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Red Sea Dive Sites. |
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Hurghada Dive
Site. |
The area
either side of the Straits of Gubal is mainly the preserve of liveaboards.
Flanked in the west by the islands of Gubal and Shedwan and in the east by
the reef systems of Shab Ali and Shab Mahmoud, it is normally well beyond
the day boat range of either Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada. However, some
boats do make the day trip from Sharm to reach the world famous wreck of the
Thistlegorm, taking approximately 12-14 hours in total. Crossing the straits
can be rough and sometimes downright impossible in all but the largest
ships. The areas around Shedwan Island are closed to diving as this is a
military area. |
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Shab El Erg
The most northerly site for day boats out of Hurghada. A huge horseshoe
shaped reef offering many dive sites on all sides. The north point can be
home to Mantas in season. The lagoon is dotted with ergs and is renowned for
sightings of the resident dolphin community, divers have previously spent up
to 30 minutes with dolphins here.
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Gota Shab El Erg
Nearby is a little known site but well worth a visit. The whole area teems
with life, unicorns, scorpion fish, groupers, morays, emperor angel fish,
blue spotted rays and underneath the table corals look out for white tips
resting in the sand. In the sandy channel between the main reef and the gota
you will find cone shells, and flatfish.
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Shab Abu Nugar
This “T” shaped reef has a shallow plateau to the west with numerous small
ergs and two small sub reefs Gota Abu Nigar and Shab Iris. Some parts of
this reef system are positively dull while others are stunning. If you can
dive the stem of the “T” on the north side you will find three small ergs
and the diving there is almost virginal. You will find broom tail wrasse
here as well as parrot fish and unicorn fish.
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Umm Gammar
(27°21.155’N, 33°54.550’E)
This offshore Island is surrounded by good diving on all sides. The south
end has a shallow plateau where the moorings are positioned, this location
is the most used. For first timers at Umm Gamar the dive will take place
from the plateau, moving eastwards to the drop off then north along the
wall. After a short swim against the current you reach three pinnacles close
together, chimneys reach through the pinnacles toward the surface. After
exploring this area you take advantage of the light current to drift back to
the corner of the plateau where three small ergs are found, covered in glass
fish. Finish the dive on the plateau exploring the numerous coral heads and
reef fish. The plateau is home to Napoleons, Emperor Angels and free
swimming Morays. The east and west side have awesome drift dives and the
northern tip or "halg" has a magnificent coral garden but is only accessible
in very good weather. Big groupers and lots of sweepers live in the multiple
caves found along the eastern and western walls and drop offs of this tiny
island's fringing reef.
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Shaab Ruhr Umm Gamar
(27°11.550’N, 33°54.550’E)
Literally the reef of Umm Gamar, this reef lies 1km south of Umm Gamar and
is the tip of an undersea mountain. The reef wall drops to around 15m on the
west side, and is peppered with many caves and overhangs, home for sweepers
and glass fish, here the sandy plateau slopes away gently to 30m with the
drop off beyond. On the east side the slope is much steeper and drops
quickly to the depths, the diving here is superb and can be most often done
as a drift. This whole area offers superb wall diving with possibilities of
encountering grey reef sharks and good-sized groupers as well as morays, big
tuna, and blue spotted rays. On the south east slope lies the wreck of an
Egyptian patrol boat which is well worth a visit.
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Careless Reef
(27°18.700’N, 33°56.200’E)
An offshore reef Careless has two large ergs rising from a shallow plateau
surrounded by sheer walls rising from the deep. The area is unprotected and
the reef can only be reached in good weather. The current at the surface is
usually from the north but below it can come from any direction. To the
north, the drop off is a forest of coral and to the south the plateau slopes
gently away with small pinnacles of coral. The whole area swarms with fish
of all types, there are numerous giant morays encountered here, white tip
reef sharks and schooling reef fish as well as huge groupers and the
occasional hammerhead in the early morning.
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Torfa Fanus (East)
This narrow reef creates a huge calm lagoon, a great place to stop for lunch
and catch the sun before the second dive of the day. The lagoon itself and
the enclosing reef wall is relatively uninteresting and naturally lifeless
but on the seaward side the area bursts with all manner of sea creatures.
