The coast around Assab is among the least-visited stretches of the Red Sea. The water is exceptionally clear, the beaches largely empty, and the surrounding terrain — flat, arid, and volcanic — has a severity that is striking rather than beautiful in any conventional sense. It is the kind of landscape that stays with you.
There is no beach infrastructure to speak of, but local families swim in the sea in the early mornings and evenings when the heat becomes bearable. The coral reefs offshore are in good condition due to the near-absence of tourist pressure. If you have access to snorkelling equipment, the underwater world is well worth exploring.