Ras Mohamed National Park

RAS MOHAMED NATIONAL PARK:

Ras Mohamed is the most famous national park in Egypt and is one of the most famous diving & snorkeling sites in the world. A national park that is located between the rich coral reefs of the Red Sea and the inland desert of the Sinai- it covers the coral headland at the southernmost tip of Sinai. At the southern end of the headland there is a small stand of Mangrove, Avicennia marina. Beneath the crystal-clear waters of the Red Sea you’ll find coral reefs teeming with life including a diversity of vertebrate and invertebrate species. Slightly further offshore you might spot dolphins, including Risso’s Dolphin, Grampus griseus. The area hosts White Stork, Ciconia ciconia, during their annual migrations.

THE CORAL REEFS:

The coral reefs are a magnificent and dramatic experience for any snorkeler or diver. Corals, sea anemones, sponges and sea urchins are but a few of the inhabitants. Dolphins, sea turtles and sharks are also found here. Specific conditions of abundance of food and the high degree of salinity of the water, coupled with high temperature, have probably affected the evolvement of many different species of fish, of which 25-30% are indigenous to the Red Sea.

There are three different types of reefs in the Red Sea; barrier reefs, patch reefs and fringing reefs. Hard corals form reefs which are constantly growing, soft corals remain static, looking very beautiful, but not adding any substantial strength to the construction of the reef.

Fish are attracted to the coral reefs and it is impossible to list them all, there are supposedly more than one thousand different species in the Red Sea. The variety, size, color and habits of the marine population is indeed overwhelming