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Strait of Tiran
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The strait of Tiran lies at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba and is
delimited to the west by the coast of Sinai and to the east by the island of Tiran. In the middle of this canal
are four coral reefs lying in a northeast-southwest direction that were named after the 19th -century English cartographers
who drew the first nautical map of this region - Jackson Reef, Woodhouse Reef, Thomas Reef and Gordon Reef. These
reefs divide this strait into two canals: to the east is the so-called Grafton Passage, which is used exclusively
by ships going northwards, while to the west is the Enterprise Passage for ships heading south. East of the island
of Tiran and the nearby island of Sanafir - both part of Saudi Arabia but granted to Egypt for military defence
- the configuration of the canal floor makes navigation impossible.
On a level with the strait of Tiran, the Gulf of Aqaba passes from an average width of 10-12 to 2.4 miles, while
the floor ranges from a depth of 1,270 meters to only 71 meters in Grafton Passage and 250 meters in Enterprise
Passage.
This particular configuration of the strait reduces deep water exchange between the Gulf of Aqaba and the rest
of the Red Sea on the one hand, causing an increase of salinity and temperature, while on the other hand it gives
rise to an increase in the speed of the tidal currents and the average height of the waves moved by the wind which,
chanelled by the tall montains of Sinai and Saudi Arabia, is in turn subject to acceleration. The peculiar topographical
arrangement of these reefs and the presence of prevailing winds coming rom the north, which are stronger in the
morning and calmer in the afternoon, means their western and northern sides (or outside) are much more exposed
to the action of the waves than the eastern and southern ones, which are inside and sheltered.
The strong currents characterizing the Strait of Tiran transport great quantities of plankton and other nutrient
material every day, thus supplying a great deal of food to the corals and hence to the reef fish, which in turn
are eaten by the large pelagic predators such as barracuda, jackfish, tuna and above all sharks, which are always
present in this zone. Consequently, scuba divers in the waters of Tiran are sure to see not only an infinite number
of corals but also rich fauna, both reef and pelagic. However, they must always be careful of the wind, tides and
currents here, which will condition the time, place and type of dive. |
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Komoran Wreck
Difficulty : 1
Current : 1 to 2
The only dive onto a wreck suitable for OW divers.
The wreck is easy to reach and spot.
Some parts of the ship are really well preserved.
Interesting views for photography buffs.
Dives must be made in a calm sea, preferably in the afternoon.
In August 1984 the Kormoran, built in 1963 in the Rostock shipyards (Germany), was coming from Aqaba with a cargo
of phosphate when an error in navigation caused it to hit the reef bordering the island of Tiran (Laguna Reef).
The impact was tremendous and the vessel, which at the time had been renamed Zingara and was part of the fleet
of an Italian shipping company, the Compagnia Montemare di Navigazione, lost almost all of its bow, two large cracks
opened on its left side and the superstructure was irreparably damaged. Now scuba divers at Sharm el-Sheikh can
enjoy the new and interesting experience of going to see the wreck, which is still relatively unknown. A few minutes
from the North Laguna beacon, lying on the bottom at a rather shallow depth, the Kormoran, which is about 80 meters
long, is easy to find because its stirn is partly above the surface. There is no difficulty in diving here, but
it must be done when the sea is calm to ensure good visibility. The best conditions for a dive are usually in the
afternoon, when the tide changes and the current is at its slowest. The stirn, propeller, motor, rudder and winch
on the deck are well preserved and the name of the ship on the bow side still clearly legible. |
| Furnished By Diving Centers Werner |
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Thomas Reef
Difficulty : 3
Current : 1 to 3
An extraordinary, grandiose marine environment.
You may come upon an exceptional array of fauna, with large pelagic fish, especially the Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon
obesus).
Diving here is only for experienced divers because of the possibility of strong currents.
In general the morning is the best time for diving.
Avoid venturing far into the canyon.
This reef is one of the most spectacular diving sites in the northern Red Sea. The lack of mooring points makes
drift diving necessary: The southern corner of the reef is the classic starting point for your underwater itinerary,
which continues along the eastern side where the wall, rich in multicoloured coral, descends to a sandy plateau
that begins at a depth of about 25 meters and has a slight incline. Here you can see large Alcyonarians (Dendronephthya
sp.), impressive gorgonians and colonies of black coral, among which are the striking large Antipatharians with
their characteristic spiral shape. At a depth of 35 meters a splendid and extremely deep canyon opens out, running
parallel to the reef and crossed by a series of impressive arches.
At the northeastern corner of the reef you may come upon a very strong countercurrent. If you can get past this
point and conditions are favourable, you can go around the entire reef. This will allow you to explore the northern
wall, which has some nice shelters and splits, and the western one, where you will see many crevices and caves,
lovely gorgonians and a wealth of fauna consisting of sea turtles, reef fish (anglefish, groupers, Surgeonfish)
and pelagic fish (tuna, barracuda, etc.). |
| Furnished By Diving Centers Werner |
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