Looking from one hotel jetty to another, the coralline platform
can be clearly seen, while the particular topography does vary
from place to place, this is typical of much of the coast around
Sharm el Sheikh. There are some places with a sandy beach and
where you can easily walk into the sea, but not many.
This
arrangement however is ideal for the snorkeller as you drop off
the end of the jetty into water with a coral wall on both sides
and instantly you see a whole range of life, coral and others
sedentary organisms and also plenty of fish swimming around.
The
water is very clear as there is no sand being churned up by the
sea - the bottom being sufficiently deep to not be affected.
There are often plentiful fish swimming across this platform
area, parrot fish are common, there's a green one you can make
out in this picture between the 6 and 7 o'clock positions.
Surgeon fish are also common in these shallows, if there are
lights along the jetty, go down there at night, you will
probably see lionfish attracted to them after dark - or rather,
the lionfish are attracted to the small fish that are attracted
to the lights.
