Snorkeling and scuba diving

The Gulf of Aqaba is located at the northern end of the Red Sea and separates the Sinai Peninsula from the Arabian Peninsula. It is one of the world's most popular places for snorkeling and scuba diving. The reasons for this is the fascinating underwater world and the excellent diving conditions with warm water temperatures and a minimal tidal range.

Most northerly tropical coral reefs in the world

Aqaba's coral reefs are home to a great variety of marine life, including 500 species of fish and over 150 species of coral. They are the most northerly tropical coral reefs in the world. The reasons for the exceptional coral growth are the optimal temperatures and the high salinity. In the Red Sea, which is almost separated from the Indian Ocean by a very shallow sill, the salt content is 4.2%. The other seas have an average salinity of 3.5%. 

Endemic and endangered species

The Gulf of Aqaba also has a high proportion of endemic and endangered species. Among the most interesting animals are the venomous lionfish, the critically endangered hawksbill sea turtle, bottlenose dolphins and various species of sharks, including the whale shark, the largest shark in the world, and the shortfin mako, the fastest shark in the world. Both are listed as endangered. In addition to the marine life, the wrecks of sunken ships are also a magnet for divers.

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