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Ras Mohammad is a national park in Egypt at the southern extreme of the Sinai Peninsula, overlooking the Gulf of Suez on the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east.

When the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt, Ras Muhammad was declared for protection from fishing and other human activities.

Some of the fishing methods, such as using dynamite and knives also were impacting the coral reef and the fish populations. In 1983, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency (EEAA) established the area as a marine reserve for the protection of marine and terrestrial wildlife.

The park was also established to protect against urban sprawl from Sharm el-Sheikh and other coastal development. 

The name literally means "Mohammad's Head", where "head" in this instance means "headland". There is a saying in the area that the name arose because in side view the contour of the cliff looks like the profile of a bearded man's face, with horizontal hard strata providing the nose and bearded chin.

Coral reef, of the fringing and hermatypic types, exist along the coast around Ras Mohammad close to the shoreline.

More than 220 species of coralare found in the Ras Mohammad area, 125 of them soft coral. The coral reefs are located 50 to 100 cm below the sea surface, and they have a width of 30 to 50 m in most places. Though in some spots on the western coast, the coral reef is 8 to 9 km wide.

Yolanda coral reef in Ras Mohammed Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are popular areas of coral reef in the park for divers. Other coral reef sites include South Bereika, Marsa Ghozlani, Old Quay, and Shark Observatory. 

The wreckage of the SS Thistlegorm, located off the coast of Ras Mohammad, is a popular area for divers.The area is home to more than 1000 species of fish, 40 species of star fish, 25 species of sea urchins, more than a 100 species of mollusc and 150 species of crustaceans.

Among others, sea turtles, such as the green turtle (Chelonia mydas) and the hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) appear regularly in Ras Mohammad.

On the Ras Mohammad peninsula, there are acacia trees and dum palms (Hyphaene thebaica) around the wadi mouths. Ephermal herbs and grassesalso exist in Ras Muhammad.

 

• Ras Mohamed  National Park by bus 

Drive to one of the most beautiful sea national parks all over the world and only one in Egypt where there are more than 130 sorts of coral reefs and more than 1000 sorts of fishes.

See the Magic Lake, mangrove trees which grow directly from the salty water of The Red Sea!

It is the only sea in the north part of the earth where these kinds of trees grow.

Set on the southern tip of Sinai, this nature reserve spreads out for 480 square kilometres. It’s made up of untouched deserts, white-sand beaches and exotically-named dive and snorkelling sites, like Anemone City, Jackfish Alley and Shark Reef. In fact, the park is home to more than 1,000 species of fish, 150 different crustaceans, and families of sea turtles.

 

• Ras Mohamed by boat  

A relaxing day snorkeling off a boat within the National Park in crystal clear water and relax  in the sun.