And a great deal more. This extraordinary body of saltwater is a spectacular haven for coral life and is steeped in legend and ancient history. Handily, it is also an increasingly accessible holiday destination that offers far more than the average resort strip. In terms of today's geopolitical divisions, the Red Sea is bordered by Egypt, Sudan and Eritrea to the west, with Israel, Jordan, Saudi Arabia and Yemen to the east. It is, in effect, a watery divide between Africa and the Middle East.

It's not red, so why the name?

The Greeks called these waters Arabicus Sinus, referring to the obvious narrowness of this ribbon of sea. The name Red Sea was coined later and is altogether more perplexing. It is thought by some to be a mistranslation of the Semitic name meaning 'Sea of Reeds'. Another explanation takes a more poetic tack and suggests that reflections of the area's fiery sunrises and sunsets, coupled with its red ranges of mountains, were the inspiration.

So where are the main resorts?

Much of the beach action is in the north around the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba. Here, Israel and Jordan both have significant resort toe-holds, respectively at Eilat and Aqaba. The former is a booming seaside city with a population of around 36,000; the latter, visible across the water, is smaller and, as yet, less commercial. Both offer good beaches and watersports, and while Eilat provides a wide choice of accommodation, Aqaba is less frenetic and makes an amenable jumping-off point for trips to Jordan's phenomenal sites of Wadi Rum and Petra.

Egypt, meanwhile, has resorts on the east coast of the Sinai Peninsula, facing the Gulf of Aqaba. Taba at the top is a short hop from the Israeli border and remains fairly quiet, although the new development of Taba Heights is increasingly popular. An hour or so south, the port town of Nuweiba offers magnificent beaches and several very serviceable hotels. Dahab, further south again, is laid-back hippy-chic, while at the southern tip Sharm-el-Sheikh presents five-star luxury along with a generous choice of watersports and sandy beaches merging into desert landscape. This was the location for the terrorist attack last July in which more than 70 people died. Since then, security has been stepped up all the way along the coast.

Further south again, across the Red Sea on the coast of the eastern Sahara, Hurghada is more lively and down to earth than Sharm, and generally cheaper, too. It is conveniently situated about a four-hour drive from the antiquities of Luxor. Around 30km along the coast from this thriving centre is the new resort of El Gouna, a purpose-built development, elegantly devised with a network of canals crossed by stone bridges . . . rendering it the self-styled 'little Venice of the Red Sea'.

Who offers package holidays to the region?

Egypt is attractive both as a winter sun destination and as a summer location and a number of Irish tour operators offer Red Sea resorts in their programmes. Check out Budget Travel (www. budgettravel. ie) to El Gouna and Hurghada, Sunway (www. sunway. ie) to both of those resorts and also to Sharm-el-Sheikh, Falcon (www. falconholidays. ie), Direct (www. directholidays. ie) and Panorama (www. panoramaholidays. ie) also to Sharmel-Sheikh. Slatterys (www. slatterys. com) feature the Red Sea as part of their escorted Egyptian tours and Unique Destinations (01 4350092) offer tailor-made holidays to Jordan that include Aqaba on the Red Sea.

Where can I find out more?

Contact the Egyptian State Tourist Office (www. touregypt. net); the Israel Government Tourist Office (www. go-israel. org); or Jordan Tourism Board (www. visitjordan. com/uk).