Description: Snorkeling in Nuweiba was more enjoyable to me than in Sharm. It was very relaxing. I didn't see any giant humphead wrasses here (but then again, I only snokeled from shore). The visibility was incredibly clear here, and the accessibility was immediate. All we had to do was don our gear and saunter over to the water from our beach chairs.
We stayed at the Helnan Hotel, which had a beautiful deserted shoreline. There were boats available to take us farther out, but we chose to snorkel from the beach every time. The beach had a firm sandy bottom, and the clear water was shallow (perfect for kids and nervous adults). In low tide we had to carefully walk out past newly deposited jellyfish on the beach.
Starfish and vivid corals, sea urchins, crabs and fish were visible just wading into the water. We snorkeled around some reefs and saw some beautiful fish and bright pink coral.
Drifting gently along with the current, whenever we felt the water get colder, we spotted little white seahorses, somewhat elongated, in shallow shelves of the reef. Didn't realize seahorses preferred colder water until we were snorkeling. Sure enough, every time the water turned cold, there they were. Tiny, funny little creatures, it was the first time I'd seen them in their natural state. They looked comical just floating there, bouncing in the water. Unfortunately, my water camera jammed, and I missed capturing most of the sea life at Nuweiba on film.
For those who wish to scuba dive, two dive clubs are abvailable in Nuweiba City. One is located right here at the Helnan Hotel. Two dives with jeep transport cost $60 US, or $65 US to be taken by boat.
Another option for those who enjoy snorkeling, is to take a bus or taxi into Nuweiba port and head south to Dolphin Beach. It's about a twenty minute ride. Here the attraction is swimming with a dolphin that was befriended by a deaf, mute bedouin man years ago. The female dolphin stays in the bay at all times, so chances are you will see her if you go. Cost is around 10 pounds for the priviledge, and rental snorkel gear provided by the bedouins, costs around 20 pounds, or $7 US.
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