of the Red Sea
The Red Sea is a diver’s paradise, renowned for its crystal-clear waters, vibrant coral reefs, and abundant marine life. From the moment you dive in, you’ll be captivated by the breathtaking beauty that lies beneath the surface. Whether you’re an experienced diver seeking thrilling adventures or a beginner eager to explore this underwater wonderland, the Red Sea offers something for everyone. Join us as we unveil the secrets of this aquatic oasis and embark on an unforgettable diving experience.
BEGINNER DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 18 METERS
Situated at the center of a wide bay approximately 90 minutes south of Hurghada, Abu Hashish Island features a prominent tongue of reef extending roughly 1 kilometer southward. The dive site is located at the southernmost tip of this formation.
The topography consists of a shelf ranging from 15 to 22 meters in depth, beyond which lies a steep yet minimalist drop-off characterized by exceptional visibility.
The interior section of the reef tongue contains numerous elongated reef formations known as ergs. Historically, this island served as a strategic point for contraband activities, though it now functions exclusively as a diving destination.
Sea Conditions
Access to this site from Hurghada can be limited due to challenging sea conditions, despite the site itself offering good protection. The current flows predominantly in a north-to-south direction, with maximum intensity observed along the drop-off area.
Dive Plan
Begin by navigating through a distinctive channel adorned with table corals. Proceed across the shelf to reach the drop-off, following its northern trajectory. Explore the impressive cave formations located at approximately 30 meters depth. Complete the dive by traversing back along the shelf’s interior before concluding in the lagoon area, characterized by its distinctive ergs.
Marine Life
The drop-off zone features diverse pelagic species including jacks, barracuda, Spanish mackerel, whitetip reef sharks, and occasional appearances of hammerhead sharks and feathertail rays.
The shelf area hosts an array of marine life including sea turtles, blue spotted rays, Spanish dancers, moray eels, and lunar tail and leopard groupers. The lagoon environment supports populations of squid and schools of juvenile barracuda.
BEGINNER DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 18 METERS
Located approximately 90 minutes south of Hurghada along the coastline lies an expansive bay featuring Abu Hashish Island at its center. The bay is bordered to the north by the prominent Ras Disha headland.
The underwater topography consists of a shallow sandy plateau extending past a navigation beacon, with a significant drop-off to the north. The site’s main attractions are three ergonomic reef formations to the south, offering exceptional diving opportunities.
Sea Conditions – The site offers excellent protection from waves and currents, with predominant northern water movement providing stable diving conditions.
Dive Plan – While the main reef has experienced significant degradation, the site’s primary attractions are the surrounding ergs. These impressive formations ascend from a sandy bed at 10-12 meters depth, with the northernmost erg featuring an expansive cavern populated by dense schools of glassfish.
Marine Life – The site hosts diverse marine ecosystems. The ergs attract various predatory species hunting glassfish, including jacks, lionfish, and redmouth groupers. The sandy substrate supports an exceptionally rich benthic community featuring crocodile fish, flatfish, stonefish, spiny devilfish, blue spotted rays, and sea moths.
A resident grey reef shark occasionally visits the northern wall, while the sandy plateau and inter-erg spaces serve as nursery grounds for juvenile barracuda schools.
ADVANCED DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 25 METERS
Situated approximately one hour northeast of Hurghada, this remarkable dive site features a mid-sea reef plateau ascending from the depths. The plateau primarily ranges from 12-25 meters, with a gentle slope extending to 22-24 meters at its perimeter before descending dramatically.
The site is distinguished by two prominent ergs – a larger formation to the northwest and a smaller one to the southeast. These structures are enveloped by an extensive coral ecosystem teeming with diverse marine life.
Sea Conditions – The dive site’s exposed ergs provide minimal protection from oceanic conditions, which has inadvertently preserved its pristine state by limiting regular access. Water currents exhibit complex patterns, maintaining a consistent northerly flow at the surface while demonstrating variable directionality at depth.
Dive Plan – Two distinct diving routes are recommended. Option one involves entry at the northern ergs, proceeding southward along the eastern drop-off to conclude at the southern erg. Option two begins at the mooring points, allowing comprehensive exploration of the plateau’s dual aspects while executing a figure-8 pattern around the ergs.
Marine Life – The site hosts an exceptional diversity of marine species. The plateau features frequent sightings of free-swimming moray eels, whitetip reef sharks, sea turtles, and a resident school of bannerfish to the north.
The drop-off zone regularly attracts pelagic species including tuna, giant trevally, substantial groupers, and hammerhead sharks, particularly during early morning hours.
