But Why the Red Sea?

The Red Sea has for long been a favourite diving destination for many divers across the world. Join any conversation about great diving and the Red Sea just comes up automatically. Most UK divers have visited one of the six different diving regions at some point in their diving careers, returning year after year, and for a very good reason. They have accustomed themselves to such great diving that when attempting to visit a different destination they tend to compare it with their old time favourite.

But why the Red Sea? What is so good about it that divers just keep raving about its diving over and over?

Well, for a very good reason as you are about to find out when reading the next paragraphs about diving the different regions the Red Sea has to offer.

Taba

Still a developing tourist area, the diving in Taba is virtually unspoilt with pristine coral reefs very close to shore which is a massive bonus. This means you do not have to travel very far spending precious time on boats to experience the best dive sites.

What’s even greater about Taba is that the region is sometimes visited by one of the most amazing sea creatures, whale sharks. Yes that right, whale sharks! From around April through to May and again September and October divers have been privileged to spot, swim and interact with whale sharks as long as 12 metres.

Dahab

Dahab is just an old time favourite for divers with great shore diving available as its underwater topography is a continuation from Dahab’s jagged mountains forming seascape valleys, beautiful reefs, canyons and caves.

The beautiful “Blue Hole” is one of Dahab’s most famous dive sites with great colours ideal for photographers.  “The Canyon” is a narrow and beautiful canyon created by volcanic activity home to hard and soft corals as well as rich fauna. The region has something for everyone with a long promenade offering a full range of water-front restaurants and a carefree atmosphere complimenting its superb diving.

Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm El Sheikh is a fully developed resort visited by many divers. The atmosphere here is the total opposite of Dahab’s, the resort is more commercialised and ideal for those looking to combine great diving with very good nightlife. The diving in this area is very famous for the array of dive sites in the Ras Mohammed National Park including Shark of Yolanda, a cargo ship that sank in less than 18 meters of water with a load of toilets.

The Straits of Tiran, 4 underwater islands with around 15 different dive sites is also very famous among divers as the currents in this area are responsible for the healthy corals and resident marine life.

Hurghada

Less developed than Sharm El Sheikh but at a growing stage to become more commercialised, this coastal area is the perfect base to catch a liveaboard and ideal for wreck divers. The huge variety of wrecks laying on the bottom sea, some with very interesting history will keep you busy for a few days during your visit.

With the main wreck location nearby, Abu Nuhas is a shipwreck graveyard and its four wrecks among which are the famous Ghiannis D and the Carnatic will offer great diving opportunities. But is not all about wrecks, Hurghada is also home to diverse marine life ranging from the tiniest nudibraches to the amazing whales hark encounters.

Marsa Alam

Are you looking for an exciting diving location with a myriad of pristine reefs home to stunning hard and soft corals and an astonishing abundance of marine life? Then look no further and book your next trip to Marsa Alam as you will get to experience the best reefs the Red Sea has to offer and if you are on one of your lucky days get a glimpse of the resident Dugong that feeds on the sea grass.

But that’s not all! Marsa Alam is also famous for an absolute must dive site. “Dolphin House”, a large, horseshoe-shaped reef is home to dozens of spinner dolphins, hiding eels, leopard groupers and much more.

Hamata

Last but by no means least; Hamata’s crystal clear water located to the south of the Red Sea is the ideal get away from it all.  Fury Shoals and St. Johns are some of the most southerly reef systems with a number of dive sites accessible only by liveaboard which just like Marsa Alam means you get to experience great reef dives.

If you are new to diving in the Red Sea I hope this article has given you a good insight to this diving destination and encouraged you to think about booking your next diving trip to one of the six regions in the Red Sea.

Author Bio

Keith Barrett is a keen diver and is able to mix business with pleasure: he works with UltimateDiving.co.uk and takes the opportunity to visit many great locations around the world. He also writes extensively about diving experiences.

London, UK – Beyond Luxury Media Ltd, the organiser of leading travel trade events PURE Life Experiences and LE Miami, announces the launch of a groundbreaking new travel trade show that will turbocharge business opportunities for Africa’s finest travel products.

The show will be called We Are Africa and will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, starting in May 2014. Announcing this new event Serge Dive, CEO of Beyond Luxury Media Ltd, said:

“Over many years our team has consistently broken the mould of traditional trade shows by creating superior events that redefine key industries in travel: luxury, experiential and contemporary. However, the Africa-based participants at these events represented just one section of our global exhibitors. It is therefore not surprising that once close working relationships were forged with Africa’s key travel trade players, we were continually asked to create an equally game-changing ‘All Africa’ travel show exclusively for product from this great continent. I have listened carefully to our partners across Africa and as a result am presenting We Are Africa, a totally new platform for buyers to do business with suppliers of African tourism.

This groundbreaking event will not be about luxury travel or experiential travel. It will be, quite simply, a platform to showcase remarkable brands and operators that constitute the very best of African tourism: brands that are worth talking about and above all have the potential to truly excite an internationally discerning clientele. Africa is uniquely rich in outstanding tourism product, which we will select by invitation only to attract buyers from all corners of the world.

Participating buyers and suppliers will be selected from the ‘best in breed’ across tourism markets so that We Are Africa encompasses all the ingredients needed to make a successful, modern travel trade show. Buyers from the world over will be hosted and offered a comprehensive menu of familiarisation trips across Africa. The event will include scheduled appointments, a conference, workshop sessions and an exciting new African awards ceremony to highlight the best in breed. Finally, no event organised by Beyond Luxury Media would be complete without our ‘special ingredient’ – fabulous parties for all buyers and exhibitors to network the night away!

