Until recently, red sea sharks were of little interest to tourists coming here, since over the last century only 5 attacks on humans have been recorded, three of which were on Israeli territory and 2 on the Egyptian side. The events of 2010, when a series of attacks on humans by sharks occurred off the coast of Sharm El Sheikh, returned interest in these “terrible” creatures. Many were even afraid to go on excursions to Sharm El Sheikh by sea, having watched enough news and TV shows.
As it later turned out, in the 2010 attacks there were no human participation, sharks in Sharm El Sheikh and other species do not consider humans as food, but attack only when they feel threatened or confuse us with prey, as often happens with surfers, underwater hunters who hang their prey on their belts. In the world, 90% of shark attacks on humans are provoked by people themselves.
In Egypt, the attacks were provoked by merchant sailors who, celebrating the festival of sacrifice, abandoned the remains of livestock into the waters of the Red Sea. Sharks have a strong sense of smell and move forward to meet their prey.
Due to thousands of creepy tales, horror films, such as Jaws, our fear of sharks has increased and gradually the word Shark has become synonymous with the word Danger. Oddly enough, there is even a disease - sharkophobia or shark syndrome; people afflicted with this disease are afraid of sharks even when swimming in a pool or lake.
Are they dangerous? red sea sharks actually for a person? Where can you meet Red Sea sharks, what do they look like? red sea sharks? How to behave when meeting sharks.
More than 30 species of sharks live in the Red Sea, the names of some sharks are not in Russian, this article will describe only the largest, most numerous and famous predators of the Red Sea.
The most common shark in the Red Sea Blacktip reef shark (Carcharhinus melanopterus, blackfin/ blacktip reef shark),
The blacktip reef shark prefers shallow water, is very active, and never stands still. It likes to hunt at night, although during the day it often patrols the reef in search of food. It is considered not dangerous due to its small size, rarely reaching a length of more than 1.5-1.8 m. Also, the blacktip reef shark is quite timid and neat, however, there have been cases when it grabbed annoying divers by the fins and knees.
Red Sea sharks - Whitetip reef shark
The whitetip reef shark prefers shallow depths, although it has been encountered more than once at depths of up to 300 m, it is very active at night, and most often rests in the crevices of the reef during the day. Thanks to its long and sinuous body, it often drives prey into a crevice and then climbs in after it.
Red Sea Sharks - Gray Reef Shark
This shark is of course significantly larger than its predecessors and reaches a length of more than 2.6 meters; the gray shark is active at night and during the day it can even rest lying on the bottom. These sharks do not pose much of a threat to people; they only begin to behave aggressively if they are pestered. Not a single fatal case of gray shark attack has been recorded.
Red Sea sharks Great hammerhead shark
It is one of the largest marine predators, sometimes reaching more than 6.5 meters in length and weighing up to 500 kg. It spends most of its time in the open sea, although sometimes it enters coral lagoons. One must be quite careful with this type of shark, since she's quite aggressive.
Naturally Whale shark's largest sharks in the red sea
In November-December 2010, tourists around the world were frightened by the news that sharks in Sharm el-Sheikh were attacking vacationers right on the beaches; As a result of these unexpected attacks, a German citizen was killed and several people (from Russia and Ukraine) were seriously injured. Another reason for panic appeared in April 2012: a shark was again spotted near the shore of Naama Bay; True, she did not attack people.
Should you think about sharks while relaxing on the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh?
The tragedies of 2010 were, of course, the loudest and most memorable, but not the first: back in 2004, there were shark attacks, after which the Egyptian authorities obliged hotel owners to equip beaches with wire fences. But only 6 years later it became clear that this order was ignored by the vast majority of hotels.
Among the reasons that caused such aggression, scientists cited the release of meat waste from cruise ships, an increase in water temperature due to climate change, and a decrease in marine productivity due to increased fishing. There are also conspiracy theories about the appearance of sharks in Sharm el-Sheikh: for example, according to one of them, the cannibals were specially raised by the Israeli organization Mossad in order to undermine the Egyptian economy, which exists largely due to tourism.
However, tourists are probably interested not so much in the reasons for the appearance of predators, but in the likelihood that sharks will be seen again in Sharm el-Sheikh. It is, of course, rather reckless to say unequivocally that they will never appear off the coast of the resort again, because the Red Sea has good connections with the ocean and high water temperatures.
However, most hotels have now actually taken measures to ensure that the thriller does not happen again: for example, towers have been installed on the beaches to monitor the sea, and the owners of some hotels have still equipped the very same nets that might have helped to avoid victims in 2010.
