Underwater Near Hurghada - Red Sea Coastal Development in Egypt - 2006

An underwater shot near to Hurghada, Egypt. Under water, the damage inflicted by construction directly on top of the reef is clearly visible. Corals have been smothered by the sediment or have been simply bulldozed away. Hurghada, at the northern tip of Egypt's Red Sea coast has become a sprawling mass of concrete hotels and apartment blocks. In a matter of twenty years, the area has undergone large-scale development driven by the tourist dollar. Crystal clear waters and unique coral reefs have made the Red Sea one of the world's prime diving destinations. Yet these reefs are threatened by problems such as over-fishing, pollution and uncontrolled coastal development.