Thursday, January 22, 2009

Adventurous Diving in Hurghada

By Ed J Price

The Red Sea at Hurghada, Egypt plays host to some of the worlds best scuba diving spots. From what used to be a fishing village, this coastal town is now an international resort and tourist destination. Renowned for its beautiful and flamboyant underwater gardens and coral reefs, Hurghada possesses some of the worlds greatest dive spots.

With its warm, crystal blue water, the coral and rare, exotic marine life, thrive in the Red Sea. It is one of the most beautiful and serene scuba diving opportunities you are likely to find. The coral has the most vivid reds, oranges, yellows, and pinks you will find anywhere.

Hurghada, Egypt

Hurghada is the central resort town on the beaches surrounding the Red Sea. Its this fact that made it the gateway to the Red Sea. The resort areas to the North and South have contributed to the development of the wonderful place. An ideal time to visit Hurghada is between the months of June to September. This should be the best time for diving.

Hurghada is a great getaway destination for all types of water sports with the year round summers in Egypt and the sandy beaches of the Red Sea. It contains over 100 resorts situated right on the Red Sea. Apart from scuba diving, they also offer windsurfing, snorkeling, water skiing, and catamaran cruises for the day.

Great Dive Spots in Hurghada

The Hilton Hurghada Long Beach Resort is right on the Red Sea and offers scuba diving expeditions. There are great dive spots right off of the beach at Hilton Long Beach.

Around the Giftun Islands by boat is another option that offers diving spots close to Hurghada. Day and Night diving is offered in some places here.

The Thistlegorm wreck is much easier to see under the clear waters at Shaab Abu Nuhas Reef.

Scuba expeditions to some great spots are offered at the Marriot Long Beach, Sofitel and Oberoi.

The whole shoreline to the north and south are surrounded by underwater coral reefs near Hurghada.

Thistlegorm Wreck Diving, Hurghada, Egypt

Jacques Cousteau discovered this wreck in the early 1950s with the aid of local fishermen. The SS Thistlegorm sailed and sank in 1941, when the Suez Canal was closed because of another ship collision. While waiting for two weeks to go through the Canal, it became a target for Germans on the way back to Crete and sank immediately.

It was rediscovered in the 1990s and is now a well known dive spot near Hurghada. The massive explosion blew away the middle portion of the ship which has made it open and accessible for scuba divers. It is considered as one of the best diving spots in the world.

Hurghada, Egypt, on the Red Sea offers some of the greatest scuba diving and snorkeling opportunities in the world. - 15359

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