Coral Beach Nature Reserve - Eilat
We’ve always had a soft spot for Coral Beach. It’s got a bit of a mixed reputation, being Eilat’s most popular spot, but honestly, it earns its crowds. Entry is easy from the beach, straight onto a sand patch that slopes gently down. We love taking our time here, just gliding over the soft coral gardens in the shallows. The reef starts around 3 metres, a vibrant explosion of branching and table corals, spilling down to about 20 metres. What makes it special for us is the sheer density of fish life right from the start. You'll swim through schools of fusiliers so thick they almost block the sun. Look closely for the smaller stuff, the peacock wrasse darting between crevices, and the surprisingly colourful crescent grunters tucked under overhangs. Our favourite game is spotting the orange-lined triggerfish, always looking a little bit grumpy as they cruise past. It’s a genuinely relaxing dive, perfect for beginners, but even experienced divers will appreciate the healthy coral and the sheer volume of fish. Go early in the morning to beat the rush; that’s when the light is best and the reef feels like your own private aquarium.
- Location
- Eilat, Israel, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 29.502000, 34.918000
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 3-20m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Marine Protected Area: ים האלמוגים באילת
Nearby Dive Sites in Eilat
- Abū Daraj Reef (reef)
- Al Qaţafah (reef)
- AL TAIF - 16m (wreck)
- AMERICANA - 16m (wreck)
- An Numūsīyah (reef)
- ASAKURA MARU NO 12 - 15m (wreck)
- As Sab‘ Ḩaţābāt (reef)
- Ataqa Reef (reef)
- Caves (cave)
- Ceasaria Maritima Old City
- Dolphin Reef (reef)
- EASTERN MEDITERRANEAN - 3m (wreck)
- EL HADEY - 15m (wreck)
- EL IMAM MALEK - 1m (wreck)
- ELLIE - 32m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to Coral Beach Nature Reserve
- AVIDAG
- Divers & Co - ["PADI"]
Marine Life in Eilat
Home to 147 recorded species including 100 reef fish, 16 hard corals, 8 sea snails & nudibranchs, 5 whales & dolphins, 4 clams & mussels, 3 seagrass & algae.
Notable Species
- Marbled Spinefoot (Siganus rivulatus) - Reef Fish
- Lesser valley coral (Platygyra lamellina) - Hard Corals
- Fluorescence grass coral (Galaxea fascicularis) - Hard Corals
- Red lionfish (Pterois miles) - Reef Fish
- Staghorn coral (Acropora eurystoma) - Hard Corals
- Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Rock Cod (Epinephelus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
- Snakefish (Trachinocephalus myops) - Reef Fish
- Starflower coral (Astreopora myriophthalma) - Hard Corals
- Red Squirrelfish (Sargocentron diadema) - Reef Fish
- Blacktail Butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus) - Reef Fish
- Klunzinger's wrasse (Thalassoma rueppellii) - Reef Fish
- Arabian Pinfish (Diplodus noct) - Reef Fish
- Rainbowfish (Stethojulis albovittata) - Reef Fish
- Banded Blue Sprat (Spratelloides gracilis) - Reef Fish
- Starry cup coral (Acanthastrea echinata) - Hard Corals
- Long-spined sea urchin (Diadema setosum) - Sea Urchins
- Cauliflower coral (Pocillopora verrucosa) - Hard Corals
- Yellow scroll coral (Turbinaria reniformis) - Hard Corals