Hi,
Thanks for the input. Actually my knowledge of the Red Sea is pretty bad, however I know the straits of Tiran are where the hammerheads are, but just hoping they'll be there in mid-end July.
I keep hearing summer months are best too, so sounds ok, but I know I missed it by only a few weeks before. I know how creatures can be one place one week and gone the next!
yeah Turtles are my favourite but they're much more common to see than mantas etc so mantas and hammerheads would really be a bonus for me!
More than knowing the best sites to sharks and all that stuff- you'll need some luck- Plenty of it actually to see a manta or whale shark. Singular Whale sharks do pass occasionally in the area once every other year or so (they go all the way up to Eilat and Aqaba, then realize they made a mistake and took the wrong turn at Bab El Mandab so they turn around and go back all the way
), but you have to be really really lucky to see one.
Something like 20 years ago, it was possible to see 1-2 mantas during a few days diving in sites like the "Tower" and Ras Um Sid (or even in places like Umbarak's Sharks bay- where as far as I know no sharks have been seen for decades...). So they were not common sight, but not very rare neither.
Nowadays I haven't heard of anyone reporting on seeing mantas in Sharm El Sheikh or in most safaris in the vicinity.
Small groups of Hammerheads can be seen in Tiran but you'll need luck and spend the dive in the blue looking for them- not near the reef. However, since most divers come for just a few days, having only so few days to do in Tiran that they prefer not to risk "wasting" a whole dive looking for shy hammerheads that will let you see them from a respectable distance, ending in doing the "regular" dives on the rather splendid walls.
Starting early, you may have some chance to see a black tip reef shark resting on some sandy shelves before being disturbed by the first morning encounter with divers- forget about him for the rest of the day...
Just don't hold your breath with dreams of seeing plenty of hammerhead sharks, mantas and other "big friends"- you'll have good chances of disappointment.
Turtles are more common sights.
Hope you get all the bonuses- and even more! Yep, there are rumors (or is it wishful thinking?) on a few dugongs living in some hidden bay in Tiran island and also north of Nabeq, and you have good chances of dolphin encounters when returning from Tiran in the evenings, and so on.. Have Luck!