BEGINNER DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 30 METERS
Situated along the southeast coast of Abu Ramada, approximately 80 minutes from Hurghada, this dive site features an expansive sandy plateau that extends eastward.
The site is characterized by three prominent underwater pinnacles (ergs) that ascend from an 18-meter depth to near the water’s surface.
These formations are arranged in a linear configuration, with the largest pinnacle positioned southward and progressively smaller ones extending northward.
Sea Conditions – This site presents significant diving challenges due to its exposed location. However, this limited accessibility has preserved its pristine condition and natural beauty.
The currents here are exceptionally strong, exceeding typical classifications. While conditions are frequently intense, the site occasionally experiences periods of remarkable tranquility, offering ideal diving conditions.
Dive Plan – For optimal air consumption, avoid the eastern drop-off (30m) and instead focus on exploring the three ergs in ascending depth patterns. Key features include the small caves on the eastern face of the largest erg and the northern aspect of the middle formation.
The northern sides showcase vibrant purple soft coral formations, sustained by the prevailing currents. The shallow areas exhibit particularly rich marine ecosystems, making this location especially appealing for underwater photography.
Marine Life – The site boasts an extraordinarily diverse ecosystem including prominent species such as moray eels, Napoleon wrasse, tuna, barracuda, schools of unicornfish, groupers, and vast swarms of anthias.
The biodiversity here is so extensive that documenting absent species would be more concise than listing those present.
BEGINNER DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 15 METERS
Affectionately known as “The Aquarium,” this pristine dive site is situated 50-90 minutes from Hurghada, varying by departure point. The site features a distinctive elliptical reef structure encompassed by a sandy bed at depths of 12-15 meters.
The topography is characterized by two substantial ergs to the western side, while the eastern sector showcases three prominent pinnacles complemented by a vibrant coral garden.
Sea Conditions – The dive site typically experiences calm water conditions, with minimal surface disturbance. Occasional gentle swells may be encountered around the eastern and western reef corners.
A bifurcated current pattern emerges at the northern reef section, with noticeable water movement primarily concentrated at the reef extremities.
Dive Plan – The eastern region provides exceptional photographic opportunities, featuring an abundance of yellow fish species inhabiting the intricate network of gullies and grottos characteristic of this area. Approximately 15-20 meters southeast, three distinct pinnacles host diverse marine ecosystems.
The western extremity features two prominent ergs positioned 20 meters from the main reef, showcasing vibrant soft coral formations, gorgonian fans, and dense fish populations.
Marine Life – The reef system supports a rich biodiversity, with particularly concentrated marine activity along the western sector. Common species include various yellow fish varieties, bannerfish, bluecheek and masked butterflies, yellow snappers, goatfish, and sweetlips.
Larger marine species such as moray eels, jacks, sea turtles, and crocodile fish maintain regular presence. Occasional visitors include eagle rays and leopard sharks. Note: Exercise caution during September when Titan triggerfish exhibit territorial behavior while protecting their nesting sites.
ADVANCED DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 32 METERS
Located just east of Hurghada harbor, El Mina is an Egyptian minesweeper vessel that was sunk in 1969 during a military engagement with Israeli aircraft. The wreck rests on a sloping rocky seabed, with the bow at 25 meters and the stern at 32 meters depth. The vessel lies on its port side along a northwest-southeast axis.
While some have suggested renaming it “The Israeli Torpedo Boat,” this designation is inaccurate given the deployed starboard anchor and extended chain – positioning inconsistent with combat operations. Additionally, the vessel lacks any torpedo launching mechanisms or related weaponry.
Sea Conditions
The site maintains consistently calm conditions, serving as an excellent alternative diving location during inclement weather when Abu Nuhas wrecks are inaccessible. While strong northerly currents are common, the ship’s structure provides adequate shelter. Underwater visibility ranges from limited to significantly reduced.
Dive Plan
The wreck, measuring approximately 60-70 meters in length, allows for a methodical exploration. The stern section features an array of well-preserved winches and anti-aircraft armaments, while the forward deck’s artillery has been damaged.
The blast-hole section permits controlled penetration, though other areas should be avoided for safety. Exercise caution around the numerous unexploded ordnance scattered across the seabed.
Marine Life
Despite minimal fish populations, the wreck exhibits notable coral encrustation. The blast-hole hosts substantial schools of glassfish seeking refuge from predatory jackfish. A solitary anemone exists in this area, hosting a resident clownfish that warrants respectful observation due to frequent diver interactions.
For marine life observation, explore the anchor flukes (excluding the deployed anchor), where black urchin colonies provide habitat for various cleaner shrimp species.
