THE EGYPTIAN RED SEA

Egypt today has over 800 miles of coastline on the Red Sea . Some of it, along the Gulf of Suez, is not worth diving because its shallow and sandy bottom inhibits visibility and coral growth. The southern area, near the Sudan border, is so isolated and undeveloped that a diving trip there must be a fully equipped expedition. This leaves two easily accessible diving regions: the Sinai peninsula, and the mainland from the lower Gulf of Suez to the port of Safaga.

Ras Mohammed was declared a national park, spearfishing and coral collecting have been banned since 1977 throughout the Egyptian Red Sea. Although enforcement coast drops steeply into very deep water, there are few other offshore reefs.
The first dive center in the Red Sea was opened in the mainland town of Hurghada by a German couple in the early 1960s.

RED SEA WEATHER
June through October are the warm water months in the Red Sea. Water temperatures range from 76 to 82F degrees on the surface. This is not an area conducive to diving without a protective suit; unless you are quite active underwater, you will tend to get chilled. Thermo clines are sometimes encountered, but an eighth-inch (3 mm) wetsuit is sufficient. A full suit is recommended for protection from stinging creatures as well as for warmth. On slow-moving night dives, an eighth-inch vest will provide additional warmth.

Air Temperature in Celsius

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
Day	20	22	25	29	33	35	36	35	33	31	26	21
Night	8	9	11	14	17	20	22	22	20	18	14	10

Water Temperature in Celsius

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	18	19	19	21	24	26	27	27	26	24	21	17

Hours of Daylight

Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	June	July	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec
	7	8	9	10	11	12	12	12	11	10	8	7

After diving, the warm wind acts like a blow dryer to quickly evaporate the water off your body and warm you up. If you get chilled on a sedentary photo dive, warmth and comfort will return quickly when you remove your wetsuit. Leaving it on will keep you cold longer due to evaporation.
During the winter months a quarter-inch farmer John suit is recommended for everyone. Water temperatures range from 70 to 76 degrees. On the surface, air temperatures will be in the 70s but the strong wind chill factor will make it seem colder. A sweater or a medium weight jacket is necessary on the boat between dives, especially at night.
Visibility is generally better during the summer months, averaging 100 feet. In the winter it is about 20 feet less, although 150 feet plus is possible at any time. Plankton blooms - usually occurring in February, March and April - can drop visibility to 15 feet. They are localized and unpredictable, sometimes there in the morning and gone in the afternoon. Tidal currents have a strong effect on visibility.
The prevailing winds (called Shamal) are from the north and northwest, all year round. Generally it is windier in the winter, occasional southern squalls blow at that time. Even in summer there are fewer than ten calm days a month on average. The normal pattern is for the winds to blow in the morning, calm down in the afternoon, then begin again late at night. Whitecaps are almost an everyday occurrence, but that doesn't stop the boats from going out. Rides can be bouncy and wet when going uphill in all but the largest vessels. On the other hand, big swells are rare except in the far south. The calmest sea conditions usually occur in August and September; that is the best time to attempt a run to the remote islands of the central Red Sea .
Fish seem to be less active in the winter months, and soft corals appear to shrink and contract. Fewer groupers are seen, they are thought to head for deeper water. On the other hand, January and February is mating season for manta rays. They can always be seen during that time at certain sites, like Shab el Erg. December through February is mating time for sharks, especially around Shadwan Island . They are often aggressive toward each other at that time, probably part of the courting ritual.