However, in order to protect yourself as much as possible from shark attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh, you should follow the following rules:
Do not swim with fresh cuts, and if the wound is received while swimming, get out of the water immediately;
Do not feed marine life from the pier, ship or water. This is relevant as protection not only from sharks, but also from other fish, an encounter with which may not be so dangerous, but very unpleasant;
When going with a group for diving or snorkeling, do not move away from the ship and the instructor;
Do not swim in areas with large concentrations of fish;
Do not swim in the sea at night - again, not only because of sharks: you can get hurt, and very seriously, on corals or by stepping on a sea urchin (it is no coincidence that most Egyptian beaches are closed at night, and some even have security guards on duty).
Toothed predators continue to attack tourists at a popular Egyptian resort
Less than a week has passed since one or more sharks attacked citizens of Russia and Ukraine vacationing in Sharm el-Sheikh. Local authorities have already reported that the predators who seriously injured people have been caught. Now there is no danger to vacationers. Last Saturday, a ban on swimming at local beaches, introduced after a series of fish attacks, was lifted.
However, after just a day, all the authorities’ assurances of safety turned out to be just empty words. On Sunday, a man-eating shark attacked a man again. This time it was no longer possible to do without human casualties. The prey of the predator was an elderly tourist from Germany, swimming near the shore. She died from loss of blood right in the water. According to eyewitnesses of the incident, the predator severely bit the woman’s arms and legs. The 70-year-old lady had no chance to escape.
The incident occurred in the same place where shark attacks on Russians were previously recorded - in the area of the Melia Sinai Sharm and Dessole Nesco Waves hotels in Sharm el-Sheikh.
Let us remind you that yesterday’s attack was already the fifth since the moment when sharks living in the waters of the Red Sea began attacking vacationers. The first reports of this came on November 30 and December 1. According to them, three Russian tourists were seriously injured: as a result of the attack, 70-year-old Lyudmila Stolyarova lost her left leg, right hand, and fingers of her left hand, Olga Martsenko lost her hands, and Evgeny Trishkin’s leg was bitten off by a shark above the knee. Another victim of the “jaws” was a tourist from Ukraine Viktor Koliy. He received only minor injuries.
After information about a series of attacks on the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh, a ban on swimming was introduced, and specialists from the Egyptian Ministry of Ecology began searching for predators. Soon the first victorious reports appeared. On December 2, the media reported the capture of the first shark, which may be involved in attacks on Russians. Soon another shark was caught. As experts said, they fully correspond to those described by the victims and eyewitnesses. However, as the tragic case of the German woman showed, they were either mistaken, or a whole school of killer sharks lives in the coastal waters of the most popular vacation spot among Russians.
In this regard, a ban on swimming has now been reintroduced on the beaches of Sharm el-Sheikh. This time, according to the Egyptian Ministry of Tourism, until the likelihood of shark attacks is completely eliminated.
According to local scientists, tourists from Russia and Germany were most likely victims of a whitetip shark, often found in tropical waters. It reaches a length of 3.5–4 meters, has very long pectoral fins, and its body is colored brownish-gray. As a rule, they do not attack or eat people. Cases similar to what happened happen extremely rarely in the world. According to statistics, no more than five people die from shark attacks around the world every year.
According to scientists, the latest shark attacks on people in the Red Sea may be a consequence of ecosystem disruption caused by uncontrolled fishing. As a result, due to a lack of food, predators remain hungry, and they have to attack people who at least somehow remind them of their traditional prey.
According to another version, tourists themselves could attract the shark. They often take pieces of meat and other food from restaurants to feed the fish. Naturally, after the small fish, their larger counterparts also come for food.
Usually predators do not swim close to the beaches. In addition, special barriers must be installed in bathing areas that do not allow them to get close to vacationers. Whether there were such barriers in the waters of the Red Sea near the sites of the attacks is not yet known.
If it turns out that they were not there, then perhaps all responsibility for what happened will fall on the hotels, says press secretary of the Russian Union of Tourism Industry Irina Tyurina.
According to her, what happened is a real anomaly. In these places, sharks usually do not attack people. The last time something like this happened was two years ago, when a plane carrying French tourists crashed near the Red Sea coast. “The sharks literally went berserk,” said Tyurina. After this, the country's authorities obliged all hotels to install iron barriers in bathing areas.
It is noteworthy that what happened happened on the eve of the New Year, when a large number of Russians travel to Egypt for the holidays. Sharm el-Sheikh is considered one of the most respectable resorts. However, the tragedy that happened could put an end to their plans. However, for now, travel agencies say that our compatriots are not going to refuse previously purchased vouchers, which are sold out until mid-January.
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It is convenient to visit the Egyptian resort of Sharm el-Sheikh in early autumn, when the summer heat has already subsided, but the October storms have not yet begun. There are a lot of tourists in September, so prices do not fall compared to summer. Lovers of active and relaxing holidays come here: young people, couples with children, retirees. There are no restrictions on age and taste preferences on the Red Sea coast: relaxation by the water, excursions, diving, access to the open sea and shopping.