Swim through the gap between the first erg and the reef wall and head across
the coral garden to the second erg, home to hordes of glass fish and the
very occasional frog fish. Continue with the reef wall on your left to see
the gorgonians on the corner of the reef where it turns west, if you have
enough air continue along the north face where the corals are pristine, if
not return with the reef on your right and explore the first erg before
returning to the boat. Dolphins are often encountered anywhere around this
reef so keep an eye out.
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Fanus West
The other end (west) of the Fanus reef has two main ergs and several smaller
pinnacles off its western end. You can follow the reef wall round and
explore the reef face and coral gardens which is full of marauding jacks. Or
if you feel energetic you can swim the 50m to the furthest erg which is well
worth a visit, explore the remaining erg and pinnacles on the way back.
Again watch out for dolphins at anytime during the dive as they can be
frequent visitors.
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Wreck of the El Minya (Harbour
Wreck)
An Egyptian minesweeper sunk by Israeli fighters while lying at anchor in
1969, this wreck lies in 30m on a rock sea bed. The current here can be
strong from the north and the visibility poor. There is a large debris field
which contains a lot of 'LIVE" munitions, worth a look, but carefully. The
wreck is only 70m long so there is plenty of time to explore everything
including the blast hole on the starboard side, which can be penetrated.
Penetration is not recommended elsewhere on this wreck. There is not much in
the way of coral growth on the wreck but it does have its resident fish
life. The blast hole gives shelter to shoals of glassfish and a lone anemone
and resident clownfish are also in this area. Above the wreck are shoals of
jacks and small barracuda.
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Umm Dom (Stoney Beach)
Here the steep cliff of the north east side of Giftun Kebira island plunges
into the depths and continues into the abyss, the reef wall drops to about
12m and then there is a steep, tumbling slope to the top of the drop off at
about 27m. Most of the life here is above 15m as the lower slope and top of
the drop off are sometimes swept by strong currents coming through the
straits, stunting the growth of the coral and giving a lunar appearance.
Half way down the slope you will find a lettuce leaf coral, in the blue you
will find fusiliers, and triggers along with maybe sharks and turtles. At
the top of the slope you will find morays, scorpion fish, barracuda and
clouds of antheas. Whale sharks have been spotted at this site on occasions.
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Shab Sabrina
The reef here pokes out from the eastern side of Giftun Kebira island and
has a coral garden extending 300-400m north of it. The best way to dive this
site is on the drift, dropping 300m out and using the gentle current to make
your way back to the boat mooring. This area is known for its beautiful
coral landscape rather than its fish life.
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Small Giftun
(27°11.030’N, 33°58.530’E)
With the current carrying you, this dive is a relaxing exploration along a
magnificent wall, where you can 'fly over' extensive stretches of large fan
corals and if you look out into the blue it's not uncommon to see large
tunas and trevallies. The dive leads to a sandy plateau dotted with numerous
coral formations. Here it is common to see turtles, moray eels,
crocodilefish and spotted stingrays, as well as schooling fusiliers and
goatfish. Often done as a drift dive but can also be done as a normal dive
where the boat is moored up. An excellent site for technical diving and
courses.
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Abu Ramada Island
(27°09.784’N, 33°59.046’E)
Really two small islands surrounded by a single reef. Good drift dive along
the steep eastern wall, with big fan corals, overhangs and swim throughs.
Big groupers.
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Gota Abu Ramada
(27°08.340’N, 33°57.196’E)
This area is commonly known as 'the Aquarium' due to the wealth of marine
life. There is an abundance of hard and soft coral and schools of butterfly
fish, banner fish, snappers and goatfish are found swimming around the
mountains of coral gardens. You will find that dives at Gota will make you
feel like you are swimming in a marvelous natural fish tank!
