At the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba between Egypt and Saudi Arabia lies the uninhabited island of Tiran. Half a century ago, he personified an absolute mystery for researchers, but in a short period turned into one of the most sought-after tourist attractions of Egypt.
The name of the island of Tiran goes back to the ancient Bedouin legend .Once Arab princess Sanafir fell in love with a man named Tiran .About forbidden love her father found out and was terribly angry .Lovers are separated and settled on different islands of the Red Sea .Then the brave Tyrant decided to get to Sanafir and swam into the sea .But it was not fated to happen: Tyrant was killed in the environment of predatory sharks .And Sanaphyre is still waiting for his lover .If you listen, you can hear her voice coming from the wind .And still in the Gulf of Aqaba are huddled two islands - Sanafir and Tiran .
From a distance, the island of Tiran resembles a rocky mountain, emerging from under heavy sea water .It is practically devoid of vegetation and sources of drinking water, and along the perimeter it is fringed by an impenetrable reef barrier .Off the coast of Tirana, the wreckage of wrecks - "Lara" and "Luila" - is being twisted, adding to its wild and impregnable image .Landing on the island is prohibited and extremely dangerous .There are reports that parts of the island remained mined since the time of the Israeli-Egyptian conflict .However, the island is not so uninhabitable: on its lands there is a base of UN peacekeepers with an observation mission .
Meanwhile, excursions to the island of Tiran remain the most attractive tourist destination of Sharm el-Sheikh. The coast of the island is part of the national reserve Ras Mohammed - the most picturesque place of the Red Sea. The island serves as a shelter for thousands of turtles and migratory birds. But its main beauty is hidden in the depths of the sea: the coral reefs of the island of Tiran are among the ten best in the world for diving.
In addition to variegated fish, shells, sponges and other marine life in the reefs of the island of Tiran, you can meet and larger representatives of the sea kingdom. When the sea is calm, underwater life is seen through its transparent layers in all its diversity. In some places of the reef, you can observe huge fish, turtles and dolphins.
Excursions to the island of Tiran start from the port of Naama Bay in Sharm El Sheikh .The average duration of a sea walk is five to six hours .Excursions are carried out on small boats accompanied by experienced guides-instructors .During the excursion the boat makes several planned stops .All interested persons are given masks, pipes and fins for scuba diving .And to extend the dive time, you can use scuba diving .The basic cost of the tour is 40 - 45 USD, scuba - 50 - 55 USD (prices are indicated in February 2014) .The price includes drinks and lunch on the boat .
| View of Tiran Island |
| Tiran Island at sunrise |
| Tiran Island |