We Are Africa will differentiate itself from other travel trade events in two respects. Firstly, our show will concentrate on bringing new markets and new business to Africa. Secondly, we will focus on assembling a unique community that is passionate about promoting the very best of Africa to the world, sharing sales and marketing ideas that will create as many networking and lead opportunities as possible.

In the spirit of all the shows that the Beyond Luxury Media team has built, We Are Africa will herald the creation of a genuine movement for those who want to stand out, be counted and celebrate and promote the unique beauty of Africa to the world. I believe that these values are epitomised by the name of our show: We Are Africa.”

The timing of the show in early May 2014 will give each buyer hosted by We Are Africa the opportunity to extend their stay and to go to Durban to meet other South African travel trade suppliers.

For more information contact:

Ryan Wallace, Exhibition Manager, We Are Africa
[email protected]

Beyond Luxury Media Ltd is a UK registered company, wholly owned by Serge Dive and Sarah Ball

Gran Canaria is the second most populous island in the Canary Islands archipelago. It has long been a popular spot with tourists who value the stunning scenery and warm, spring-like temperatures that last throughout the year. While cheap holidays to Gran Canaria draw 2.2 million visitors to the island’s beaches every year, the sunny coast isn’t the only attraction for vacationers.

Head inland on the island, and you’ll discover a misty and magical world of dense, green laurel trees and ferns, thick with moss and cut by waterfalls and bubbling streams.

The laurel forests or “laurisilva” of the world are heaven on earth for botanists. These pockets of dense forest are scattered across North Africa, Southern Europe and the Canary Islands and play host to some of the most interesting flora and fauna on the planet. These humid woodlands are thought to be relics from another age, left over from the ancient forests that covered this area almost twenty million years ago.

In Gran Canaria the sad story is that the laurel forests have been in sharp decline in recent years, with many rare and indigenous animals disappearing almost entirely. Currently, just 1% of the original laurel forest is thought to remain on the island. This precious habitat is sheltered at Los Tiles, where the atmospheric conditions of the surrounding mountains create the perfect environment for maintaining this natural paradise. The air is consistently moist, allowing tree and plant life to flourish.

Anyone hoping to visit will be pleased to learn that there are walks through the forests, the shortest of which is the .75 km climb up the Mirador Topo de las Barandas. As you reach the peak you’ll be treated to a spectacular view down the deep gorge that runs through the middle of the forest. This hike takes about 45 minutes and is the perfect way to start the day.

More adventurous hikers may be interested in a ravine-side hike to the Marcos and Cordero Springs, where you’ll pass through a series of canal tunnels that, in the past, brought water to the island. It can be quite slippery, so wear decent hiking boots and pack a raincoat – everything here is wet! A torch would also be advisable, as there’s no natural light in the tunnels. This walk takes about 5 hours.

Whether you’re a keen botanist or a tourist looking for something a bit different, the laurel forest is definitely worth a look before it’s too late. Unlike many delicate and rare environmental spots, Gran Canaria is easy to reach on an affordable holiday, and the experience of the laurisilva will be completely priceless.

If you are thinking of going on holiday to the Red Sea, there are more than enough beautiful locations to choose from. Whether it is the tourist diving paradise of Sharm el Sheikh or the lively Hurghada resort, you will definitely enjoy your stay.

Sharm el Sheikh

Full of world class restaurants, good shopping facilities, and luxurious accommodation, the well-developed city resort of Sharm el Sheikh is quite literally a paradise for divers. After you have worn yourself out scuba diving and sunbathing, you can visit Naama Bay, where there are plenty of cafes, restaurants, and bars with neon lighting. Also, why not take a walk along the Sultan Qaboos Street and take in the wonderful evening atmosphere.

It is, however, the diving which attracts the many visitors from every corner of the globe. Just a short drive from this city, you can get to some fantastically varied diving sites, many of which are equipped to offer guidance to those new to diving.

Taba Heights

Located on a truly beautiful spot on the Sinai Peninsula, Taba Heights is a resort in a wonderfully natural setting. Alongside the 4 and 5 star hotels, there are swimming pools, beautiful views, gourmet cuisine, massage, and much more.

For those who like to have lots of exciting things to do while in luxuriously attractive surroundings, Taba Heights has sports such as windsurfing, wakeboarding, waterskiing and golf, as well as a whole range of night time entertainment options for both adults and children.

Hurghada

The sun shines all year round in Hurghada, and the scenery is truly stunning. Whether you plan to explore underwater or stay above it, this is a fantastic retreat for families. With such a dramatic landscape, long natural beaches, beautiful clear waters, and many fun activities to take part in such as snorkelling and scuba diving, there is certainly a lot to keep you entertained here.

El Gouna

Built on a beach 10 kilometres long, El Gouna is a beautiful, self-contained town with more than 20,000 residents. The town is spread across various island and lagoons, and due to careful planning and intelligent management, it is unique in its completeness and harmony.

For the family, there are many activities to amuse the children, such as the aquarium, museum, and the golf and diving lessons designed specifically for youngsters. For the parents who want a little time to themselves away from their children, Little Gounies and Les Petites Nurseries will look after your little ones while you go off and enjoy yourselves.

For couples without children, El Gouna is the perfect lovers’ paradise in the Red Sea, with long beaches, uninhabited islands, top class dining and hotels, and many entertainments to choose from.

Makadi Bay

About 25 kilometres south of Hurghada airport, Makadi Bay is a great family destination. It is particularly suitable for those wanting something more peaceful and relaxing than some of the more full-on holiday destinations. A self-contained village, it is set in a natural bay between the Red Sea Mountains and tranquil desert dunes.