Students had been warned in advance that today would be more aquatic than prior classes, and Ghanima had a beach bag over her shoulder and a large hat on Trebor's head that he kept pulling at and giggling.

"I hope you all brought your sunscreen," she said cheerfully. "We're off to scuba diving at Ras Muhammad National Park, on Egypt's Sinai Peninsula. It overlooks the Gulf of Suez on the west and the Gulf of Aqaba to the east, and the park is becoming a center of eco-tourism in the region."

"The promontory was known as Ποσείδιον -- Poseidion -- in Antiquity, indicating that it used to have a shrine dedicated to the Greek deity Poseidon. When the Sinai Peninsula was returned to Egypt's government, Ras Muhammad was declared for protection from fishing and other human activities, as some of the fishing methods, such as using dynamite and knives were also impacting on the coral reef and the fish populations. In 1983, the Egyptian Environmental Affairs Agency established the area as a marine reserve for the protection of marine and terrestrial wildlife. More than 220 species of coral are found in the Ras Muhammad area, 125 of them soft coral. The area is home to more than 1,000 species of fish, 40 species of starfish, 25 species of sea urchins, more than 100 species of mollusks, multiple types of turtles, and 150 species of crustaceans"

"The inland area includes a diversity of desert habitats such as mountains and wadis, gravel and coastal mud plains and sand dunes. The area also plays a role in bird migration, serving as a place of rest and nourishment."

The portal popped into existence, and she reached down to adjusting her son's hat. "So, let's beat the cloudy weather, and hit the waves!"