Local

The generic name ‘Local Dives’ (due to their closeness to Sharm) covers all the shore

diving sites north and south of Naama Bay between the Strait of Tiran and the little town of Sharm el-Sheikh

• Naama Bay, still a desert at the end of the eighties, is now a famous international tourist resort. This splendid bay was originally called Marsa el-Aat, situated at the outlet of Wadi el-Aat.

• Naama Bay has one of two jetties that diving boats in the area usually embark from: the other,

• Travco Marina is situated to the southwest in the bay of Sharm el-Sheikh, known locally as Sharm el Maya, or the ‘bay of the harbour’ due to the large tourist port which is also present.

• You reach the different local dive sites from Naama Bay following a boat ride that may take anywhere from 10 to 70 minutes. North of Naama

• Bay there are nine diving spots on a 7.5 mile stretch of coast. Ras Ghamila, the furthest away, lies almost directly opposite Gordon Reef; Ras Nasrani is on a level to the international airport; the others, within a short distance of each other are Ras Bob, White Knight, Shark’s Bay, Far Garden, Fiddle Garden, Middle Garden and Near Garden (corresponding to the northerly tip of Naama Bay).

• South of Naama Bay is a further nine diving sites: Sodfa, Tower, Pinky Wall, Amphoras, Turtle Bay, Paradise, Ras Umm Sid, Temple and Ras Katy. The last-mentioned site corresponds to the northerly tip of the Sharm el-Maya Bay.

• Generally speaking, besides their vicinity to Naama Bay, these diving sites have other features in common due to their position, sheltered from waves and strong currents, and to the configuration of the fringing reef, which has found an ideal

• ecosystem for its growth along this stretch of coast. Diving here can be enjoyed by divers at all levels and, in good conditions, you

• A Masked butterflyfish can observe

• (Chaetodon semilarvatus) many genera of madrepores (hard corals), innumerable varieties of Alcyonarians (soft corals) and an almost complete range of reef fish, from the small anthias to the large Napoleonfish (Cheilinus undulates), multicoloured butterflyfish and angelfish to parrotfish, triggerfish to surgeonfish.