SHARM EL SHEIKH

The diving in the Sharm El Sheikh area runs from Ras Mohammed at the tip of the Sinai peninsula all the way to to the Straits of Tiran Reefs (in the Gulf of Aqaba) on the northern east coast.


This area benefits from the shelter of the land and conditions are usually calm to moderate, unlike the western coast of Sinai which can get rough, as the winds blow down the length of the Gulf of Suez. 


The entire area is under the protection of the Ras Mohammed national park therefore do not touch the coral or feed the fish otherwise you may find yourselves with a ticket from the rangers.  Where ever you dive around the Sinai you are in for some excitement, fantastic coral and great diving.

SAFAGA AREA

The area around Safaga has some great diving, the best being the offshore reefs of Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan. Some divers say this area equals the great sites of Ras Mohamed.

The diving offers a combination of shallow reef dives and drop-offs, as well as the famous wreck of the Salem Express.

The Salem Express is a dramatic dive. Around 500 people perished in one of the worst marine tragedies of all times. The 100-meter ferryboat was on its way back from Mecca to Safaga after the annual Muslim pilgrimage in December 1991, when it hit the reef during a stormy night and sunk rapidly without giving the opportunity to the crew and passengers to board the lifeboats. It is now home to a thriving underwater life, including a famous resident frogfish, blue-spotted stingrays, angel and butterfly fish. The ship itself is covered in a large quantity of hard and soft corals. It is one of the largest wrecks in the Egyptian Red Sea - roughly the same size as the Thistlegorm.

There is superb wall diving at Panorama, which is in fact one of the largest reefs in Safaga, featuring numerous grottos and overhangs, where gorgonians and soft corals thrive with the frequent nurturing currents. Due to the size of the barrier, there are at least three different dives to be done here: the south plateau and the east and west drop offs. Barracudas and white tip reef sharks and occasionally hammerheads and manta rays can be found. The south plateau is somewhat more protected by the current.

Abu Kafan is a 300-meter long and narrow reef offering a plateau at both north and south tips. We normally jump in the water on the north plateau and glide with the frequent strong current southwards along the impressive walls covered with soft and black coral, giant fans and gorgonians.

Hal Hal is a rarely chosen dive site due to its distance from the coast, which makes it a virgin spot. The north side is a drop off going down to 80meters, and is a perfect location to spot tunas, barracudas, turtles and sharks. The southern side has colourful coral gardens along with some caves and canyons. This dive site is mostly available only from a liveaboard.

Sailing to the southern most reefs, these cruises depart from Marsa Ghalib to the vast reef system of Fury Shoals and St John's.

At Fury Shoals, dive Shaab Claude with its famous swim-throughs and huge porite corals. White Tip Reef sharks and an anemone and clownfish settlement can be seen a little off the reef to the South. Abu Galawa Soraya has a fantastic coral garden and a wreck of a private sailing boat packed with glass fish.

Dive Shab Sharm, with its wall dives and White Tip Reef sharks. Oceanic White Tips and Silky sharks can sometimes be found in the blue and turtles often visit the South side before heading further south to Wadi Gamal, with its flowing banks of hard yellow and green soft coral, resident angel and butterfly fish, and in the right season huge schools of placid jack and tuna visit the area.

St John's is a vast collection of small reefs offering some of the most remote and rewarding diving in the Red Sea. Habili Ali offers giant gorgonians and black corals whilst Grey Reef, Silvertip and schools of Hammerhead sharks might be found on the west side. Habili Gafaar is a mass of soft corals teaming with shoals of snappers, butterfly fish and barracudas. Mantas, Grey Reef and Silvertip sharks can be seen in the blue.

Gota Kebir is a massive reef, famous for its tunnels and south plateau, where jacks and barracudas can be seen and the occasional manta. The tunnels are ideal for novice cave divers.

Gota Soraya is rated as possibly one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with overhangs and cracks in the reef wall full of glass fish and sweepers and an abundance of corals, Grey Reef, Silvertips and Hammerhead sharks.

MARINE PARK TOUR:                          

Brother Islands, Daedalus, Rocky, Zabargad and Elphinstone

The Brother Islands are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss and are located about 60 miles offshore. Part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving, with the walls being covered in soft corals and forests of gorgonians, creating a kaleidoscope of ever-changing colours. They attract a diverse array of marine species and large pelagics. Large tuna, Jacks and Snappers cruise in the blue, accompanied by occasional Hammerheads, Silvertips, Silky and Oceanic White Tip Sharks and Mantas. Even the rare Thresher Shark can be found here.  Sightings of the Grey Reef Shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.

For the wreck diver, the wrecks of the Aida II, an Egyptian supply vessel, and the Numidia, a cargo ship, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon Wrasse and Grey Reef Sharks.

Daedalus Reef, part of the Marine Park, is a large, oval reef with a lighthouse and is the furthest offshore reef in the Egyptian Red Sea. Its deep walls and drop-offs offer some of the most spectacular diving in the Red Sea. Daedalus has mountainous, pristine, hard coral formations. There is also a strong chance of spotting schooling Hammerheads, Grey Reef Sharks and Oceanic White Tip Sharks.

Further south are the spectacular overhangs and deep walls of Rocky Island and the abundance of soft coral and spectacular coral pinnacles at Zabargad.  St John's is a beautiful reef system which lies approx. 40km north of the Sudanese border and 20km South of Zabargad.  

Elphinstone Reef has sheer walls plunging steeply into the blue, decorated with soft corals, sponges gorgonians and fans. Sharks feed here on the abundant fish population and the southern plateau is home to Oceanic White Tip sharks. 

Note: Minimum of 50 logged dives required and no night dives permitted in the Marine Park area by Egyptian Law. These are challenging dives, with strong currents, so not for inexperienced divers. Long overnight sailing is required in order to meet the itinerary.  All the dive sites are subject to weather conditions.  Only two dives and one night dive are achievable on some days due to the travelling distance.

Brother Islands Safari

The Brother Islands (El Akhawein) are the pinnacles of two undersea mountains rising from the depths of the abyss 300m deep and are located about 60 miles offshore. Big Brother, which is easily identified with it's lighthouse, is about 100 metres across and 400 metres in length, with two extremities to the east and west. Little Brother lies about 800 metres east of Big Brother.

As part of the Marine Park Islands National Park, these islands offer stunning wall diving and a breath-taking display of colour with their rich variety of soft corals and gorgonians which cover the walls. You will find large and small fish here in abundance; tuna, barracuda, shoals of snappers and jack fish, as well a hammerheads, silky and oceanic white tip sharks, even the occasional thresher shark and manta ray. Sightings of the Grey Reef Shark are almost guaranteed on the North and South Plateaux of Small Brother.

For the wreck diver, the wrecks of the Aida II, an 82 m long Egyptian supply vessel that sank in 1957, and the Numidia, a cargo ship carrying locomotive spare parts to India, lie on the walls of the Big Brother. Both are covered in a rich growth of soft and hard corals. Marine life includes a family of Napoleon Wrasse and Grey Reef Sharks.

Note:
*It is not allowed to do night dives at the Brother Islands
*Minimum of 50 logged dives requested and no night dives permitted in the Marine Park area by Egyptian Law.  These are challenging dives with strong currents, so not for inexperienced divers.
*all dives sites are subject to weather conditions