Red Sea

Red Sea
are there any deadly creatures to watch out for in the red sea?

im going on a holiday to egypt and we are going to go snorkeling in the red sea
ive got a really terrible fear of sharks and deadly creatures that will swim towards me out of the unknown. i recently read that there are 44 species of sharks in the red sea and all sorts of lethal jellyfish and it really freaked me out

has anyone been to the red sea and is there anything i need to be really worried or cautious about?

thanks =)

There are a few creatures to watch out for in the Red Sea! I didn't see any of these, but I heard about someone who got bit feeding an eel.

The tiger shark is considered to be to be one of the sharks most dangerous to humans. Although it is found in the Red Sea it is not usually seen near reefs during the daytime.

The Grey reef shark is territorial and may be aggressive, and has been involved in non-fatal attacks on divers.

Balistoides viridescens, the Titan triggerfish, will aggressively guard its nest if eggs are present. Attacks can be severe and leave wounds requiring stitches.

Pseudobalistes flavimarginatus, the Yellowmargin triggerfish, is another large triggerfish and should not be disturbed if tending to eggs.

Moray eels such as the Giant moray are only occasionally aggressive; most bites result from divers putting a hand into the hole in which the eel lives.

Surgeonfishes have sheathed or fixed blades at the base of the tail which can inflict deep wounds (the yellow stripe on the Sohal tang pictured).

Be careful!

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The Red Sea's narrow, sheltered shores have extensive shallow shelves which allow marine life to flourish; the region supports over 200 hard and soft species of coral, over 1000 invertebrates and over 110 species of fish - 10 percent of which are not known to be found anywhere else in the world. The rich biodiversity of the area has been officially recognised by the Egyptian government, who set up the 'Ras Mohamed National Park' in 1983 to protect the Red Sea from pollution and over development.

As the world's most northerly tropical sea, it is very popular with European divers and offers hundreds of top diving spots. Not only is it extremely diverse in marine life, but with an average water temperature of around 26C, good visibility and a small tidal range it is also considered a safe place to dive. Though the Red Sea laps the shores of several North African and Middle Eastern countries, including Sudan, Eritrea, Somalia, Saudi Arabia and Yemen, it is Egypt that is best known as the host of diving holidays.

For experienced divers, the Red Sea's many wreck sites offer a fascinating glimpse of marine history and also how nature can take man-made materials and use them as a habitat. Examples of this includes the 'Ghiannis D', a Greek boat that sunk in 1983 after colliding with another wreck. Divers can swim through the deserted hull and see large moray eels, shoals of batfish, and butterfly fish.

'Thistlegorm', a British ship that was sunk by bombers in 1941 is rated as one of the top ten best diving sites in the world. Much of the huge vessel's cargo is very well persevered and can still be seen, such as motorbikes, rifles and even train carriages!

Egypt is well equipped for hosting diving holidays, and divers of all levels - from complete beginners to experienced scuba masters - are well catered for. Live-aboard diving holidays are one of the best ways of maximising your underwater time and offer comfortable accommodation, with double or twin cabins, large air conditioned rooms with en-suite bathrooms available. Most also offer plenty of indoor and on-deck seating and a bar where guests can purchase soft drinks as well as beer and wine. Experienced crew members provide catering as well as guidance to the best diving sites in the area.

With such as wealth of diving opportunities, it's little wonder that the Red Sea, and Egypt in particular continues to be one of the most popular diving spots in the world.

About the Author:

Elisha Burberry is an online, freelance journalist and keen traveller and watersports enthusiast. Originally from Scotland, she now resides in London.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com - Seeing Red: Diving Holidays on the Red Sea

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