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El Aruk Gigi
A cluster of a seven ergs laying in 10m - 15m of water. The whole area is
home to sweetlips under the ledges, blue spotted sting rays in the sandy
patches and glassfish and anthia fish swarm on the erg wall. One erg to note
is the split erg, which has a grotto through it filled with glassfish,
attendant red mouth grouper and numerous lionfish.
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Ras Disha
The fringing reef, which surrounds this cape, offers a good shallow dive on
the hard coral garden found north of the lighthouse with schooling
barracuda, napoleon fish and groupers. Garden eels.
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Abu Hashish
A shallow erg field lays on the south side of the island where lots of blue
spotted stingrays, puffer fishes and morays are found swimming through a
pinnacle landscape. A dramatic drift dive can be made along the eastern wall
with the chance to see big fish out in the blue.
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Safaga
Dive
Site. |
The area around Soma Bay/ Safaga has some
great diving close to the mainland as well as offshore in the areas of
Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan. Some divers say these equal the
great sites of Ras Mohammed and Careless Reef. The whole area is protected
and the same rules apply as elsewhere so please follow them. |
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Sha'ab Saiman
Hard coral reef running parallel to the shore, separated by a narrow, sandy
canyon, rises from 20-30m to 2m below the surface. Large schools of snapper,
goatfish, fusiliers circle over the plateau and look out for the occasional
white tip reef shark and turtle. Hard coral formations second to none in the
Red Sea.
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Ras Abu Soma
Fringing reef sloping gently to the drop off offers numerous quality dive
sites, including the ever popular Emperor Divers House Reef. Schooling reef
fish, exhibitionist octopus and resident morays, stonefish and turtles are
included in the reef's attractions. Sightings of eagle rays are not uncommon
and easy access from the dive centre to the water via the purpose built
jetty makes this one of our most popular sites!
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Tobia Arba'a
Also named the 'seven pillars' (although the Arabic name means 4!), these
ergs rise from a sandy bottom and display a fascinating landscape of soft
corals, glass fish and gorgonians. Giant puffer fish, blue spotted rays and
octopus as well as the ubiquitous lionfish compete for attention with the
local Napoleon wrasse.
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Tobia Kebir
Large oblong reef with a chain of ergs stretching southwards. Emerging from
a shallow sandy bottom this site offers interesting diving with schooling
fish, morays and groupers and many broomtail wrasse. A dive site for all
levels and interests.
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Tobia Soraya
South of Tobia Kebir, run a chain of pinnacles forming a Y shape. Stingrays,
trigger fish and big shoals of banner fish with gorgonians and acroporas in
the background are a good build up to the swim throughs and canyons between
the ergs, which this site offers.
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Gamul Soraya
Very colourful dive with hovering sweetlip shoals, bannerfish and
butterflyfish. Garden eels can be seen at 14m on the south side of the main
reef and blue spotted sting rays and scorpion fish abound. The hard coral
gardens in the shallows are stunning and the smaller ergs adjacent to the
main reef offer the colour of soft corals and a good chance of seeing
crocodile fish.
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Panorama Reef
One of the highlights of the area. Huge coral formations with walls dropping
to over 200m. Numerous grottos and overhangs, gorgonians and soft corals.
Jacks, barracudas and reef sharks often visit the area. Panorama is also the
home of Anemone City, ranging from 14m up to 5m over 40 Magnificent anemones
offer homes to hundreds of feisty clownfish. A stunning spot for your safety
stop! The north plateau is a stunning array of purple soft corals and a
south bound current offers a thrilling drift!
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Middle Reef
Northerly reef face slopes to 30m, then plummets vertically to much greater
depths. Hard coral gardens on the east and west corners with acroporas,
brain and salad coral. Fun dive on the south side through the shallow
labyrinth of caves, tunnels and passages. Groupers, puffers and sweetlips.
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Umm Hal Hal
Two small pinnacles covered in pristine hard and soft corals rising from 20
m depth. Often strong currents so a rare treat if conditions allow.
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Fellow Rocks
Two coral mountains rising from 25m to 3m below the surface. Seldom dived
due to exposure to bad weather conditions on the surface and the strong
currents under the water.