BEGINNER DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 27 METERS
Fanous East, also known as Torfa el Fanous (reef with a beacon), Dolphin Reef, or Dolphin’s Playground, is a distinctive dive site characterized by a narrow reef formation encircling a spacious lagoon northwest of Giftun Kebir. The site features a wide channel on its eastern boundary that separates the reef from the mainland.
The reef slopes showcase a vibrant coral garden complemented by three striking pinnacles. The site is conveniently accessible within a 45-60 minute boat journey from the departure point.
Sea Conditions – The lagoon maintains consistently calm conditions, while the northern reef face experiences more exposed conditions.
A notable current bifurcates at the outer (northern) reef, flowing both eastward and westward, enabling convenient drift dives from the beacon back through the channel.
Dive Plan – Begin the dive at 15 meters depth, exploring Erg ‘A’, proceeding through the vibrant coral garden, and continuing to Erg ‘B’ (known for its resident glassfish population). Conclude by examining the Gorgonian colonies along the corner before returning.
Marine Life – The site regularly hosts pods of 5-6 dolphins during dives. The resident marine life includes turtles, bluespotted rays, eagle rays, jacks, and barracuda.
What distinguishes this location are the unique species present, including the pegasus (sea moth) inhabiting the sandy bottom, occasional frogfish sightings, and the elusive stargazer.
BEGINNER DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 14 M
Situated on the western extremity of the Fanous reef system, this dive site features a distinctive narrow channel “fossma” that penetrates the reef wall, leading to an exterior lagoon at 9 meters depth.
The site encompasses a diverse coral garden extending to 12-14 meters, characterized by two prominent ergs and multiple satellite coral formations scattered throughout the surrounding area.
Sea Conditions – Vessels can safely moor within the fossma’s protected waters under all weather conditions. The sheltered Fanous lagoon provides a secure anchoring point while divers explore the exterior reef.
Currents predominantly affect the outer wall, flowing northeast to southwest. During periods of strong current, the recommended approach is to conduct a drift dive, beginning north of the ergs and utilizing the current to return to the moored vessel.
Dive Plan – For non-drift dives, proceed through the fossma (4m depth). The lagoon area (9m) offers minimal points of interest, so proceed directly to the decision point at the corner. Here, divers may either continue along the main reef heading northeast or venture straight outward.
A distinctive coral formation approximately 20m ahead serves as a navigation reference to the main erg (50m distance). The north section features the most notable attractions, while two substantial pinnacles extend southward.
Marine Life – The site hosts abundant reef fish populations including Picasso triggerfish, painted triggerfish, various species of moray eels (including snowflake varieties), octopuses, squid, butterflyfish, and sea turtles.
Dolphin pods frequently traverse the area during afternoon hours, maintaining a consistent north-to-south migration pattern.
BEGINNER DIVE SITE | MAX DEPTH: 25 M
Located approximately 80 minutes from central Hurghada, adjacent to the Small Giftun police station, this premier diving location offers an exceptional drift diving experience.
The site features a majestic wall adorned with gorgonian coral formations that seamlessly transitions into an expansive plateau and drop-off. The plateau extends between 15 and 25 meters in depth, while the impressive wall descends into the depths beyond visible range.
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Overall, it appears to be a diverse dive site suitable for different experience levels, with rich marine life and varying conditions that require attention to safety.
ADVANCED WRECK DIVE | MAX DEPTH: 30 METERS
Located at coordinates 26° 38.38′ N 34° 03.67′ E, the Salem Express wreck site lies approximately 90 minutes south of Safaga, adjacent to Shaab Shehr.
This passenger vessel met her fate on December 15th, 1991, when she collided with Hyndman reef, sustaining catastrophic hull damage. The vessel, measuring 110 meters in length and 18 meters in width, now rests at varying depths between 12 and 33 meters below the surface.
Sea Conditions: This dive site is fully exposed to weather conditions with consistently strong currents present. Exercise extreme caution.
Dive Plan: The Salem Express wreck lies on her starboard side at 30 meters depth. The recommended dive route begins at the stern, where two well-preserved propellers and rudders can be observed. Proceeding along the hull, divers will encounter lifeboats still attached to their davits.
The vessel’s prominent funnels display the distinctive “S” emblem. At the bow section, there is extensive damage from the reef collision, with the bow door visibly displaced.
Due to this being a maritime memorial site, many dive operators decline to conduct dives here and wreck penetration is strictly prohibited. This location demands the utmost respect as a final resting place.
Marine Life: The wreck exhibits minimal marine life activity. Occasional sightings include groupers, lionfish, crocodile fish, and surgeonfish. Initial hard coral colonization has commenced in some areas, though growth remains limited.
