By Naif Al-Rajhi
JEDDAH, April 10 (KUNA) -- Scuba diving in the Red Sea could be described as a dream-like experience for many divers around the world yearning to visit the watery location once highly praised by renowned explorer Jacques Cousteau.
The Red Sea, mainly surrounded by Saudi Arabia, Egypt, Sudan, and Eritrea, is visited by thousands of scuba diving enthusiast every year for a chance to be mesmerized by the marine life and fantastic coral reefs.
Speaking about the wonders of the Red Sea, scuba diving coach Haitham Khaiyat told KUNA that divers from Saudi Arabia and around the world come to experience the Red Sea for its wonderful marine life and beautiful underwater habitats, noting that some prefer to go beyond diving near the shores for deep sea exploration.
In addition to the nature, the Red Sea offers more, said Khaiyat, noting that wreckage of around 300 ships and boats, some left there for over a century, had attracted many divers.
Khaiyat said that for people to be allowed to scuba dive in the Red Sea, they must obtain a license from authorities before embarking on such feat.
On the scientific part, head of marine biology at the Jeddah marine science college Dr. Abdulmohsen Al-Sufiyani told KUNA coral reefs in the Red Sea pose as the main attraction for some 3,518 divers registered by the authorities.
Coral reefs play an important part in protecting shores from erosion which remove soil and rocks, said Dr. Al-Sufiyani, adding that the reefs also house a variety of sea life in them, making it essential for their existence.
According to official statements made by Saudi officials, the Red Sea, with the maximum depth of 2,500 meters, is home for a diverse range of sea life and also houses over 200 kinds of coral reefs, a thing that attracts thousands of scuba divers from around the globe. (end) nh.gta