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Red Sea Dive Sites
Sharm El-Sheikh - Ras Mohammed National Park - Strait of Tiran - Strait of Gubal
Sharm El-Sheikh Local Sites
Covers all the diving sites north and south of Naama Bay between the
Strait of Tiran and the town of Sharm el-Sheikh.
Starting off from Marina Travco - is southwest of Sharm el-Sheikh -, you can reach the seventeen diving sites -
called local because of their proximity to one another - after a boat ride that may take anywhere from 10 to 70
minutes.
North of Naama Bay, the modern name for the splendid bay originally called Marsa el-Aat, situated at the outlet
of the Wadi el-Aat, there are eight diving spots on a 7.5-mile strech of coast. Ras Ghamila, the farthest one,
lies almost directly opposite Gordon Reef; Ras Nasrani is on a level with the international airport; the others,
which follow a short distance from one another, are Ras Bob, White Knight, Shark Bay, Far Garden, Middle Garden
and Near Garden (which corresponds to the northern tip of Naama Bay).
South of Naama bay are nine diving points: Sodfa, Tower, Pinky Wall, Amphoras, Turtle Bay, Paradise, Ras Umm Sid,
Temple and Ras Katy. The last-mentioned site corresponds to the northern end of Sharm el-Maya bay.
Generally speaking, besides their vicinity to Naama Bay, the above diving sites have other features in common due
to their position, sheltered from waves and strong currents, and to the configuration of the fringing reef, which
has found an ideal ecosystem for its growth in this stretch of coast.
Diving here can be effected by divers at all levels and, in good conditions, you can observe many trpes of madrepores,
innumerable varieties of Alcyonarians and an almost complete range of reef fish, from the small Anthias to the
large Napoleonfish (Cheilinus undulatus), and from the multicoulered Butterflyfish to Parrotfish, Orange-striped
triggerfish and Surgeonfish. |
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Pinky Wall
Difficulty : 2
Current : up to 1
An impressive marine landscape that is unusual for the Sharm el-Sheikh diving sites.
Extraordinarily rich in multicoloured Alcyonarian corals.
Dive only when the sea is calm.
Be careful of your depth.
This is the first of a long series of diving sites between Tower and Ras Umm Sid. Strangely enough, despite the
sheer beauty of this wall dive site, which was named after the multitude of pink Alcyonarian corals, there are
very few guides who know Pinky Wall and take divers there. It is accessible from land, via the artifical beach
in the Reef Two tourist village about one kilometer south of Tower. If you arrive by boat you will have to make
a drift dive, since there is no mooring.
The configuration of the reef is quite different here from the other sites because the coral platform that generally
follows the shoreline is very narrow and the steep wall, which is mostly studded with soft Dendronephthya sp. Alcyonarians,
immediately plunges precipitously for a depth of more than 180 meters. You must dive by keeping the reef to your
left and at an average depth of about 15 meters, because this is where you will see the largest concentration of
soft Alcyonarian corals. Moving northeast you will note some majestic gullies in the steep vertical wall that follow
one another in sequence, giving the impression of organ pipes. If current conditions are favourable you can double
back with drift dive in the opposite direction and go as far as the Amphoras site. |
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Shark Bay
Difficulty : 1 to 2
Current : 1
A perfect place for beginners or inexperienced divers and for check dives.
You may see Manta rays, especially during the summer.
Very good night diving, when you can see many Gastropoda, Echinoderms, Lionfish and calamari.
The bay is often very crowded.
Because of widespread plankton the water is sometimes murky (especially in summer).
The sandy floor is not very clean in several points.
During your night dives you can observe the rare Conus textile cone shell.
Contrary to what one might expect, this bay is not frequented by sharks but only by crowds of tourists attracted
by the lovely sand beach that borders the entire bay. It seems that the name Shark Bay derives from the fact that
local fishermen once came here to unload the sharks they had caught.
At the northern part of the bay is the Shark Bay Resort, with a diving center and a first-rate restaurant featuring
fresh fish cooked in the traditional Bedouin manner. The southwestern side of the bay is occupied by the Pyramisa
Hotel and is open only to hotel guests. Shark Bay is easy to reach by car via a paved road.
