SEDIMENTOLOGICAL AND GEO-ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES ON SHARM EL-MAYA BAY,SOUTHERN SINAI, EGYPT BASEL N. SHALABY; AHMED O. MASHALY; YOUSRIA M. SAMI and MARIAM A. EL- HIFNAWI National Research Centre, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt Twenty four grab and 21 shallow core samples of bottom sediments from Sharm EL- Maya Bay were studied for their textural and mineralogical characteristics. The percentage of carbonate carbon and organic carbon have been determined and correlated with the size of different fractions. Heavy metals (Cu. Co, Ni, Pb, Zn and Cd) were determined in the <0.25mm fractions.The results obtained show that there is a wide variation in the texture of the sediments between different parts of the Bay. The sediments are characterized by a high content of carbonates. The non- carbonate constituents consist mainly of angular to subangular quartz and feldspar and less than 2% heavy minerals (predominantly opaque minerals, zircon, rutile and staurolite). A positive correlation exists between the percentages of silt and clay in the sediments and their organic carbon and heavy metals content. Furthermore, twenty one bottom and twelve surface water samples from the Bay were analysed for major cations and anions and for key environmental indicators and the results obtained show that the salinity of the water in Sharm El-Maya Bay is slightly higher than that of the Red Sea proper. The geochemical and environmental parameters of the waters 'long the eastern and north-eastern coasts of the Bay are in compliance with criteria set by the World Health Organization and the European Community for bathing water. In contrast, the waters along the western and west - northern coasts are not in compliance. They are more turbid, have low oxygen saturation content, and are in some parts contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons. This contamination has upset the natural geochemical balance and created anoxic conditions in these parts of the Bay. .