Close your eyes. Imagine a warm evening somewhere in Europe. You are sitting in a tiny restaurant away from the rush and the busy streets. The lights of the lamps are blinking lazily, the tunes of soft music are bringing back the nostalgic moments of the forgotten past, the atmosphere is warm and friendly and the well-prepared dinner gives you the long-sought feeling of home.

“Firstly, I don’t like sushi; and, secondly, I don’t like crowds of people hopping around in a groove,” – I told my colleague approaching the huge building of Little Buddha in Naama Bay. “I think this experience will change your view,” – she told me proudly, totally convinced in her rightness. Suddenly, the large wooden doors were opened and the sun-lit promenade has gradually turned into an extravaganza of yellow-deep orange-brown lights casting unforgettable shadows.

This is a rich and well-preserved site, with a phenomenal density and diversity of fish and coral life. Located in the center of a small bay, just beyond the bluff of Ras Atantur, the dive site is a small reef promontory extending into the bay. This reef has a steeply angled profile, and is surrounded by steep sand slopes.

These slopes are well dotted with coral heads, while the reef itself has every conceivable type of coral present, in staggeringly dense formations. This is probably the best site for hard corals in the entire region.

Situated in Banks St. near Alf Leila Wa Leila, Columbus Restaurant and Cafe can be recognized from a distance by its large green sign. The design of the place is extremely unique and eye-catching (definitely a must see) right down to the wooden tables and chairs that seemed to make me feel as if I was on board a ship with the paintings of ships on the wall and ship models above the counter, all adding to the effect... Also, the large windows present an excellent spot to watch all the action for an entertaining evening.