Several years ago, the English broadcasting corporation BBC conducted a survey “What would you like to experience before you die?” 20 thousand respondents took part in the survey, organized according to all the rules. In first place among the answers was “swim with dolphins,” and among people’s deepest dreams was the desire to “scuba dive on a coral reef.” It is not surprising that diving is becoming increasingly popular in Russia, as well as throughout the world. The beauty of the underwater world, which you can dream about while looking at the TV screen, is available to every diver, starting from his first dives. And the endless variety of shapes, play of colors, hundreds of species of fish, shellfish, corals, characteristic of tropical seas, cannot get boring even for very experienced divers. Constant progress in technical equipment, training, and organization of dives has led to the fact that diving today is not at all a dangerous sport, the lot of single extreme sports enthusiasts, but a wonderful form of recreation, giving an unforgettable experience to people with the most basic physical training. The Red Sea is unique. In a fairly limited space, in clear, warm water from the surface to the very bottom, you can see beautiful coral gardens with schools of colorful fish, sunken ships, and large marine inhabitants. And for this you don’t need to fly to the other end of the earth. Relatively inexpensive infrastructure, the warmth of local residents and their hospitality have led to the fact that the Red Sea has become a Mecca for divers all over the world. Demand creates supply, and therefore nowhere in the world is there such a level of service for diving enthusiasts. From comfortable safari boats with luxurious finishes for the discerning underwater traveler, to modest boats for day diving, there is an option to suit every taste and budget. At the same time, in terms of price/quality ratio, diving in the Red Sea occupies a leading position in the world. This guide is not an encyclopedia, but a story about the main regions of the Red Sea that are interesting to Russian divers. For those planning to go diving, we want to help take the first step, for those already diving - to better plan future trips.

Andrey Ryansky, divemaster NAUI adv trimix diver TDI