Snorkeling by Boat to Ras Mohamed

Snorkeling by Boat to Ras Mohamed: A Journey Through Time

Early Explorations (1970s-1980s)
The story of Ras Mohamed snorkeling begins in the late 1970s when adventurous divers from the Sharm El Sheikh fishing village first discovered the area’s underwater wonders. Using simple wooden fishing boats, these pioneers would make the two-hour journey south to what they called “The Head” – the literal translation of Ras Mohamed. Equipped with basic rubber masks and makeshift fins, they explored sites like Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef without any formal moorings or safety precautions. Word quickly spread among the small community of Red Sea explorers about the area’s exceptional visibility and abundant marine life. By the mid-1980s, a few enterprising locals began offering informal snorkeling trips to the handful of tourists visiting Sharm, often combining the excursion with fishing and beach barbecues.

Birth of Organized Tours (1990-1995)
The establishment of Ras Mohamed as Egypt’s first national park in 1983 marked a turning point for snorkeling tourism. The first dedicated snorkel boats launched in 1990 – converted fishing vessels with added ladders and shaded decks. These early tours focused on three main sites: Shark Reef’s dramatic drop-off, the coral gardens of Marsa Bareika, and the Anemone City at Jackfish Alley. The Egyptian government installed the first permanent mooring buoys in 1992 to prevent anchor damage to the fragile reefs. This period saw the development of the classic itinerary still used today: early morning departure from Sharm’s old harbor, two snorkel stops in Ras Mohamed, lunch on the boat near the iconic “Gate” rock formation, and an afternoon stop at either the Yolanda wreck or Eel Garden before returning at sunset.

Golden Age of Discovery (1996-2005)
The late 1990s saw Ras Mohamed’s reputation explode as one of the world’s premier snorkeling destinations. Improved fiberglass boats with glass-bottom viewing panels entered service, making the experience accessible to non-swimmers. Marine biologists began joining tours as guides, educating visitors about the park’s unique ecosystem where the Gulf of Suez meets the Gulf of Aqaba. This period saw the discovery of new snorkel sites like the Magic Lake area and the development of specialized tours focusing on sea turtle encounters or night snorkeling with UV lights. The introduction of underwater cameras for rent in 2001 transformed visitor experiences, allowing amateurs to document their encounters with Ras Mohamed’s famous Napoleon wrasse and moray eels.

Conservation Challenges (2006-2015)
As visitor numbers surged past 100,000 annually, environmental concerns prompted major changes. The park implemented strict carrying capacities in 2008, limiting daily boats to 60 and snorkelers to 1,200. Mandatory briefings about reef etiquette were introduced, along with “no-touch” policies enforced by park rangers. The Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) established coral nurseries near the park boundaries to rehabilitate damaged areas. Perhaps most significantly, all boats switched to eco-friendly four-stroke engines in 2012, reducing pollution in the sensitive marine environment. These measures successfully balanced tourism growth with conservation, maintaining Ras Mohamed’s pristine conditions.

Modern Luxury Era (2016-Present)
Today’s Ras Mohamed snorkeling trips represent the pinnacle of sustainable marine tourism. Luxury catamarans now feature hydrophone systems that broadcast dolphin sounds underwater and marine biology labs for onboard education. The current “Eco-Snorkel” program includes citizen science components where visitors help monitor reef health. Recent technological additions include underwater drones that live-stream footage to the boat, allowing those who prefer to stay dry to participate. Some premium tours now offer guided snorkel safaris with underwater naturalists who point out microscopic marine life. Despite these advancements, the essential magic remains unchanged – floating above gardens of living coral in crystal-clear waters, surrounded by clouds of tropical fish.

Cultural Impact
Beyond environmental significance, Ras Mohamed snorkeling has profoundly shaped South Sinai’s culture. Many Bedouin families have transitioned from fishing to sustainable tourism as boat captains and guides. The park’s international reputation helped transform Sharm El Sheikh from a sleepy fishing village to a world-class resort destination. Local schools now incorporate snorkeling field trips into their science curriculum, fostering marine conservation awareness from childhood. The annual “Clean the Reef” event, where volunteers remove debris from the park’s waters, has become a beloved community tradition since its inception in 2005.

Scientific Contributions
Ras Mohamed’s snorkeling tours have made unexpected contributions to marine science. The regular presence of observers has led to the discovery of several new fish species and documented range expansions of tropical species into the Red Sea. In 2018, snorkelers photographed the first confirmed sighting of a rare Omura’s whale in the park. The park’s long-term photographic database, contributed to by thousands of visitors over decades, provides invaluable data on coral growth rates and fish population changes. University researchers frequently use snorkel boats as platforms for studies, benefiting from the area’s easy access and reliable conditions.

Future Innovations
Looking ahead, several developments promise to enhance the Ras Mohamed experience while preserving its ecological integrity. Experimental augmented reality snorkel masks will soon identify fish species in real time. Plans for a solar-powered floating visitor center at the park entrance will provide education without permanent infrastructure. Most importantly, a proposed “Reef Resilience” program will train snorkel guides to recognize and report early signs of coral stress, creating an early warning network for the entire Red Sea. These innovations ensure Ras Mohamed will continue setting the standard for sustainable marine tourism.

Conclusion: A Living Legacy
The history of snorkeling at Ras Mohamed tells a larger story about humanity’s evolving relationship with the sea. From undiscovered wilderness to carefully managed paradise, each chapter reflects growing understanding of our ocean’s fragility and value. What makes Ras Mohamed truly special isn’t just its breathtaking beauty – it’s the demonstrated proof that tourism, when thoughtfully regulated, can be a force for environmental protection. As visitors float above vibrant coral cities, they participate in a conservation success story that spans generations, ensuring this underwater wonderland will captivate snorkelers for decades to come.

Sharm El Sheikh  is an Egyptian city on the southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, in South Sinai Governorate, on the coastal strip along the Red Sea. Its population is approximately 73,000 as of 2023. Sharm El Sheikh is the administrative hub of Egypt’s South Sinai Governorate, which includes the smaller coastal towns of Dahab and Nuweiba as well as the mountainous interior, St. Catherine and Mount Sinai. The city and holiday resort is a significant centre for tourism in Egypt, while also attracting many international conferences and diplomatic meetings. Sharm El Sheikh is one of the Asian cities of Egypt.