There is an entrance fee at the Shark Bay Resort beach, from which you can dive directly into the water. Those
who want to dive from boats can moor at the shamandura in the bay. The classic dive runs through some large madreporic
formations that rise from the sandy floor - where you can see Crocodilefish, Scorpionfish, Torpedo rays and Stonefish
- and it ends at the deep sandy canyon for a depth of 30 meters, head west at 18 meters to explore a sandy plateau
and the reef ledge, which has a remarkable variety of stony and soft corals (Alcyonarians). |
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Tower
Difficulty : 1 to 2
Current : up to 2
A strikingly beautiful underwater landscape.
Rich in reef fauna, with many Parrotfish (Scarus sp. and Cetoscarus bicolor).
Various pelagic predator species.
A suitable site for snorkeling and night diving.
If you dive from the land make sure the tide is not low, because you may damage the reef.
Be careful of your depth in the canyon.
A depth of 5-20 meters is the most interesting for observing fauna.
Tower is a spectacular diving site characterized by a deep canyon whose walls descend vertically for over 120 meters.
It is accessible from the land, at the Tower Club tourist village.
The classic dive begins at the small beach in the bay by the large fossil coral tower the site was named after.
Diving from a boat is made easy because of a shamandura (mooring point).
If you dive from the shore, after having swum past the reef ledge that borders the bay and extends for a few dozen
meters, you will find yourself over the deep canyon, with ist crystal-clear waters. By keeping the reef to your
left and descending for 15 meters, you will soon reach the edge of a large, slightly inclined sandy plateau that
runs at a depth of 12-25 meters and that has some coral pinnacles. You return by doubling back on the same dive,
but this time swimming upwards at 12-5 meters to explore the crevices and caves, one of which has a school of Glassfish
(Parapriacanthus guentheri). Before resurfacing, you should explore the two interesting large caves at the beginning
of the canyon towards the beach, at about 5 meters'depth: they are populated by Lionfish, Glassfish, Bigeyes (Priacanthidae)
and Cube boxfish (Ostracion cubicus). By diving from a boat you also have the opportunity to make a drift dive
towards Sodfa. |
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Ras Mohammed National Park
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South of Sharm el-Sheikh the coast is totally deserted, with no shelter,
for more then a mile, up to the small bay named Marsa Ghazlani, where the Ras Mohammed National Park begins. This
is followed by another bay, Marsa Bareika, which is much larger and deeper.
It penetrates the land for 2.8 miles, forming the Ras Mohammed peninsula, which extends southeastwards into the
Red Sea for almost 5 miles and separates the gulf of Aqaba from the Gulf of Suez.
The eastern coast of the Ras Mohammed peninsula is composed of a tall fossil coral reef that is interrupted for
a few dozen meters by the only accessible beach in the area, Aqaba Beach, and ends at the Ras Mohammed Headland
- Mohammed`s Cape in Arabic, because it's profile is like the bearded one of the prophet. The rocky spur is about
50 meters high; on top of it is the Shark Observatory balcony.
On the southern side of the peninsula there are three beaches - Shark Observatory Beach, Main Beach and Yolanda
Beach - the sandy, shallow Hidden Bay, whose mouth is completely blocked by a long coral reef, and Mangrove Island,
an islet with a small beacon, seperated from the rest of the peninsula by the Mangrove Channel with ist numerous
mangroves (Avicenia marina). The western side of the peninsula is low and sandy, and ist sole attraction is the
only mooring, which is well sheltered, in the area on a level with the half-submerged remains of an old jetty known
as The Quay.
Because of ist geographic position the Ras Mohammed peninsula is a privileged area distinguished for the strong
massive currents that transport large quantities of plankton and other food that give rise to an extrordinary growth
of stony and soft corals and attract large schools of both reef and pelagic marine fauna.Given the great abundance
of food, barracuda, Jackfish, tuna, and sharks swarm in these waters, offering divers the chance to make extremely
interesting and exciting dives, especially from June to August. The classic diving sites begin at the southern
tip of Marsa Bareika, known as Ras Za'atar, and continue along the eastern coast with Jackfish Alley, Eel Garden
and Shark Observatory (also known as Ras Mohammed Wall), and at the southern end of the peninsula with Anemone
City, Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef. |
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Ras Za'atar
Difficulty : 2
Current : 1 to 2
A splendid wall covered with multicoloured Alcyonarians.
