Leave behind the cold and wet winter and embark on a journey to the land of the Pharaohs. Just a six-hour flight away lies the peaceful Marsa Alam with its undiscovered treasures on the shores of the Red Sea. Look forward to sun, a break from everyday life, and unforgettable discoveries.
The water of the lagoon shimmers in a variety of colours, from bright turquoise to sapphire blue and indigo to green, seemingly stretching into the infinite. Should the Red Sea really be blue? In the Bible, it is mentioned as the “Reed Sea”. However, in the 16th century, a printer forgot an “e” on his typesetting machine, turning “Reed” into “Red”. Just a legend? The name could also originate from Erythras, a mythical ancient king whose name means “Red” in Greek. It is also said that the Red Sea turns red when a specific algae spreads. And then there are those rugged rocks bathed in red light by the setting sun…
Shimmering Fish
A trip to the Red Sea offers adults and children the wonderful opportunity to discover a globally unique underwater environment while snorkelling. What impresses about this underwater world is the abundance of life. Like underwater confetti, the tiny anthias fish (Anthias sp.), the undeniable stars of this colourful world, whirl through the coral reef. Colourful, striped, or spotted fish dart around in the crevices and corners of the reef. A spectacle that never gets boring: 1250 fish species, 250 coral species, and 1000 invertebrates live here. The location is ideal for a first dive with an oxygen tank.
Unlike the coastal cities in the north (Hurghada, Safaga, Quseir), where the coral reef is practically off the coast, the region around Marsa Alam has several natural bays (marsa) where abundant seagrass grows, the favourite food of the green sea turtle, which likes to stay here! To ensure a glimpse of these armoured marine creatures, head to the diving spot Marsa Abu Dabbah. In Marsa Shoona or Marsa Moubarak, encounters with them are rare. With some luck, you may also encounter a dugong, a type of manatee once referred to by sailors as a “mermaid.”
