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Migdalor Beach boasts vibrant coral reefs teeming with colorful marine life. Even before you put on your mask for snorkeling, you will be able to see through the crystal clear water.

The translucent waters of Migdalor Beach provide excellent visibility, allowing snorkelers to fully appreciate the underwater beauty and marine life. Brightly colored wrasse, surgeonfish and sergeants majors will be darting around you in the warm Red Sea waters.

Snorkelers can explore these ecosystems, witnessing a wide array of coral species, including branching and brain corals.

The biodiversity of Migdalor Beach’s underwater world is a major draw for snorkeling enthusiasts. The colorful coral formations and diverse marine species make Migdalor Beach an excellent location for underwater photography, too. 

While the corals in this area are quite damaged, the diversity of fish that can be seen here makes Migdalor Beach one of the most amazing snorkeling locations in Israel.

Migdalor Beach, Eilat
The shore at Migdalor Beach. Water entrance is between the buoys.

How to go snorkeling at Migdalor Beach

Migdalor Beach is located in Eilat, less than 6km south of the city center. About 250m after the Coral World Underwater Observatory, you will see on the left Migdalor Beach restaurant, the beach restaurant facing the reef.

A car park allows parking near the entrance. You can then access the beach through the restaurant or via the public access, on the right.

Migdalor Beach snorkeling map, Eilat

Water entrance for snorkeling Migdalor Beach

Water entrance is from the beach, in front of the restaurant. A green sign on the beach indicates a passage between two lines of buoys, which allows entering the water in a coral-free area. The seabed, made of pebbles, allows an easy water entrance.

Migdalor Beach snorkeling exploration tips

As soon as you enter the water in the very shallow pebble areas near the beach, you will be surrounded by fish (↕2-3ft): sergeants majors, yellowtail surgeonfish, but also huge and inquisitive broomtail wrasse, clown coris and parrotfish.

Probably fed by some visitors (please don’t do it, as it is very harmful to the fish), they come very close, making them great subjects to photograph. Even though there are good opportunities for capturing a picture, please don’t feed the fish even if you see others doing so. As with all marine creatures, it can be harmful for the fish if you feed them. If the fish get used to finding their food elsewhere, the algae on the reef could start to grow out of control, smothering the coral and causing it to suffocate and die.

Snorkeler with wrasse and parrotfish in Migdalor shallows.
Near the beach, you will be surrounded by large wrasse and parrotfish.

A few yards further, you will reach the first coral patches. The reef is narrow, and after a few dozens yards, it gives way to a sandy slope interspersed with a few pinnacles (↕6-12ft). Beyond, about 40 yards from the shore, the slope plunges into the blue (↕20-25ft).

The reef at Migdalor beach is overall damaged, with large areas of worn coral. In places, there are still beautiful coral clumps, especially where the depth puts them out of reach of careless visitors.

Red Sea anemonefish at Migdalor Beach
A Red Sea anemonefish in a bubble-tip sea anemone.

While Migdalor Beach reef is not as extensive as the reef in Coral Beach, it is still spectacular for its underwater landscape, especially its abundance of various fish species.

Butterflyfish (several species), Arabian Picasso triggerfish and Klunzinger wrasse are very common throughout the area.

Yellow-ear angelfish in Eilat
A yellow-ear angelfish spotted at reef.

Bluespotted cornetfish, masked puffer and sea goldies enjoy the jagged coral and the small drops, where Red Sea clownfish can also be spotted in small sea anemones.

If you’re lucky, you might also spot an emperor angelfish or a yellow-ear angelfish, two of the most beautiful fish species in the Red Sea. There are hundreds of species that can be seen here.

Octopus at Migdalor Beach
Good-sized octopus, not very shy, call Migdalor Beach home.

Since fishing is not allowed at Migdalor Beach, the fish are big and not shy. These protected waters are also home to bluespotted ribbonail rays and large octopuses, which are frequently encountered on the sandy slopes.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

The Migdalor Beach restaurant is located on the beach, facing the reef.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth20ft/6m
  • Water entranceFrom a sand & pebble beach
  • Potential DangersStonefish, scorpionfish
  • Visitor numbersHigh
  • Access costsFree
  • Restaurants nearbyYes

MAP Spot

These snorkeling spots are accessible to beginners and kids. You will enter the water gradually from a beach, or in a less than 3ft. deep area. The sea is generally calm, shallow, with almost no waves or currents. These spots are usually located in marked and/or monitored swimming areas. It is not necessary to swim long distances to discover the sea life.

This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.