Ras Mohammed offers an experience that ranks among the world's best. The combination of dramatic topography, exceptional visibility, abundant marine life, and world-class coral reefs creates diving conditions that are truly unmatched. Whether you're an experienced technical diver ready to explore deep walls and drift dives, or a recreational diver looking to snorkel in shallow coral gardens, Ras Mohammed delivers unforgettable underwater encounters.

For nature lovers and eco-tourists, the park provides a rare opportunity to experience a complete ecosystem where desert, mountains, mangroves, and coral reefs exist in harmony. The stark beauty of the Sinai landscape combined with the brilliant blues of the Red Sea creates vistas that photographers and nature enthusiasts find endlessly captivating.

Ras Mohammed National Park represents more than just a diving destination—it's a window into one of the planet's most remarkable marine environments, carefully protected and thoughtfully managed to ensure its wonders remain accessible to future generations. Whether you come to dive with reef sharks, photograph vibrant coral gardens, or simply stand at the cliff edge watching the interplay of desert and sea, Ras Mohammed offers an experience that will stay with you long after you leave Egypt's stunning Red Sea coast.

Planning Your Visit

When planning your trip to Ras Mohammed National Park, consider booking with reputable dive operators who understand the park's currents and conditions. The best diving months are typically June through September when large schools of tuna, snappers, barracudas, and batfish congregate, sometimes attracting larger species like oceanic white-tip and grey reef sharks.

Whether you're an experienced diver seeking world-class dive sites or a nature enthusiast wanting to explore Egypt's first national park, Ras Mohammed National Park promises an adventure that showcases the very best of what the Red Sea has to offer. From the dramatic underwater walls of Shark Reef to the peaceful mangrove channels and the mystical Magic Lake, this protected paradise deserves its reputation as one of Egypt's most treasured natural wonders.