The windows of the Observatory are located at a depth of six meters under the Sea, where you can view all of the amazing natural life in the Gulf of Eilat; this is the open sea and everything is completely natural. The area is not defined, nor do we feed the fish or interfere in any way whatsoever with the life of the reef and its inhabitants.
While the Observatory was being built, many biological and technical studies were required in order to construct a comparable reef around the Observatory.
The Observatory is made of steel and weighs 100 tons; portions of it were connected above-ground and were floated into place. Around the Observatory a tray three meters wide was built from the windows outwards, and the landscaping works were conducted from this tray. The natural reef was set up by the Observatory’s team of divers.
Beyond this narrow strip around the Observatory, the corals and rocks that are visible through the windows are absolutely natural.
The fish population that settled there was part of the biological process, as the construction of the reef was planned for immediately after the reproductive season in order to provide a breeding ground for the young fish. The location serves as a shelter and hiding-place for fish, and also attracts new species and schools of fish into the area.
Currently it is possible to observe dozens of types of reef fish that live in caves, on the reef shelf and amongst the various types of natural corals, and also to examine and observe their behavior.
The Underwater Observatory is composed of two areas – the large and spacious gallery immediately as you enter, and this leads you to the old Observatory built in 1974.
If you look closely, you’ll be able to distinguish the difference between the reef surrounding the old Observatory, which is older and richer in comparison with the reef around the new Observatory, which is a young reef. If you focus on one window, and follow the movements of the fish, you will be able to identify and discover a variety of creatures and differentiate between their patterns of behavior.