Ras Mohammed National Park

What is Ras Mohammed National Park?

Ras Mohammed is the national park covering the headland at the very bottom of the Sinai Peninsula and the reefs around it, Egypt's first protected area (1983) and a national park since 1989. Here the deep water of the Gulf of Aqaba meets the shallower Gulf of Suez, and the currents that sweep round the point feed coral walls that drop hundreds of metres into blue water.

The park takes in land as well as sea: a desert headland of fossil coral and gravel plains, a mangrove-fringed lagoon, sandy coves and raised reef terraces. It is about 20 km south-west of Sharm el-Maya (the Old Market) as the crow flies, and every Sharm hotel sells trips here. For the wider area, including Dahab and Mount Sinai, see our Sharm el-Sheikh and South Sinai guide.

Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef

Shark and Yolanda are twin pinnacles at the tip of the headland, usually dived or snorkelled together as one drift, and they are the reason Ras Mohammed is famous. Shark Reef is a sheer wall where schools of barracuda, jacks, batfish and unicornfish hang in the current off the edge; reef sharks do pass, but the name promises more than most visits deliver.

Yolanda Reef holds a curiosity. The Cypriot freighter Yolanda struck the reef in 1980 and, after sitting there for years, slipped into deep water in a storm in 1987. Its cargo stayed behind: bathroom fittings, including toilets and baths, lie scattered across the sand at around 20 metres among the coral heads, one of the most photographed scenes in the Red Sea. The ship itself is far beyond recreational depth.

Snorkellers can enjoy the top of the reef from the boat in calm weather, but the drift between the two pinnacles is a dive, and the current can be strong. Most operators ask for some experience before you dive the wall.

What else is there to see?

Beyond the two headline reefs, the park has gentler reef sites, a mangrove channel and clifftop viewpoints that you only reach by road.

• Anemone City: a plateau of anemones and clownfish usually used as the start of the Shark and Yolanda drift.
• Jackfish Alley: a sandy gully and small caves on the Gulf of Suez side, often a second dive of the day.
• The mangrove channel: grey mangroves (Avicennia marina) growing at the edge of their range, with herons and juvenile fish among the roots.
• Shark Observatory: a cliff above the water where you look straight down the wall into the blue.
• The earthquake cracks: fissures in the ground near the lagoon, some filled with seawater.
• Main Beach and the shore reefs: easy entries for snorkelling straight off the sand on calm days.

Birdwatchers should look for ospreys nesting on the headland and, in autumn, migrating white storks; our birdwatching in Egypt guide explains the migration flyway.

Should you visit by boat or by road?

Go by boat if the reefs are the point; go by road if you want beaches, the mangroves and a shorter day, or if you are travelling with young children.

A boat day normally includes two or three stops and lunch on board. If you are prone to seasickness, take tablets before leaving the marina. Divers combining the park with other big Sinai sites should read our scuba diving in Egypt guide.

When is the best time to go?

The water is warmest from about June to October, and early summer brings the large fish aggregations that Shark Reef is known for. Sea temperatures typically range from about 21–22°C in February to 27–28°C in August, so a 3 mm wetsuit suits most of the year and 5 mm is wise in winter.

March to May and October to November balance warm water with comfortable air temperatures. Summer days on the headland can reach 40°C with little shade, so road visitors should go early. Winds tend to rise in the afternoon, which is one reason boats leave in the morning.

Tickets, rules and practical tips

A per-person park fee is charged at the gate or added to your boat ticket; prices change, so confirm the current fee when you book. Collection of shells or coral, fishing and feeding fish are banned, and boats must use the park's fixed moorings rather than anchoring on the reef.

• Carry your passport. Visitors who enter Egypt on the free Sinai-only stamp have at times been unable to visit Ras Mohammed by road, so check your entry type; our Sharm el-Sheikh airport guide explains the options.
• Wear reef shoes for shore entries and do not stand on coral; read our reef-safe travel guide before you go.
• Bring shade, water and sun protection: there is little shelter on the land side.
• Travel advice for Sinai differs by area. Check Smartraveller or SafeTravel before booking.