Underwater Explorations

Someday I'm going to learn how to scuba dive, but for now I get a kick out of snorkeling.  I started in Hawaii a few years ago, and then last summer got the adventure of a lifetime checking out the Great Barrier Reef from Port Douglas, Australia.  The coral bleaching was pretty bad, though. I was so saddened by what we saw compared to the vibrant pictures I'd studied in school.

I wasn't sure what to expect in Soma Bay, on the Red Sea coast of Egypt.  I'd seen great reviews but not a ton of pictures online.  I had a few days to check it out before leaving Egypt.  And wow, was I impressed.

This was definitely on par with what I saw in Australia, and probably even better.  There were a lot more fish, and more varieties.  The corals had more colors.  And while not as big, the reef definitely stretched as far as I could see underwater.  It was the perfect setup, really- walk down a long pier into the water and then climb down a ladder and you're right on the reef.  The water was comfortably warm, a bit of a shock when you first fall in but warm enough once you get used to it.

I got a few 'dives' in during my stay, exploring both north and south of the pier.  I felt like I was breaking every rule in the book, swimming by myself in the open ocean, but there were enough people around that I didn't feel like I'd wash out to sea unnoticed if something went wrong- which it didn't! I could rent equipment from the dive center next to the hotel for under $20 a day.  I was staying at the Sheraton Soma Bay, which itself was a lovely spot on the beach with spectacular sunsets across the bay.