Sharm El Sheikh

Sharm sits at the southern tip of the Sinai peninsula where the Gulf of Aqaba meets the Red Sea, and its reason for existing is what lies just offshore: fringing reefs that drop straight into deep water within metres of the beach, giving hard and soft coral, big schooling fish and consistently good visibility with almost no current in the sheltered bays. The town grew from a small settlement into a resort city from the 1980s, and it is now a spread of hotel compounds around Naama Bay, Sharks Bay and Nabq, with a promenade of restaurants and shops at the centre. The best diving is a boat ride away at Ras Mohammed and the Tiran straits. Away from the water the city is entirely modern and built for visitors.

What you actually see

• Fringing reefs off the beach - coral walls within metres of the shore.
• The Tiran straits reefs - offshore coral heads on the standard boat route.
• Naama Bay promenade - the resort centre and its restaurant strip.
• Desert behind the town - the Sinai mountains as the backdrop.

When to go

October to May for comfortable temperatures; midsummer is very hot though the diving continues. Water is warmest August to October and coolest in February. Three days minimum for diving, a week to do it properly.

Honest expectations

It is a purpose-built resort city with little local character and no old town. Reef damage from boat traffic and swimmers is visible at the busiest sites. Prices vary wildly between packages and walk-in rates. Shark incidents have occurred in the region and beach rules are posted for a reason.

Nearby

Ras Mohammed is south; Dahab and Nabq lie north along the gulf.