The best Dive Sites the Red Sea has to offer

From northern wrecks to southern drop-offs

Kimon M

Drove hard onto the northeast cost corner of Shaab Abu Nuhas reef in 1978 with about 4, 5 tones of lentils on board.

Chrisoula K

In late August 1981, the Chrisoula K got underway from Italy with a cargo of floor tiles destined for Saudi Arabia. The ship, under the command of Captain Kanellis, made safe passage across the Mediterranean Sea, One source states that Captain was on the bridge for the entire passage from Italy up to this point and then turned the helm over to another officer in order to retire for some well-earned rest. True or not, the ship continued on its passage south, steaming at full speed, when it struck the northeast corner of Abu Nuhas.
There was apparently enough damage to the hull of the ship that it was considered a total constructive loss. The 21-man crew was picked up by the Egyptian Navy based at Hurghada and delivered to Suez shortly afterwards. The ship soon began to take on water and, with her bow firmly embedded in the reef, began to sink by the stern. Eventually she settled on the bottom at the base of the reef in 20-30 meters of water.

Carnatic

A British P&O steamer which struck the reef of Abu Nuhas in September 1869 and sank the next day as the weather worsened.
Penetration into the holds is easy for any level of diver.

Giannis D

Hit the northwest corner of Shaab Abu Nuhas at full speed with its cargo of timber in April 1983 and lies next the coral reef.
The entire wreck can be seen from the surface because of the good visibility.

Salem Express

Ferry, who was returning from Saudi Arabia, sank in 1991 after hitting the reef during the night. 300 victims perished.

Ras Mohammed

Seyoul Kebir

This site extends East and West around the island of Seyoul Kebir. The reef has an extremely varied profile.
Another name - SIYUL KEBIRA

Gubal

Entry takes you straight to a sand eel garden, which you must approach with care in order to prevent the eels hiding under the sand. There is a lot of life here including thousands of tiny fish in the water near the reef, octopus, clownfish, parrotfish, and butterfly fish.

Blind Reef / Shaabruhr Seyoul

Shaabruhr Seyoul is an elongated oval-shaped reef located to the southwest of Shaab Abu Nuhas.
It has become commonly known as Blind Reef due to its location (totally below the surface).

Panorama reef

Huge coral formations with wall dropping to over 200m. Panorama is also the home of Anemone city, ranging from 14m up to 5m, ideal for your safety stop.

Abu Kifan

A 300m long and narrow barrier features a “plateau” in both north and south extremes. Superb wall diving dropping off to over 300m with overhangs covered in soft and black coral and giant gorgonians.

Shaab Samadaï

A horseshoe shaped reef creates a shallow turquoise water lagoon where a large school of spinner dolphins can often be seen. Several dive spots can be found.

Elphinstone

This long finger like reef runs from north to south in the open Red Sea. Steep walls drop to the depths on the reef’s east and west sides, while the north and south ends of the reefs are marked by submerged plateau. Sharks often swim by the spot to feed on the abundant reef fish population.

St Johns

This massive reef system is located furthest south, 10 miles from the Sudanese border. There are dozens of excellent dives. Its reefs rise up from a gigantic underwater plateau hidden in the inky blue water.

Dolphin Reef

A horseshoe shaped reef creates a shallow turquoise water lagoon where a large school of spinner dolphins can often be seen. Several dive spots can be found.

Wadi Gimal

White Rock

Zabargad

This site lies on the south side of Zabargad Island, the only large island in this stretch of the Red Sea. It is commonly used as a base for exploring nearby Rocky Island, so it is a popular overnight stop for live-aboards, which take advantage of its excellent shelter. Zabargad offers an excellent range of reef features in relatively shallow water.

Rocky Island

With a profile ranging from inshore coral playgrounds to sheer walls and open plateau exposed to raging currents and a range of inhabitants from glittering tiny reef fish to massive hammerhead sharks, this site promises an amazing dive, and almost always delivers.

SS Thistlegorm

The Thistlegorm, on the west coast of the Sinai Peninsula and 40 km from Sharm El Sheikh, is the best known and most popular wreck dive in the Red Sea. The 125m long British army freighter sank after just 18 months of her launch in April 1940. Her last voyage commenced on the 2nd of June 1941 as she sailed to Alexandria and was loaded with wartime supplies during World War II. A long list of inventory includes tanks, aircraft, armored vehicles, Jeeps and Bedford trucks.
In spite of being privately owned and operated, the HMS Thistlegorm was nevertheless fitted with a 4" anti-aircraft gun and a heavy caliber machine gun when she was drafted for war duty
But it was never to be. In the early hours of 6th October 1941 the Thistlegorm was split in 2 and sank almost instantly after being hit by 2 bombs from a German long range bomber. The hit only blew a hole in the port side of Hold no. 5 but then cargo tank ammunition ignited, causing the bulk of the damage.

Manta Point

Manta point, which is part of the Shaab El Erg reef, in the north part of Hurghada, is located at the north side of the main reef close to a lighthouse.

Lighthous Shaab Elerg South

Southeast side of Shaab Elerg. The reef wall drops to about 17m and then there is a slope to 30m.

Saab Elerg South

The whole area teems with life, unicorns, scorpion fish, groupers, morays, emperor angel fish, blue spotted rays underneath the table corals

Shaab Mary

Reef with a shallow, flat and sandy seabed surrounding it.
Huge amount of corals and shells . Hard coral garden

Umm Gamar South

This site lies off the island of Umm Gamar, or "mother of the moon" in Arabic. 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 east and west side have awesome drift dives and the northern tip has a magnificent coral garden but is only accessible in very good weathe

Halg Umm Gamar

This site lies off the island of Umm Gamar, or "mother of the moon" in Arabic. Good dive site for deep dive . It has nice drop off and reef wall.

