When you think Egypt, you immediately think of Cleopatra, the Nile River, the Pyramids of Giza, and, of course… social uprisings inspired by Facebook.

Earlier this year, history was made when, through the power of social media, the people of Egypt were able to overthrow their president, Hosni Mubarak, thus ending a 36-year tyrannical reign.

As the political and social unrest unfolded in Cairo, desperate tour operators rallied to assure booked holiday makers that the freedom of the Egyptian people would in no way interfere with their already-paid-for Red Sea Riviera holiday. Some even went as far as to claim that the diving was the best it had been for years – a marketing tactic, sure, but a good one seeing as visitors to this region are passionate about their diving!

Fortunately for the Riviera, it takes a lot to keep a diver away from compressed air, so tourism continued to flourish. In fact, tourism always flourishes here because it is classified as the best diving in the world, a sure repeat-business enhancer. Cairo does offer the once-in-a-lifetime experience to see the Pyramids of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. But therein lies the problem – it’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience. The coast offers endless possibilities.

With all the tourists flocking to the coastline, it’s natural that it has developed greatly. The Riviera boasts many sandy-beach resorts, all offering access to top diving sites. By far the most popular of these resorts is Sharm El Sheikh, on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula.

Sharm, as it is fondly referred to by locals and regulars, is home to the longest stretches of beach in the region and boasts modern and stylish hotel chains. The shops here are designer, and the bars the likes of Planet Hollywood and Hard Rock Café.

Just across the Gulf of Suez lies Hurghada, equally vibey but with a little more spice. Besides the big beach, swanky hotels and internationally acclaimed restaurants, Hurghada also boasts local spice markets and grand bazaars. Many a bag has arrived in Hurghada with diving gear, and most have gone home stuffed with shisha (flavoured tobacco) pipes, spices, leather goods, Egyptian cotton bed linen, pottery and brass.

As any seasoned diver will tell you, diving takes a lot out of you. While some divers can spend time on the boat all day and party up a storm all night, there are those who are just not able to pull raucous all-nighters after a day of diving. For the latter group there’s laid-back Marsa Alam. It offers amazing water and mountain views and some fantastic traditional eateries too – we’re talking local food cooked by local people, which means that whatever you put in your mouth is the real deal.

Try ful, a spicy stew of beans, kofta (meatball) kebabs and lamb. Or, if you’re battling to understand the menu, you can never go wrong with a meze platter – not only easy to pronounce but also a mix of delicious goodies including falafel and hummus.

Neighbouring Taba is also wonderfully relaxed and boasts a championship golf course. Savour a Sakara, a refreshing local beer, on the 18th. Taba is also a stone’s throw away from Jordan’s border, so a visit to the Lost City of Petra is a breeze.

Although each is different, the common thread between all of these places is the ocean and its amazing offerings. The Red Sea promises an abundance of marine life and largely undamaged coral beds.

Garden Reef and famous Ras Mohamed Marine National Park are like the holy grail of submerged treasures. People flock here to swim with the dolphins, stingrays, whale sharks and turtles.

In August, Ras Mohamed’s beach is home to nesting green and hawksbill turtles, and the sight of hundreds of tiny waddling shells racing to the sea means another tick on most people’s bucket lists.

Even if you prefer to flap about on the surface, many Red Sea Riviera resorts offer the joys of colourful marine life just a few steps off the beach, perfect for submerge-o-phobes.

Other Things to do in Egypt

Hello Lawrence

Old meets new in this experience where visitors can carve up the desert-scapes in a 4X4 before retiring to a traditional Bedouin camp for an authentic Egyptian meal!

What could be more Lawrence-of-Arabia-esque than reclining (in your case, post meal) beneath a sky ablaze with stars or taking an evening stroll through the cooling sands on the back of a camel?

For those looking for a little religious inspiration in the desert, St Catherine's Monastery, where it is said that Moses saw the burning bush, can be visited in the Sinai Desert.

www.sharmexcursions.com

Where to stay?

Hey, if you’re in Egypt to experience the Red Sea, then sleep on it. The Emperor Orchid is one of the live-a-board boats available from Emperor Divers.
Docked just off Sharm, the Orchid is a 26 metre boat offering 12 divers surprisingly spacious and comfortable air-conditioned en-suite accommodation in five twin-berth cabins and a double suite.

Add to that all diving and safety equipment, including two Zodiacs, a sundeck with full drinks fridges and an air-conditioned saloon, and you have a diver’s dream.

www.emperordivers.com