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Abu Kafan
Possibly the best dive in Safaga, a 300m long, narrow barrier features a
'plateau' in both north and south extremes, teeming with anthias and soft
corals. Superb wall diving dropping off to over 300m with overhangs covered
in soft and black coral and giant gorgonians. Frequent sightings of jacks,
tuna, barracuda, reef sharks and the occasional hammerhead.
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Sha'ab Sheer/Wreck of
Al Khafein
A horse shoe shaped reef creates a shallow lagoon on its south side and hard
coral gardens on both its east and west extremes. Porites, acroporas and
fire coral in huge and splendid formations with schooling jack, snapper and
tuna fish. Reef fish such as bannerfish and butterfly fish are plentiful and
the occasional larger pelagic is sighted. Since November 2005 Sha'ab Sheer
has become the resting place for the wreck of the Al Khafein which drifted
into the north side of the reef after a fire in the engine room caused the
crew to abandon ship.
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Wreck of the Salem
Express
A Ferry carrying pilgrims returning from Mecca, sank in 1991 after hitting
the reef at night. 300 victims perished in one of the greatest marine
tragedies of all time. Divers are asked to dive the wreck considerately with
respect for the great loss of life and penetration of the wreck is
forbidden. The propellers make an impressive sight and the covering of hard
corals now colonising the wreck show the power of the ocean to make new life
out of this tragedy. Fish life is now abundant and the funnels of the wreck
with large "S" and the name on the bow are clearly visible. The site is
reasonably sheltered and is not exposed to strong current and can be dived
at all levels from 12m to 30m.
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El
Queseir and Brothers
Dive
Sites. |
The
offshore islands in this area have recently been reopened for diving after a
long closure by the Egyptian Government and have been designated as a Marine
Park. Now suitable moorings are installed for dive boats visiting this area.
The Brothers are really the tops of two undersea mountains, these islands
rise from the depths and the coral clad walls offer outstanding diving with
plenty of big fish action due to their remote location some 80km offshore.
D: offered as daily diving
trips from Marsa Alam
L: available during live aboard trip
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Big Brother
(L)
The northerly of the two islands and has a small lighthouse. It has two
wrecks laying on its walls. At the northern most tip of the island lays a
large freighter named the Namibia, the other is the Aida II, an Egyptian
supply vessel that struck at night. There is excellent wall diving all along
the southern side of the reef with strong currents promoting the growth of a
spectacular forest of soft corals. Frequent sightings of big pelagics and an
astonishing variety of marine life.
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Little Brother
(L)
This island is the smaller of the two as the name implies. At the northern
end is a long tongue of reef that extends seaward and in good weather it is
possible to drop in here and drift. The current runs from east to west and
here sharks may be seen cruising. On the south east side is a superb fan
coral forest but it is deep and starts at 35m, there are also plenty of
caves, overhangs, black coral, and lots of pelagics including sharks, tuna,
barracuda, turtles and schools of reef fish. As you round the southern
corner the slope gives way to a vertical wall where you can catch a glimpse
of a silver tip shark. In summer thresher sharks are seen here, in October
grey reef sharks gather to mate and divers have also reported schooling
hammerheads and groups of sailfish in this area. Before you know it your
computer will tell you it time to head back to the boat having had the most
spectacular diving.
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Quei Reefs
Four reefs and a number of pinnacles lying in close proximity. Unfortunately
these reefs are quite badly damaged by the crown of thorns starfish in
places, but still offer some interesting diving. Often sightings of reef
sharks and sometimes a passing eagle ray.
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Queseir El Qadim
The bay where the Swiss hotel ‘Movenpick’ has been built is a natural
harbour used previously in Roman times. Amphoras can still be seen between
the hard corals at different depths. Large schools of fish, stingrays and
turtle.
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Erg Esel
Big blocks of mountain coral surrounding a small flat-topped reef can be
circumnavigated in one dive. Clouds of goldfish engulf the reef and swimming
through the sandy patches surrounding the reef white tip sharks may be found
sleeping as well as turtles and barracuda’s.
