Diving in Egypt

The Red Sea is surrounded by desert coastlines. The lack of rainfall and minimal coastal development result in excellent underwater visibility, which can approach 200 feet. Currents are typically minimal along coastal sites, which begin with shallow shelves that transition to walls and canyons plunging to depths of more than a mile.

This combination of topographies creates sites suitable for all divers from novices to extended-range experts. In fact, the Red Sea has become a hotbed of technical diving. It also remains a favorite with underwater photographers, thanks to the excellent water clarity, and the 1000-plus species of fish and 200-plus varieties of coral that can be found in these waters. A fleet of liveaboards visits sites across the north-central regions of the Red Sea. Highlights of these cruises include the Brothers Islands, which are a pair of small, volcanic rock outcroppings located some 120 miles to the south.

These tiny islands are ringed by vertical walls riddled with caves and overhangs and decorated dense coatings of hard and soft corals. Massive schools of fish are often found around these islands, and wreck enthusiasts can explore a pair of natural wrecks, the Numidia and the Aida. The area is also known as one of the best places in the Red Sea for diving with sharks. Silvertips and grey reef sharks frequent the area and great hammerheads are sometimes seen in passing. Another top-rated liveaboard destination is Elphinstone Reef. This long, thin formation rises from the depths to within a few feet of the surface, attracting everything from sharks, tunas, mantas to large grouper, turtles and Napoleon wrasse. Currents can range from mild to strong, making for exciting drift dives. Farther to the south is the Daedalus Reef, which is a huge coral plateau surrounded by sheer walls. The reef is located within a marine park and is known for its abundant fish life. Huge schools of surgeons, fusiliers and carangids swarm the upper portions of the reef, and reef and hammerhead sharks are often spotted. Among the more distant sites visited by Red Sea liveaboards are the Fury Shoals. The shoals are an extensive collection of reefs that offer everything from shallow, sheltered dives, to walls, fast drifts, caves and wrecks.

Egypt is home to one of the world's oldest and richest cultures, dating back thousands of years to the time of the Pharos and the pyramids. This legacy has long attracted visitors, and historical sites remain the country's most important tourism resource. Sites such as the Pyramids of Giza and the temples of Luxor have long been considered bucket-list destinations, and the country is rich in museums holding ancient artifacts such as ceramic art, mosaics, sarcophagi and mummies. Beyond these vestiges of ancient traditions, modern Egyptian culture is a dynamic mix forged from a wide range of culture cross-pollination from across the Arab world, as well as influences from the British Colonial period. Arabic is the country's official language, but English and French are also fairly widely spoken in more cosmopolitan areas. The vast majority of Egyptians practice the Muslim faith, and Cairo has been known as the "City of a Thousand Minarets" for its large number of mosques. The city's old town provides an intriguing link to the past, as it is a place of narrow streets and open-air bazaars where merchants haggle and residents retire to tea rooms to smoke hookahs and discuss the day's events. Egyptian cuisine blends the flavors of the Mediterranean with North African staples in favorite dishes such as isfoul, which is made from fava beans cooked slowly over low heat and seasoned with salt, lemon, cumin, and oil, and iskoshari, which is a mixture of rice, black lentils, and macaroni covered with tomato sauce and garnished with fried onions.