The Red Sea is an inlet of the Indian Ocean between Africa & Asia. It is roughly 1800 km long and 360 km across at its widest point. The connection to the ocean is in the south through the Bab el Mandeb to the Gulf of Aden. The Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez are the Red Sea's northern arms; between them is the Sinai peninsula. Bordering countries on the Northern shore include Israel & Jordan, on the Eastern shore Saudi Arabia & Yemen and on the Western shore Eritrea, Sudan & Egypt.

It is still a bit of a mystery as to how the Red Sea got its name. There are several theories. Some say it is due to the light of the setting sun reflecting off the red mountains along its shores and onto the surface of the water. Others say it should have been called the "Reed Sea". And some claim the name refers to the "red tide" of a plankton bloom that turns the water brownish red when it dies.

The Red Sea has salinity of more than 4%. Apart from the Dead Sea, which is really a lake, it is the saltiest of all seas. Divers find they are more buoyant here than usual and as a result need to use more weight.

Warm waters, an enormous variety of coral (soft & hard corals), over 1500 species of fishes (including sharks, turtles, dolphins, ...), outstanding water clarity and permanent sunshine all year round; that's your Red Sea diving holiday! Hurghada and the Red Sea are a paradise for both the experienced and unexperienced divers as well as for the snorkelers.

The first discoveries were made by legendary figures from the early diving days: Hans Hass and Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who made more and more people interested in diving generally and in diving in the Red Sea; in particular after their first visit with the Calypso in this area.