On a level with the chimney further north there is a spectacular landscape.
In the blue there are many schools of Jackfish and barracuda hunting for prey.
Keep at a depth of 15 meters to avoid missing the chimney.
The current may get stronger arround the cape.
This is the steep rocky promontory, 9.6 miles from Naama Bay and 5.9 miles fom Ras Umm Sid, that delimits the Marsa
Bareika inlet to the south and plunges almost vertically into the Red Sea. The lacl of a shamandura means you have
to make a drift dive that skirts the cape. This may be done in both directions, depending on the current; the most
frequent moves northeast, with the reef on your left. Since the most interesting part of the dive is around the
headland, it is important to start your dive past the large crevice that can be seen on the coastline. After descending
for 28-30 meters to observe some lovely gorgonians and colonies of black coral (Antipathes dichotoma), it is a
good idea to go up to about 15 meters' depth to investigate the reef wall, which is full of life and studded with
red and pink Alcyonarians. While there, do not miss the spectacular wide split (preceded by a similar but less
impressive one) that begins precisely at this depth and narrows towards the surface, becoming a true chimney. In
these recesses you will see the typical inhabitants of gullies and crevices such as Lionfish, Glassfish and some
large Malabar groupers (Epinephelus malabaricus) . Once past the tip of the wall, turn into Marsa Bareika Bay,
where there is a partly sandy slope with many coral pinnacles that create a coral garden frequented by a great
number of reef fish and even some sea turtles. |
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Shark
Observatory
Difficulty : 2
Current : 1 to 2
Superb marine landscape.
The chance to see large pelagic predators.
Check the direction of the current; it is better to dive when the tide is ebbing.
Stay at a depth of 15-20 meters and go up to 8-5 meters in the last phase of your dive.
The afternoon is ideal for obseving the spectacular effects of the light.
This name indicates not only the first balcony on the top of the Ras Mohammed promontory, but also the diving site
that is on a level with that promontory. This is a magnificent wall dive, also known as the Ras Mohammed Wall:
while looking down into the deep blue, you can admire a grandiose environment and at the same time see large pelagic
predators (even some Whale sharks have been seen in this area time and again). Although many divers today dive
before Shark Observatory Bay, the classic and more striking dive begins not far from the second balcony on the
cliff (A). After descending for about 15 meters you can explore the wall on your left, which is rich in Alcyonarians,
gullies, shelters and caves swarming with life, without losing sight of the blue, from which Jackfish, barracuda
and some sharks might suddenly appear. On a line with the southern corner of the promontory the wall takes a sharp
turn westwards and runs towards the small beach under the observatory:here you will see some large gorgonians (subergorgia
hicksoni) and, further up, a majestic overhang. Continue along the wall until you enter an extremely beautiful
cave that has a large fissure in its top through which light filters. From this opening you can exit onto the reef. |
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Strait of Tiran
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The strait of Tiran lies at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba and is
delimited to the west by the coast of Sinai and to the east by the island of Tiran. In the middle of this canal
are four coral reefs lying in a northeast-southwest direction that were named after the 19th -century English cartographers
who drew the first nautical map of this region - Jackson Reef, Woodhouse Reef, Thomas Reef and Gordon Reef. These
reefs divide this strait into two canals: to the east is the so-called Grafton Passage, which is used exclusively
by ships going northwards, while to the west is the Enterprise Passage for ships heading south. East of the island
of Tiran and the nearby island of Sanafir - both part of Saudi Arabia but granted to Egypt for military defence
- the configuration of the canal floor makes navigation impossible.
On a level with the strait of Tiran, the Gulf of Aqaba passes from an average width of 10-12 to 2.4 miles, while
the floor ranges from a depth of 1,270 meters to only 71 meters in Grafton Passage and 250 meters in Enterprise
Passage.
This particular configuration of the strait reduces deep water exchange between the Gulf of Aqaba and the rest
of the Red Sea on the one hand, causing an increase of salinity and temperature, while on the other hand it gives
rise to an increase in the speed of the tidal currents and the average height of the waves moved by the wind which,
chanelled by the tall montains of Sinai and Saudi Arabia, is in turn subject to acceleration. The peculiar topographical
arrangement of these reefs and the presence of prevailing winds coming rom the north, which are stronger in the
morning and calmer in the afternoon, means their western and northern sides (or outside) are much more exposed
to the action of the waves than the eastern and southern ones, which are inside and sheltered.
