Secluded Sinai: Taba

Taba
Situated to the far north of the Egyptian Red Sea, the relaxed diving resort of Taba is a popular location for those looking to get away from the crowds and explore the vibrant reefs that fringe the tip of the Gulf of Aqaba. The laidback Sinai resort is famed for its macro life and is one of the best spots in the Red Sea to encounter frogfish, all in virtually current-free conditions. Other small critters such as octopus, moray eels, nudibranchs, pipefish, stonefish and sea moths thrive in these waters, making it an ideal getaway spot for underwater photographers looking to fill their macro life portfolio. There are few dive boats operating in the area, so there is the added bonus of sharing the water with just a few divers on each dive.

Top dives
There are more than 25 dive sites around Taba, with more still being discovered. Most of the diving available is by a short boat journey. To tune in with the relaxed approach to holiday time here, centres offer flexibility on the number of dives visitors wish to do each day with full day, half day and single dive trips available by boat.
Dives not-to-be-missed include: the frogfish hotspot dive, the Canyon; Black Coral and its coral grouper cleaning station; and a gentle drift dive at the Aquarium with life-filled coral bommies and a mass of fish swimming around the cleaning stations.
The standard of house reef diving here is excellent, with a chance to see life, such as turtles, beautiful red anemones and good soft and hard coral cover.

Topside
The town of Taba itself can be split into three areas: Taba Village, which is located close to the Israeli border; Taba Heights approximately 20 minutes drive south where there are a complex of hotels; and also the Taba Coast area where there are yet another two large hotels.
The watersports on offer are not exclusive to scuba diving, there is a huge range of activities in Taba beach resorts and camps, including waterskiing, windsurfing, parasailing, canoeing and Hobie Cat sailing (small catamaran sailing).
Overlooked by the neighbouring countries of Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Jordan around the Gulf of Aqaba, another advantage to a stay here is the day trips available to some of the region's best topside attractions, such as the stunning rock-carved city of Petra, the Wadi Rum desert, the Dead Sea, Jerusalem and Cairo. There is also an international private marina at Taba Heights.