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Weather
The weather in Sharm el-Sheikh in September is as comfortable as possible for relaxation; the summer heat decreases every day, while the nights still remain warm. During the day, the air temperature rises to 30-31 °C, at night it drops to 22-24 °C. Traditional forecasts for 2017:
- the average daytime temperature is 30 degrees;
- at night - 23 degrees;
- water temperature - 28-29 degrees;
- no rain;
- Daylight hours last 11 hours.
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Ulyana, vacationing in 2014:
“I prefer Sharm for relaxation. For several years I come in September, there is no longer any baking. There are no strong Egyptian winds yet; they start later. You shouldn’t put off your vacation until the end of September, when the tides and storms begin, then it’s impossible to swim.”
Diving in Sharm el-Sheikh
September is considered the best period for diving: the water is warm, there are no storms, and the Red Sea, as Cousteau said, “is a corridor of miracles.” But if you are coming here specifically for this, then it is better to choose a tour in advance. Divers prefer inexpensive hotels; they are not demanding; they usually choose three stars. Their rooms are always full during this period, and you should not expect discounts. There are not many “three rubles”, there are swimming pools everywhere, the food system is a buffet:
- Karma Hotel;
- Shars Bay Oasis;
- Naama Inn Hotel;
- Kanabesh Village;
- Viva Sharm.
The ideal water for diving allows local instructors to keep prices high - on average, two dives per day cost 50 euros. They are “justified” by coral reefs and the remains of sunken ships, as well as underwater caves and grottoes, gardens and colorful fish, sometimes even sharks.
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Divers' favorite places in Sharm el-Sheikh - sunk by the Germans. The park has several coral and eel gardens, as well as ledges and canyons where clown fish and turtles live. The cargo ship discovered by Jacques Cousteau still contains the jeeps, aircraft parts and even a locomotive it transported. Only experienced divers can go here.
flickr.com/mattkieffer
It is better to sign up for an underwater excursion in advance. If necessary and lack of experience, you can take training courses for adults and children, and even go on an expedition. It is better to plan this before flying to Egypt - http://www.hotteamdiving.com/. The local waters of the Sinai Peninsula attract divers from all over the world, so finding instructors locally is not always possible.
Anna, Moscow:
“In September, my husband and I spent our honeymoon in Sharm. We were very lucky with the weather, and the sea here is the most beautiful! For my husband and I, this is just a godsend - we have been interested in diving for several years. The water is crystal clear, schools of colorful fish. You just have to be careful with corals - they sting a lot. We booked many excursions - to the sea, the desert, and rode ATVs. We had a wonderful time!”
Resort beaches
In September there are more tourists than usual. Basically, all beaches belong to hotels; entrance to the city costs about $5. Most of the beaches are coral, the entrance to them is by pontoon, so as not to damage these marine gifts. Collecting them is strictly prohibited. There are also sandy beaches with a gently sloping bottom, convenient for children. It is better to enter the water in special slippers: there is a danger of getting stuck on a sea urchin.
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At the beginning of autumn there are many married couples with children, the water is almost warmer than in a swimming pool, the sea is clean and calm. At the end of the month it is already starting to storm. All beaches have plenty of children's slides and entertainment. At night, discos open immediately.
Entertainment Quarter
If you're bored of spending all day on the beach or in a hotel, you can visit Naama Bay. This is the "entertainment" part of Sharm el-Sheikh. There are shops, restaurants and cafes, hookah bars, entertainment centers and nightclubs. The most fashionable - Pasha. Beautiful modern establishments coexist with dirt on the streets, beggars and pickpockets.
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In all reviews of tourists there are warnings not to allow yourself to be persuaded by Arab barkers and “persistent salesmen.” A very popular proposal is to “go into the store, sign the guest book and receive a gift.” This often ends in the theft of wallets and the purchase of unnecessary goods at exorbitant prices.
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For more civilized shopping, it is better to go to Soho Square. There are modern shops here, there is even a cinema where every day at 20:00 they show the only film in Russian - about the history of Egypt. Prices are high; the same goods are cheaper in local markets. There are no usual autumn discounts; in September prices are even slightly higher.
Water parks and dolphinarium
There are two of them - and Cleo. The first one is bigger. The beginning of autumn is the best time to visit it; there is no danger of getting sunburned in the pool. There are 9 of them, 44 slides, for extreme sports fans - kamikaze, black hole, tsunami and free fall. Admission is $45 per day and includes soft drinks. But a ticket with lunch will cost $50, for a child - half the price.
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The dolphinarium is in demand among those who come to the resort on a trip with children. Russian dolphins perform here, their trainers are from Krasnodar. If you wish, you can take photos and even swim with bottlenose dolphins. The cost of an adult ticket to the show in September is 15-20 dollars, a child ticket is half that. A 20-minute swim with a dolphin costs $90. At the beginning of autumn, prices are at their highest here - tourists “pay extra” for good weather.