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Mangrove Bay
Mangrove Bay Hotel’ has been recently built next to this natural harbour,
which offers a good dive on the northern corner of the fringing reef with a
hard coral garden sloping gently to the deep. Large schools of unicorns,
snappers, surgeons, fusiliers and barracudas.
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Sharm El Quibli
Bay on the coast offers some decent diving on its northern corner, with a
sloping reef covered in acroporas, fire coral and other hard corals. Lots of
groupers.
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Marsa Wizri
Another bay on the coast, the fringing houses large schools of yellow goat
fish, unicorns, barracuda’s and other reef fish species on both north and
south outer extremes.
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Habili Sheik Malek
Less than one mile away from the Tomb-Mosque on the coast, a little reef
formation creates a labyrinth of hard corals, fire and huge tables where
lots of fish often concentrate. Napoleon, barracuda’s and eagle ray.
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Ras Torombi (D,L)
Shallow dive around the northern most tip of the cape’s fringing reef, a
great deal of fire coral, giant table corals scattered over a sandy bottom.
Snappers, butterflies, rays and guitar sharks.
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Ras Shouna (D,L)
Bay on the coast with good dives on the north and south side. Schools of
bat fish, barracuda’s and goat fish around the coral heads with glass fish
which come out from the slope.
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Marsa
Alam
Dive
Sites. |
The offshore islands in
this area have recently been reopened for diving after a long closure by the
Egyptian Government and have been designated as a Marine Park. Now suitable
moorings are installed for dive boats visiting this area. The Brothers are
really the tops of two undersea mountains these islands rise from the
depths, the coral clad walls do offer outstanding diving with plenty of big
fish action due to there remote location some 80km offshore.
D: offered as daily diving trips from Marsa Alam
L: available during liveaboard trip
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Abu Dabab
(D)
A collection of 7 reefs. Offers sheltered diving in rough weather
conditions. Popular overnight location due to close proximity to the famous
Elphinstone reef with a very good chance to see Spanish dancers on the night
dive. Many swim through and caves. Often sightings of reef sharks on the
southern outer reefs.
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Elphinstone Reef
(D)
The sheer walls of this great reef plunge steeply into the blue, richly
decorated with soft corals, sponges, gorgonians and fans. Sharks often swim
by the spot to feed on the abundant reef fish population. The northern
plateau is home to schooling hammerheads with frequent sightings of oceanic
white tip sharks.
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Shab Samadai - Dolphin
House (D)
A horseshoe shaped reef creates a shallow turquoise water lagoon where a
large school of spinner dolphins can often be seen. Several dives are found
on its outer walls. The western tip provides a large group of pinnacles
rising to the surface from a carpet of seagrass, populated by schools of
reef fish. |
Daedalus Reef
(L)
A huge round reef with a lighthouse more than 40 miles away from the coast,
features an excellent opportunity for spotting big pelagics including manta
rays. All around its steep walls you will see an extreme variety of fish and
coral. Good chance to see schooling hammerheads on the northern point.
Strong currents possible.
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Abu Galawa Soraya
(L)
The northern edge of the 'Fury Shoal' group, this reef has a fantastic hard
coral garden, and a wreck of a private sailing boat on the western side
which is packed with glassfish.
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Shaab Claude
(L)
Famous for its large labyrinths of swim throughs. Huge porite corals and a
resident napoleon. Often white tip reef sharks and a very nice anemone and
clownfish settlement on a small pinnacle a little off the reef to the south.
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Zabargad
(L)
Enormous mountain coming out of the water surrounded by a lagoon and
circling reef. A couple of wrecks and some decent diving with a great
variety of both corals and reef fish.
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Rocky Island
(L)
Tiny rock emerging a few feet out of the water, it offers one of the most
incredible underwater scenarios of the whole Red Sea. Steep walls falling
into the deep blue, currents, soft corals and a great abundance of pelagics
and all kinds of fish.
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St Johns Reef
(L)
This incredibly beautiful reef lies Approx. 40km North of the Sudanese
border and 20km south of Zabargad . The reef covers a huge area and many
dives would be needed to explore the numerous coral heads and islands that
make up this extensive area.
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