Is there coral reef and marine life for snorkeling near Naama Bay, Sharm el Sheikh?
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 1 day ago
Based on 1 discussion with 3 participants · Last activity: 1 day ago
TL;DR
There's no real coral reef right in Naama Bay itself — near the Novotel hotel you'll find mostly grey, dead coral, though fish are abundant; better snorkeling with rays, manta rays, turtles and octopuses is found further along toward the buoy areas, though colorful coral formations are scarce.
During winter season, sightings in this area also include manta rays, octopuses, Napoleon wrasse, various jacks (caranx) and emperor fish (lethrinus), lionfish, pufferfish, boxfish, and unicornfish, as well as resident triggerfish (titan triggerfish). The reef is described as alive and diverse.
Rays typically rest on the sand rather than on the reef itself; turtles graze on grass growing on the sandy seabed rather than among corals.
In the Blue area, moray eels and lionfish are regularly present as residents, while turtles and rays (especially eagle rays) are a rare sight.
A turtle was seen grazing on seagrass near the shore, then swam off to the reef past the first row of white buoys, where two more turtles were spotted.
Naama Bay itself has essentially no coral reef. Near the Novotel hotel area you'll find only a bit of grey, mostly dead coral, but fish are very abundant there.
A colorful reef isn't the same as rich marine life — eagle rays, stingrays, manta rays, turtles and octopuses are regularly seen here, though vividly colored coral formations are indeed scarce.
Almost in the middle of the bay near the buoys, there's a small coral formation with fish, though fewer than near the Arabesque area; no turtles spotted there yet.