Mahmya Beach

This guide to Mahmya Beach explains what its name actually means, protected area, a legal designation dating to 1986, when Giftun Island became Egypt's first marine national park. It follows the problem rangers faced as divers' and day-trippers' boats dropped anchor straight onto fragile reef, and the rule they drew limiting boats near shore to small tenders. Listen for it while your boat idles at the buoy line before the last stretch to shore.