Introduction

Remarkably, the Red Sea, one of the worlds richest stretches of water is surrounded by desert. It is said to have been formed by a great rift that in Biblical times separated two great continents; Africa and Asia. The rift forks in the north forming the Gulf of Suez to the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east. The area enclosed by the two gulfs is the Sinai Penninsula, formerly geographically considered a part of Asia.

Today the Red Sea forms coastlines in the north and west to Egypt, Sudan and Erithrea and, to Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen in the east.

The geology of the Red Sea is relatively young and is still forming by the process of continental drift, as the African plate and Arabian plate split apart. Saudi Arabia is drifting away from Africa at a rate of 1 - 2 cms per year. The rocks being formed now are somewhat similar to rocks that were formed when the Americas split away from Africa and Europe 165 million years ago. Think what the diving must have been like then.

The marine biology of the area is of the richest and most varied in the whole world. Beautifully coloured coral gardens bursting with life, all the fishes of the Red Sea - each having its place - and, some incredible seasonal sights, like schools of Hammerheads dancing around in spring and summer, Grey Tip Reef Sharks mating in the winter, Manta Rays.