The strong currents characterizing the Strait of Tiran transport great quantities of plankton and other nutrient
material every day, thus supplying a great deal of food to the corals and hence to the reef fish, which in turn
are eaten by the large pelagic predators such as barracuda, jackfish, tuna and above all sharks, which are always
present in this zone. Consequently, scuba divers in the waters of Tiran are sure to see not only an infinite number
of corals but also rich fauna, both reef and pelagic. However, they must always be careful of the wind, tides and
currents here, which will condition the time, place and type of dive. |
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Komoran Wreck
Difficulty : 1
Current : 1 to 2
The only dive onto a wreck suitable for OW divers.
The wreck is easy to reach and spot.
Some parts of the ship are really well preserved.
Interesting views for photography buffs.
Dives must be made in a calm sea, preferably in the afternoon.
In August 1984 the Kormoran, built in 1963 in the Rostock shipyards (Germany), was coming from Aqaba with a cargo
of phosphate when an error in navigation caused it to hit the reef bordering the island of Tiran (Laguna Reef).
The impact was tremendous and the vessel, which at the time had been renamed Zingara and was part of the fleet
of an Italian shipping company, the Compagnia Montemare di Navigazione, lost almost all of its bow, two large cracks
opened on its left side and the superstructure was irreparably damaged. Now scuba divers at Sharm el-Sheikh can
enjoy the new and interesting experience of going to see the wreck, which is still relatively unknown. A few minutes
from the North Laguna beacon, lying on the bottom at a rather shallow depth, the Kormoran, which is about 80 meters
long, is easy to find because its stirn is partly above the surface. There is no difficulty in diving here, but
it must be done when the sea is calm to ensure good visibility. The best conditions for a dive are usually in the
afternoon, when the tide changes and the current is at its slowest. The stirn, propeller, motor, rudder and winch
on the deck are well preserved and the name of the ship on the bow side still clearly legible. |
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Thomas Reef
Difficulty : 3
Current : 1 to 3
An extraordinary, grandiose marine environment.
You may come upon an exceptional array of fauna, with large pelagic fish, especially the Whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon
obesus).
Diving here is only for experienced divers because of the possibility of strong currents.
In general the morning is the best time for diving.
Avoid venturing far into the canyon.
This reef is one of the most spectacular diving sites in the northern Red Sea. The lack of mooring points makes
drift diving necessary: The southern corner of the reef is the classic starting point for your underwater itinerary,
which continues along the eastern side where the wall, rich in multicoloured coral, descends to a sandy plateau
that begins at a depth of about 25 meters and has a slight incline. Here you can see large Alcyonarians (Dendronephthya
sp.), impressive gorgonians and colonies of black coral, among which are the striking large Antipatharians with
their characteristic spiral shape. At a depth of 35 meters a splendid and extremely deep canyon opens out, running
parallel to the reef and crossed by a series of impressive arches.
At the northeastern corner of the reef you may come upon a very strong countercurrent. If you can get past this
point and conditions are favourable, you can go around the entire reef. This will allow you to explore the northern
wall, which has some nice shelters and splits, and the western one, where you will see many crevices and caves,
lovely gorgonians and a wealth of fauna consisting of sea turtles, reef fish (anglefish, groupers, Surgeonfish)
and pelagic fish (tuna, barracuda, etc.). |
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Strait of Gubal
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The Strait of Gubal connects the Gulf of Suez and the Red Sea and is bordered to the west by the Egyptian coast
and to the east by the Sinai peninsula. The Gulf of Suez is much shallower than the Gulf of Aqaba because of its
different geological origin; its average depth is about 80 metres.
The canal through which ships pass into the Strait of Gubal - which is much wider than the Strait of Tiran - is
flanked to the northeast by two outcrops called Beacon Rock and Shag Rock, both of which have beacons as well as
the wrecks of the Dunraven and the Sara H. respectively. To the southwest the canal is delimited by the southern
tip of the Shadwan Island (also known as Shaker Island on British maps), which also has a beacon, situated 15.2
miles from the one on Beacon Rock.
