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Known as the world's most brilliant and amazing underwater scenery , the crystal-clear water , hundreds of exotic fish this place attracts people all over the world who usually come here for snorkelling and scuba-diving.
This resort is situated in the southern coast of the Gulf of Aqaba , between Tiran Island and Ras Mohammed National Park.
Na'ama Bay is a string of resorts that has become a luxurious place since the early 1980s. It's main characteristics are loud music , fast food , unimaginative architecture and thousands of wandering package tourists.
Sharm al-Maya is 6 km away from Na'ama , having a little more charm than Na'ama. Up the hill is Hadaba , another area which is rapidly filling with resorts. This is the paradise for budget travellers or those in search of something small and unique.
Camel rides: They cost about US $40 to US $ 60 but you usually end up in the middle of a large group. So if you want to experience the desert from the back of a camel especially in the company of a Bedouin , you should negotiate directly to the Bedouin In Dahab or Nuweiba to the north.
Diving:
There are a lot of dive clubs here such as Subex Diving Centre and Sinai Divers.
Horse riding:
The Sofitel and Sanafari hotels in Na'ama Bay offer horse riding for about US $ 20 per hour.
Quads:
These are four-wheel motorbikes and they are extremely popular in Sharm el-Sheikh. Two hour trips to the desert cost about E150. Keep in mind that you can get hurt if you don't pay attention to the road , and remember that those huge wheels can damage the desert's fragile envinronment.
Snorkelling:
Temple and Fiasco Reefs are the primary dive destinations.
Na'ama Bay has itself reefs , but Near and Middle Gardens are far more interesting and stunning and the even more incredible Far Garden.
The Near Garden is just below the Sofitel Hotel , and the Middle and the Far Gardens are below the Hyatt Regency.
Ras Um Sid is another excellent spot for snorkelling near the lighthouse at Sharm-el Sheikh. Its small beach usually gets crowded. The area near the lighthouse is now a part of the Al-Fanar restaurant. The entry to the beach costs E20.
Beside the Ritz Carlton Hotel is Amphoras Reef, which is another popular snorkelling spot.
Many of the dive clubs do snorkelling trips to Ras Mohammed National Park with prices starting at US $50.
Most of the dive clubs rent masks , snorkels and fins but remember that fins , used improperly can damage the corals.
Other water sports:
Most hotels offer other water sports , such as sailing lessons which cost about E45 per hour, windsurfing(about E50 per hour) , parasailing(about E150 per hour), pedalos(about E30 per hour) and banana boats(about E15 for 15 minutes).
Most hotels also have swimming pools starting at about E45 per person, per day.
There's a public beach in Sharm al-Maya but there aren't any reefs and women can be ogled by young Egyptian men.
Tours
Especially bigger hotels and travel agencies organize a lot of things to do in the water. Jeep or bus trips to St. Katherine's Monastery or desert sights such as the Coloured Canyon are available for about E45 or more. However, the guides are Nile Valley dwellers, so if you want something more specific, intimate and traditional you can arrange trips from Dahab, Nuweiba or St. Katherine.
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