While vacationing with my wife Gail and daughter Michelle in Israel, I had the unique opportunity to snorkel among one of the most spectacular coral reefs I have ever seen.  In the Gulf of Eilat, or Gulf of Aqaba (near the Israeli resort city of Eilat) lays the northernmost end of the Red Sea’s coral reefs.

The water’s high salinity and the relative isolation of the area from other marine ecosystems, helps to make this coral reef unique. Though they are at the northernmost range for coral reefs, these reefs in the Gulf of Eilat have some of the highest coral species diversity in the world.

Coral Reefs are extremely fragile ecosystems and these like many others have been degraded over the last 30 years.  However, Israel created the Coral Beach Nature Reserve to preserve the reefs.

The Reserves staff limit the number of visitors, have marked no swimming areas, placed protected buoys and taken many other actions to limit damage to the coral, while making it available for both casual snorkelers and proficient divers.

We spent two wonderful days at the Coral Beach Nature Preserve. After renting snorkel equipment on site, we all had a chance to see the amazing diversity of coral and fish.  In the clear blue water, the visibility was astonishing.  The vibrant colors of the fish and coral and the variety of marine life were wonderful to see.

I give both the Reserve Staff and the Israel Nature and Parks Authority high marks for protecting this valuable marine resource and still making it accessible to the public.

Below are some photos of these stunning coral reefs, enjoy!

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