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Evgeniy, Minsk:
“We vacationed in early autumn 2012 with my wife and child. I got no less pleasure from the dolphinarium than my little son. I also liked the Fun Town park, where there are many attractions for children. I was glad that entry was free. And a taxi there costs only $10.”
Hotels
“Four stars” are most valued in September, but you can even get a discount for “five stars.” It is better to purchase tours in advance; there are almost no last-minute tours this month. An exception may be the very beginning of autumn, when the heat has not completely subsided. On average, a week's trip can be purchased for $700 for two.
While vacationing in Sharm, you can go to Luxor or to the pyramids - comfortable air-conditioned buses take you there. Tours cost up to $100. But this season the demand for them is not great - in Luxor And Aswan the air warms up to 38 °C: a walk around the sights can end in sunstroke.
flickr.com/cmichel67
Everyone usually likes a September holiday in Sharm el-Sheikh. Higher prices than in winter and summer are justified by the warm sea and the absence of extreme heat. Divers and couples with children cannot find a better time for a holiday in Egypt. And as a souvenir, you can bring oriental spices, almost real papyrus and cartouches - gold oval medallions with your name.
Jul 19, 2015 Kate
What were the sharks doing in Sharm el-Sheikh? Let's try to restore the entire chronicle of the events of the end of 2010 and analyze all the comments available on them.
So, we know that the place of bloody actions is localized in the Gulf of Naama and Cape Nasrani in the Red Sea; virtually all episodes occurred within a 5 km radius of the coast with relatively shallow water.
The duration of the events was 6 days, of which only three were marked by actual episodes of attacks (one person died, 4 were injured). And according to local residents, on the notorious beach of Sharm el-Sheikh two weeks earlier, on November 13, a French tourist was attacked by a shark.
There is evidence that two juvenile longfin sharks (longimanus) were spotted off this coast a week before the attacks.
And by studying the patterns of bites on the bodies of the victims, it was determined that at least two attacks were committed by one shark - .
The culprit of another attack has been identified.
It is known that all the injured tourists from Russia were vacationing in completely different hotels; 3 beaches of these hotels were equipped with special pontoons (this is done for safety reasons, to prevent injuries to vacationers on corals), since the depth of the sea off the coast here ends abruptly and can reach up to several meters.
When reconstructing the events, it turned out that all swimmers did not swim further than the installed buoys, i.e. were between them and the coral reefs.
Watch the video on the topic - Sharks in Sharm El Sheikh:
First shark attacks in Sharm el-Sheikh
The first incident occurred on the afternoon of November 30 near the Dessole Nesco Waves hotel. A 70-year-old Muscovite was suddenly attacked by a shark, as a result of which her right hand, fingers on her left hand and shin of her left leg were dangerously injured.
The shark carried out only three targeted attacks, and the last one was made on the hand of a woman getting out onto the pontoon.
Shortly before the incident, divers filmed a spotted shark nearby with an average size of 2.5 meters. Later in this case, a photograph of a long-finned shark with a damaged tail fin and traces of wounds on the predator’s body appeared.
The second attack took place in Shark's Bay. The shark also attacked unexpectedly, however, at first it simply swam close, so Olga Martsinko generally mistook the predator for a dolphin and even tried to pet it.
After the woman’s resistance, the shark, releasing the victim, went in another circle, and the tourist, swimming to the shore.
The shark caught up with the victim's body, accompanying her, and then continued the attack, attacking Olga's limbs.
Flippers worn on her feet helped the woman save her feet. The shark bites in Sharm El-Sheikh left numerous lacerations and injuries to her left thigh on her body, as well as subsequent amputation of the remains of her left arm.
The story of a shark attack victim in Sharm el-Sheikh:
Sharks continue to attack Egyptian holidaymakers
In the third attack, a naval officer from St. Petersburg was injured; he was left without his left arm, and his right one was crushed with a torn tendon. Evgeny Trishkin and, while snorkeling, he literally collided with a shark.
In this case, the victim tried to resist the predator, but during the struggle he lost consciousness from loss of blood and was pulled out by rescuers.
In this episode, the shark attacked not an ordinary swimmer, but a diver, although the attacks were carried out according to the same pattern - approaching the victim from the right side, alternating bites with the predator retreating into a circle.
The fourth on the list of victims of the predator is a Ukrainian. He suffered the least of all - the shark only bit him on the leg.
Viktor Koliy also dived with his son, and his wife took pictures of them nearby. It is possible that the fact that all three stayed close together thwarted the shark’s plans, and this hunt turned out to be the least bloody (10 long marks – ragged furrows – were left on the tourist’s right leg).
Watch video - The killer shark remains at large:
