Coral Beach Nature Reserve

The main site for snorkeling and diving along Eilat's southern shore, protecting one of the world's northernmost coral reefs. The reserve covers about 1.2 kilometres of coastline where the reef begins almost immediately offshore. You can wade in from the beach and be among reef fish within minutes. The underwater visibility is typically excellent — often 20 metres or more — and the coral formations are dense and varied, with sea fans, brain corals, and forests of branching staghorn corals.

Entry to the reserve requires a modest fee, which funds active conservation work. Snorkeling equipment is available for hire at the entrance. The deeper sections are best explored by scuba — a number of dive centres operate from the reserve's car park. The reef is most alive in the morning before afternoon currents pick up.

things to do sight
A story
Eilat's coral reef is technically the northernmost tropical coral reef in the world. It has survived unusually well compared to reefs elsewhere — partly because the Red Sea is naturally warmer and saltier than most oceans, making the corals here more tolerant of temperature fluctuation. During the global bleaching events that devastated reefs in the 1990s, Eilat's reef remained largely intact.