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New Open Beach is a small, uncrowded beach in Eilat, located on the edge of Coral Beach resort area. The seabed, which features only a few coral patches, is mainly sandy. This open underwater environment allows you to observe the fish species inhabiting the sandy areas of the Red Sea. You will see the two-stick stingfish, the raggy scorpionfish and the bluespotted ribbontail ray.

Snorkeling at the New Open Beach, Eilat
Snorkeling at New Open Beach. The line of buoys (limit of the snorkeling area) can be seen in the distance

How to get to the New Open Beach snorkeling spot

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 you will 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 within walking distance from the beach.

The New Open Beach snorkeling map

Water entrance for snorkeling New Open Beach

You can get into the water wherever you want from the small sandy beach.

New Open Beach snorkeling exploration tips

The New Open Beach snorkeling area is quite small, just 130 yards 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 significant boat traffic in the area.

Coral at the New Open Beach
Fire coral at New Open Beach.

New Open Beach features gently-sloping sandy beds, reaching a depth of 18 to 24 feet 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, there is still a quantity of marine life that gathers around them. Coral patches support large communities of damselfish, surgeonfish, puffers and pipefish, all of which are quite easy to see.

Two-stick stingfish on sandy bed at the New Open Beach
The fascinating two-stick stingfish is frequently seen dwelling on New Open Beach sandy beds. If it feels threatened, it opens its colorful pectoral fins.

Several species of scorpionfish can also be encountered at New Open Beach. There is the Indian lionfish which is often seen swimming in open water and the radial firefish that is usually found below the coral outcrops. It is also home to the two-stick stingfish and the raggy scorpionfish that lie in wait for prey on the sand and rubble bottoms. Bluespotted ribbontail rays are also sometimes reported at this location.

Bluespotted stingray hiding under rocky outcrop at the New Open Beach
A bluespotted ribbontail ray hiding under rocky outcrop at New Open Beach.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

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.

 

  • Level required Beginner
  • Maximum depth24 ft/8 m
  • Water entranceFrom a sandy beach
  • Potential DangersBoat traffic beyond the buoys
  • LifeguardNo
  • Visitor numbersLow
  • Access costsFree
  • Restaurants nearbyNo

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.