Located a short distance south of Na'ama Bay, Ras Um Sid is surrounded by a thin coral reef. This spectacular reef drop-off on the Red Sea is one of the best snorkeling spots in Sharm el-Sheikh, and it is home to a reef flat teeming with giant clams. Clownfish, angelfish, butterflyfish of various species, and schools of sea goldie all call this reef home.
Get adventure as you go snorkel into depths: From a shore-based snorkeling perspective, this is Sharm’s premier location. Ras Um Sid, Temple Reef, Faraana Reef, and Ras Katy are the four locations mentioned. If you are an accomplished swimmer, you may want to consider visiting multiple locations in one swimming session by zigzagging along the reef.
Explore the various zones:
The El Fanar Beach pier is the best place to enter the water, but the public beach is an option (although you'll have to swim about 250 meters to reach the central part of the spot) and snorkeling tours often begin right from the boat.
The reef flat (2ft/0.5m), which is home to hundreds of giant clams, and the reef drop-off, which is located about 20 meters from the beach, make up the exploration zone. The cliff suddenly drops to a pristine, sandy seafloor that is roughly 50 feet (15 meters) below.
The sea floor is particularly impressive near the cliff edge. There are times when you simply won't know where to look among the abundance and diversity of marine life in this area: thousands of Red Sea bannerfish chill out in the reef's shadow, undeterred by the presence of the reef's few resident royal angelfish and parrotfish.
Go for a picnic or stay back for a luxe holiday:
Day trippers to El Fanar Beach are welcome to dine at the beach club's restaurant, but they are not permitted to bring their own picnics. Two restaurants (Sadiki Café and Farsha Café), both of which are mid-range in price, can be found on the cliffs above the public beach and provide a breathtaking panorama of the reef below.
Several five-star hotels, including the Renaissance Sharm el-Sheikh Golden View Beach Resort, have recently opened in the neighborhood.
Ras Umm El Sid, El Fanar Street, Umm El Sid Hill Sharm el-Sheikh, South Sinai Governorate, Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh 46619 Egypt
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