12 km from Aqaba is a huge sandy beach strewn with coral from its offshore reefs. On Fridays, the locals come here for family picnics, creating a gregarious ambience along the beach which is an ideal meeting place. On the opposite shore rises the steep silhouette of the Egyptian Sinai. The main spectacle, however, lies below the waves. A few metres offshore awaits some extraordinary wildlife. Swimming goggles are all that’s required, although glass-bottomed boat trips are available.