Dead Sea, a natural marvel

Visited November 2019

Impossible to SINK
At 10 times saltier than most oceans, the Dead Sea is one of the rare places where it is impossible to sink. Floating on the other hand comes naturally.

I made this interesting discovery as I tried to sit down in 18 inches of water. No matter how hard I tried, my bottom would not touch the sea bed. Instead, as I pushed down harder, my feet seem to lift off on its own and I was FLOATING! This phenomena is due to the high salt content at 34% that increases the density of the water which, in turn, makes objects in the water more buoyant.

My much anticipated weightlessness experience took place on the Jordan side of the Dead Sea. With slow easy movements, I tested out my buoyancy, marveling at how easy it was to lift both hands and feet out of the water! The exhilarating sensation is out-of-this-world and I experimented with different poses.

The Dead Sea is very safe for non-swimmers and those with shark phobia. The high salinity that makes floating effortless also makes for a harsh environment where only microorganisms can survive.

Swimming is difficult, which is a good thing, as salt water splashing into your eyes would be excruciating.

Biggest natural free spa
Another must-do is the mud bath. I scooped up the smooth black mud along the shoreline and slathered it on liberally, carefully avoiding the eyes and mouth. While waiting for the mud to dry, we took lots of pictures, before washing it off in the water.

I could not resist another relaxing float, rounding off the memorable afternoon with a freshwater rinse, just in time to capture sunset at the lowest point on earth.

Amazing Dead Sea facts

It sits at 423m (1,300 ft) below sea level, making it the lowest point on Earth.
It lies in the Jordan Rift Valley and its main tributary is the Jordan River.
It is the highest evaporating water body. Water flows in from the Jordan River, but no water ever flows out of the sea.
It is 67 kilometres (42 miles) long and 18 kilometres (11 miles) wide at its widest point.
It is the deepest hypersaline lake in the world at 377m (1,237 ft)
It is shrinking at an alarming rate, with the surface level dropping more than a metre (3 ft) a year.
Its high salinity allows only microorganisms to survive, no plants or fish can thrive. That is why it is called the “Dead” Sea.
It is over 3 million years old – one of the world’s first health resorts built for King Herod the Great.
It is the biggest free natural Spa – its hyper-salty waters and mineral-rich mud are known for their many health benefits to treat skin ailments such as psoriasis, cellulite, acne, hives, etc.
It is harder to burn, as the sun’s UV rays are weaker at such a low point.

Dead Sea Grand East Resort and Spa, Jordan
Our hotel has direct access to the Dead Sea. Arriving mid afternoon, we immediately got changed and headed for a dip in one of the world’s saltiest bodies of water.

The 10-minute walk from our room, took us past two swimming pools and a water slide, across a stretch of sandy ground and down a cliff to the pebbly beach.

I really liked the rows of loungers, umbrellas that lined the beach and towels provided, including fresh water at the ready, to rinse off after we are done. In winter, the water is slightly chilly and gets dark by 4.30pm.