Umm Gamar North West

Good dive site for deep dive

Umm Gamar North

Strong current coming from the north splitting to the west and east sides. Platform with a drop off on the east side while the west side is slowly going down.

Shabruhr Umm Gamar south

This reef is the tip of an undersea mountain.
The wall drop to 15m on the west side with many small caves. On the southeast lies the wreck of a small Egyptian patrol boat at around 25m depth.

Shabrur Umm Gamar North

Deep drop off looks like a big wall. Strong current often.

Carless Reef

Carless Reef is the most famous coral shoal in the coastal area of Hurghada. This dive site is situated one hour of Hurghada, it is a mid sea reef plateau pushing up from the Abyss.
The reef itself centers on two peaks or pinnacles which brush the surface in an otherwise open sea. The valley between these pinnacles is about 12 m deep, and offers a wide range of dive possibilities for those not interested in deep diving. A few meters east of the saddle, a steep wall drops well beyond 40m, with a contoured profile offering many caves and coverlets for the more experienced diver. Large gorgonians, pushing black corals, coral fish and moray eels (large population of semi-tame moray eels), and some white tip sharks.

El Fanous East

East side = Two main ergs and several smaller pinnacles

El Fanous West

West side = Narrow reef who creates a huge calm lagoon

Turtle Bay

This is a not so well known dive site off the north tip of Grand Giftun island. It's a small horseshoe reef with a shallow swim through to a bowel reef that is absolutely filled with fish and coral

El Fanous South West

Reef with a shallow, flat and sandy seabed surrounding it. Huge amount of marine life.

El Fanadir North

One of the most wonderful diving sites in Hurghada and where you can make all kind of dives (draft – deep – beginner dives). Many dive spots possible!

El Fanadir South

One of the most wonderful diving sites in Hurghada and where you can make all kind of dives (draft – deep – beginner dives). Many dive spots possible!

Gotat Abu Galawa North

Big reef and several smaller pinnacles. Strong current often.

Gotat Abu Galawa

Reef with a sandy bottom from a side and rocks ( Corals Pinnacles ) mountains from the other.
You can find some ergs outside the reef.

Marsa Abu Galawa

A huge reef with plenty of life. Big chance to see seahorse in the sea grass.

Elfasmah

A huge calm lagoon, 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.

Elshabha Elsouryrh

Small reef and several smaller pinnacles.

Anchor Abu Galawa

Dive site with some pinnacles where you can find a large ship anchor and its chain.

Elsakhwa

Shallow dive with coral garden and plenty of marine life.

Abu Nugar

This “T” shaped reef has a shallow plateau to the west with many small ergs and two small sub reefs.

Gottat Abu Nugar North

Reef with a shallow, flat and sandy seabed surrounding it.
Huge amount of marine life.

Shaab Iris

Part of the Abu Nugar , this is a sand bottom with scattered coral heads. Very interesting for seeing little fish and branches since there is enough sand that you can ground yourself withoug worrying about hitting the coral here.

Gotat Abu Nugar South

El Mina

The El Mina was bombed by the Israelis in 1969 in Hurghada bay, but still has a sister ship afloat nearby which is worth looking at to compare to what you are about to dive. The wreck now lies on its side and there are a lot of small holes to peer into and penetration is possible, although tight, through a significant amount of the wreck. Sea urchins are abundant on the wreck and a very large moray was found living in one of the holes. An interesting dive.

Hassabala

fishing boat laying down next to El Mina wreck. Length 23m, distance between El Mina wreck and Hassabala wreck 30m

Habat Alla

In November 2004 the Hebat Allah was ready to be sunk in the area between Giftun Island and Gota Abu Ramada. The intention was to send it to the bottom in a depth of 30m, in order to allow the access to recreational divers of nearly all levels. However, the right point was missed and finally it ended up in a depth of 46m, therefore more suitable for technical diving.

Hamda (Stone Beach)

Northeast side of big Giftun Island. The reef wall drops to about 12m and then there is a slope to the top of the drop off at about 40m.

Shaab Sabina

Ben El Gebal means “between the mountains” in Arabic. Situated between the Big and the Small Giftun you can explore 4 famous dive spots named: Shaab Sabina, Shaab Torfa, Banana reef and Erg Sabina.

Shaab Torfa, Banana reef and Erg Sabina.

Small Giftun

With the current carrying you, this dive is a relaxing exploration along a magnificent wall.
This dive leads you to a sandy plateau dotted with numerous coral formations.

Abu Ramada South

The south end has a shallow plateau where the moorings are positioned, this location is the most used.

Gotat Abu Ramada East

Reef with a shallow, flat and sandy seabed surrounding it.
Huge amount of marine life.
3 ergs with an abundance of hard and soft corals.

Gotat Abu Ramada West

Reef with a shallow, flat and sandy seabed surrounding it.
Huge amount of marine life..
2 big ergs, sea garden with a lot of fire corals.

Aruk Gotat Abu Ramada

ergs laying in the water, sometimes swept by a strong current, It is easy to get lost here so count the ergs and take your compass along.

Brother`s Island

The Brothers are a pair of tiny Islands: actually they are the exposed tips of two massive reef pillars that rise from the abyssal depth. Good chance to see sharks.
A - Big Brother: The larger of the two, is easily identified by its Victorian stone lighthouse, a legacy British rule. Many dive locations possible.
B – Small Brother: Small Brother is inferior in size only. Like Big Brother, this site attracts numerous sharks, including grey reefs, hammerheads, tigers and even the ominous oceanic white tip.