The Red Sea - Rare fish of the Red Sea
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The Red Sea
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Introduction
The Red Sea is one of the youngest oceans in the world and one of the warmest. The northern region, with its diverse array of marine life, is one of the most visited dive locations on earth while the southern end remains virtually unexplored. It's a global hotspot for marine biology and an important trade route throughout human history, linking the trade goods of India and the Far East with the markets of Egypt and Europe.
Rare fish of the Red Sea
Overview
The untouched reefs of the southern Red Sea are bursting with life. Almost 20 per cent of the fish species found here are not found anywhere else in the world. It's also home to other rare species such as the solitary sailfish. At over one metre long these are the world's fastest fish and reach speeds of up to 68mph.
Rare sharks can also be seen in these waters such as the silky shark, which can grow to over 3m long and is recognisable due to its silky skin. Also, schools of up to 30 scalloped hammerhead sharks have recently been witnessed in these waters.
| Importance: | The unspoilt southern Red Sea is a haven for rare underwater wildlife. |
| Dive category: | Open water and reef dives in the southern Red Sea. |
| Access: | Dive operators will organise dive trips in Sudanese waters. If you intend on travelling through Sudan it is worth following the advice given by the Foreign & Commonwealth Office. |
Interesting for
- Red sea fish
- UKDivers gives a rundown of some of the endemic fish species that divers have encountered in the Red Sea.
- Red Sea Life - Fish
- Fact file about sailfish
- The Florida Museum of Natural History has a detailed fact file about the fastest fish in the oceans.
- Sailfish
- Sharks of the Red Sea
- The Shark Foundation gives a list of the species of shark that can be found in the Red Sea.
- Sharks of the region: Red Sea
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