If spending hours on a deckchair is not for you and you prefer activities to have fun during your vacation, there is good news for your trip to Egypt: many water sports can be practiced in the Red Sea, both in the extensive coastal strip of the continent (mainly from El Gouna to Marsa Alam) and in the south of the Sinai Peninsula. Here are the main ones:
#1. Buceo y snorkel
It is the most obvious and famous of the water sports in the Red Sea. And therefore, it is obligatory to mention diving and snorkeling in the first place. The crystal clear waters and the great wealth of underwater fauna and other surprises such as shipwrecks are a great attraction to dive, depending on the level: the easiest is to stay on the surface (snorkeling), but the most daring can take courses todescend to greater depths.
#2. Paddle surf
Although the Red Sea is not a good destination for surfing, due to the absence of waves, it is very suitable for other water sports in which the objective is to glide over the surface of the water. A good example of this is paddle surfing or SUP, which we talked about in this other article on the Nile. Off the shores of the Red Sea you can make crossings of different lengths, benefiting from the calm waters.
#3. Kite surf
At points of the Red Seawhere the wind blows more, and at the most favorable times of the year (from April to October), it is possible to sail the waters of the sea moored to these sporty kites. For example, in Marsa Alam, located in the extreme south of the country. However, in the major tourist centers, such as Hurghada, Sharm el Sheikh or El Gouna, you will also find opportunities to practice this sport.
#4. Windsurf
As with kite surfing, windsurfing’s ‘sister’ discipline, you will need windy spots and times of the year to practice it.ices. In general, the same destinations that are suitable for kite surfing are also suitable for windsurfing. . Uno de los lugares que más atrae a los amantes de este deporte es Safaga, pues de hecho fue sede de un campeonato mundial de esta disciplina.
#5. Wakeboard
Another water sport to practice in the Red Sea is wakeboarding, also known as water skiing. In order to practice it, you need a motorboat to tie up to. All the equipment (the boat along with the board and the rest of the wakeboarder’s accessories) is provided by clubs and companies located in the main tourist destinations. But in addition, in El Gouna there is a large water park dedicated to this modality: it is called Sliders Cable Park and is in closed waters, so it is useful for beginners and to practice different tricks.
#6. Flyboard
We now enter the section of water activities that can hardly be classified as sports… but that provide a huge adrenaline rush and a lot of fun. This is the case of flyboarding, which consists of a large hoverboard that, thanks to its connection to a pressurized hose, lifts the user a few meters above the water level. This generates a thrilling sensation of flight, and can be performed a few meters from the shore of the beach.
#7. Banana y deportes familiares
To close this list we can also mention banana boarding and similar activities, which are inspired by water skiing but on large inflatable rafts with capacity for several people. In this case, the members of the raft do not have to do anything but have fun, since they do not need to slide on boards, making it an unbeatable option for families.