The southeastern section of the strait is characterized by the presence of two massive, half-outcropping coral
formations (called sha'ab in Arabic) that create a coral reef inside which there are shallow lagoons with sand
floors.
On a level with the western side of the Ras Mohammed peninsula is Sha'ab Mahmud, about 6 miles long and 2.7 miles
wide, delimited to the north and south by two smaller sha'abs called Sha'ab Surur and Sha'ab el-Utat. Sha'ab Mahmud
consists of a coral reef oriented in a northwest-southeast direction, cut through on its western side by two channels,
Small Crack and Big Crack, and completely open on its southern side. This vast lagoon is navigable and is usually
used by the boats going to the diving sites in the Gubal region - which enter and exit via Big Crack or Big Passage,
because it is well sheltered from the waves. |
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Dunraven Wreck (Beacon Rock)
Difficulty : 2
Current : 1 to 2
The wreck is much less crowded than the Thistlegorm.
There is a splendid, virtually intact coral garden on the outer slope of the reef above the bow.
Rich in stable populations of groupers, Scorpionfish, Crocodilefish, Alcyonarians and sponges.
Dive when the sea is calm and the weather is good.
There is often a current moving north.
Even though visibility may be fairly good, it is advisable to have a torch.
This is a small semi-outcropping reef situated 6.9 miles west of Ras Mohammed, with a small beacon indicating the
southern tip of Sha'ab Mahmud. In1876 this was the site of the shipwreck of the British steamer mechant ship Dunraven,
built in Newcastle in 1873 by Mitchell & Co.and bound for Bombay.
The wreck lies upside down at 15-29.5 meters'depth, in two pieces; it was discovered only in 1977 by geologist
Arye Keller and underwater cameraman Howard Rosenstein.
The Dunraven was the subject of a memorable BBC documentary fim in 1979 and has become a classic site for scuba
divers. Since the cargo (timber and bales of cotton) was lost during the shipwreck, when the ship also caught on
fire, the wreck looks like a large, practically empty cave. You can access through the three main openings at the
stern, midship and the bow. The dive begins from the stern area, where the wreck lies deepest and where you can
see some Crocodilefish. After going a few dozen meters inside the hull - populated by large groupers, Lionfish,
Scorpionfish and swarms of Glassfish and multicoloured Alcyonarians - is it best to exit through the midship opening
on a line with the engine room, so that you can explore the outside of the bow area and above all the nearby coral
garden filled with organisms. |
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Alternatives & Stingray Station
Difficulty : 1 to 2
Current : 1 to 2
A sheltered site offering a safe stay.
An abundance of marine life, especially groupers and many genera of corals.
Offers you the chance to see Leopard sharks.
It is better not to make dives if the sea is rough and visibility is poor.
Night diving can be effected only in optimal conditions; make sure to bring two torches with you.
Three miles west of Ras Mohammed, a series of outcropping coral pinnacles extends eastwest for about a mile and
a half on the southern edge of Sha'ab el-Utat, flanking a large sandy lagoon with an average depth of about ten
metres. Local fishermen call this site Saba Erg (the Seven Pinnacles), while divers have renamed it Alternatives
because, as it is so well-sheltered, it offers the opportunity to make alternative dives when conditions in the
open sea are prohibitive. The classic dive goes around the two middle pinnacles, which are on a line with a fixed
mooring. Due to its position this site has tidal currents that greatly influence visibility, which can be quite
poor when the current comes from the south, especially if accompanied by wind and waves. If, on the other hand,
the sea is calm and the current is either lacking or is coming from the north, you can enjoy Alternatives, which
does not offer much as to underwater landscape but is swarming with fauna. Here you can see large groupers (Epinephelus
malabaricus, E. tauvina), Bluespotted stingrays (taeniura lymma), calamari, Nudibranchia and many genera of corals,
while the deeper water is the home of Leopard sharks.
The northwestern part of Alternatives, consisting of a large, roughly quadrangular outcrop, is known as Stingray
Station because many Bluespotted stingrays gather here, particulary in the spring months. |
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| All of the above divesites were furnished by Diving Centers Werner Lau |
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