These sea grass beds are of enormous ecological importance and sustain an overwhelming amount of marine life. Dugongs spend most of their life in the shallow coastal areas grazing on sea grass beds. They are usually very playful and will approach closely so long as you stay calm and respect the dolphins space.Įstimates put the total Dugong population at 4,000 in the whole of the Red Sea, with only 7 documented along the southern Red Sea coastline.Dugongs reach up to four meters in length and can weigh up to 1,000 kilograms. It is very common to spot these beautiful creatures roaming about the sea anywhere in the south. Sammadai national park and Satayah reef are the most well known and both sites are home to spinner dolphins. There are various sites in the southern Red Sea where Dolphins congregate or live. Other height species are considered rare (Notarbartolo et.al. Eight species are considered regular: Common Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus), Indopacific Bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus), Spinner Dolphin (Stenella longirostris), Pantropical Spotted Dolphin (Stenella attenuata), Longbeaked Common Dolphin (Dephinus capensis), Risso’s Dolphin (Grampus griseus), Humpback Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) and Bryde’s Whale (Balaenoptera edeni). There are over 10 shark species that call the Red Sea home,ĭolphins attract tourists to Egypt every year, but despite their popularity, are still poorly known from a scientific point of view. Human Impacts on Presence of Sharks at Diving Sites of the Southern Red Sea, Egypt - Ahmed M. In Elphinstone Reef the high amount of boats is also widely distributed for the entire area, making it impossible for the sharks to avoid human presence.” Both the mean number of divers and the mean number of boats recorded for each dive are higher for Elphinstone Reef than in the other study sites. Human presence was recorded during almost all the dives: 134 cases on the total of 138 dives, with a presence of a total of 971 boats and 15,601 divers. “The frequency of encounters in Elphinstone Reef is considerably lower than in the other study areas. 5 different species of shark were encountered in 110 of these dives and a total of 292 specimens were recorded. In total they spent 194 hours of field study and made 138 dives. These sites included Elphinstone Reef, Daedalus Reef, Big Brother Island, Small Brother Island, Zabargad Island, Rocky Island and Habili Ali. Beginning in June of 2008 the Red Sea Rangers conducted a 6 month study of human impact on sharks at various dive sites in the Red Sea. It is estimated that one shark alone brings about $120,000 from tourism revenue each year. The abundance of coral reefs allows for juvenile fish to grow and thrive into adulthood. This is by far one of the Red Sea's exclusive attractions with a myriad of thriving colorful fish. It is estimated for instance that 1 meter of coral generates up to $300,000 in tourism revenue annually and 1 shark can generate up to $120,000.Įstimates put the abundant Red Sea fish population at over 800 species, 10% of which exist no where else in the world.

Furthermore, these precious resources are generating an enormous amount of wealth through tourism. In this regions arid coastal zone, these reefs represent the very lifeline of this delicate environment. Coral reefs are a delicate habitat providing food and shelter for many living organisms, which are dependent on the reef ecosystem for their survival. This underwater eco-system is home to over 300 species of coral and 1,000 species of fish, 10% of which are found nowhere else in the world. The Red Sea reefs cover an area of more than 1500 km with associated eco-systems such as, islands, mangroves, and marsh. There are a number of reefs, islands and coastal regions, which are protected areas and national parks. Spinner dolphins, dugongs, turtles, mantas, and sharks are just some of the marine species that calls these waters home. The Red Sea’s underwater eco-system is home to over 300 species of coral and 2,100 species of fish, 10% of which are found nowhere else in the world. Some of these reef complexes are considered the world’s best example of coral reef topography. There are also many off-shore reef complexes that feature vast coral gardens and canyons. This fringing reefs is occasionally split apart by small “Marsas” and “Sharms” and also feature remarkable reef topography such as swim troughs and tunnel systems.

Some areas of back reef feature lagoons and can offer limited recreational opportunities like swimming, wading, or kite surfing. The fringing reef is supported by a wide reef flat or “back reef,” which can extend to 500 meters in some cases. The southern Red Sea is among the richest and most productive of marine ecosystems, due in large part to the over 250km of coastal fringing reef.

Red sea coral reef