Level: Free shore access This spot have a free shore access: you can go snorkeling there freely and without having to book a tour or pay an entrance fee.
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Last updated on August 16, 2023
New Open Beach is a small, uncrowded beach in Eilat, located on the edge of Coral Beach resort area. The seabed, which features a few coral patches only, is mainly sandy. This open underwater environment allows observing fish species inhabiting the sandy areas of the Red Sea, such as the two-stick stingfish, the raggy scorpionfish and the bluespotted ribbontail ray.
New Open Beach is a small beach on the Red Sea shores of Israel. It is nestled at the foot of Highway 90, just past the second pipeline that you see on the left as you drive south. From Eilat city center, it takes about 10 minutes by car to reach the location.
If you are coming by public transport, the closest bus stop is Mitsrayim Road/Camel Ranch. If you are staying at one of the resorts in Coral Beach resort area, such as U Coral Beach Club, Herbert Samuel The Reef Eilat or Isrotel Yam Suf, you will be at walking distance from the beach.
You can get into the water wherever you want from the small sandy beach.
The New Open Beach snorkeling area is quite small, just 120 meters wide. It is bordered on the left by a fence (which extends into the water), and on the right by a buoy line. Do not snorkel beyond the buoys as there is important boat traffic in the area.
New Open Beach features gently-sloping sandy beds, reaching a depth of 18 to 24 feet/6 to 8 meters in the center of the bay. A few rock and coral areas are found in the shallows, in the southern part of the beach.
Although the corals are very damaged, it is around them that most marine life gathers. Coral patches support large communities of damselfish, surgeonfish, puffers and pipefish, which are quite easy to see.
Several species of scorpionfish can also be encountered at New Open Beach: the Indian lionfish (often seen swimming in open water), the radial firefish (usually found below the coral outcrops), as well as the two-stick stingfish and the raggy scorpionfish, lying in wait for prey on the sand and rubble bottoms. Bluespotted ribbontail rays are also sometimes reported at this location.
There is no restaurant at New Open Beach, but there are several accommodation and dining options in Coral Beach resort area, just south of the 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.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
