Thanks to the location of our dive
centres, a few kilometres south of Hurghada, we have
access to more than 50 dive sites. The furthest north is
Abu Nuhas and its 4 wrecks, among which are the famous Ghiannis D and
the Carnatic. To the south, we travel as far as
Safaga to the wreck of the Salem Express, Panorama Reef
and Abu Kafan.
Our private marina is in front of the
diving centre and for landlubbers, our house reefs can
be easily accessed from the diver's jetty just 50 metres
away from the diving centre.
A Marine Park Fee is due on all boat trips to sites in the
Hurghada Marine Parks.
Gota Abu Ramada
East
Abu Ramada
South
Banana Reef
Gota El Elugh
Following are some of the dive sites we
visit, just to give you an idea of where you will be
diving.
On this page:
Banana Reef
Banana
reef is situated near the middle of the Giftun Straight.
It has a Y or banana shape depending on the point of
view and is surrounded by a sandy bottom to a maximum
depth of 15 metres. The
reef is sheltered but currents can be strong and the
visibility can be affected in shallow water.
The dive can be started
from either end of the reef but always towards
north as the south side of the reef is as interesting.
There are small caves on the shallow part of the east
side and is worth venturing away from the main reef to
find small ergs covered in soft coral.
This site
is home to gorgonian, soft coral, many banner fish and
plenty of small fish around the corals and gorgonian but
other fish include emperor angelfish, puffers, unicorns
and more.
El Fanadir
This dive
site is located north of Hurghada. It is a long reef (running north-south)
that drops down to a sandy plateau at around 12 metres.
This sandy plateau then goes slowly going much deeper. The
current is at maximum mild and always comes from the
north.
The best
dive here is a shallow one, following the sandy bottom next
to the reef and coming back along the reef at a
shallower depth. There is a particular small coral block
at 12 metres, at the north end of the dive with plenty
of colourful corals and sponges, glassfish and sometimes
a frogfish. The dive can also be started deeper along the
sandy slope, watching in the blue for bigger encounters.
This site
is particularly populated with pipefish, octopus,
lionfish on the reef and schools of tuna and jacks and
some other big elements in the blue if you are on a
lucky day.
The other names of this reef are Torfa El
Fanous or and Dolphin Reef. This reef is situated northwest
of Big Giftun Island. The reef is in a half-circle,
surrounded by a sandy lagoon that separates it from the
coral garden that starts around 10 metres depth.
The dive starts from the mooring points following the reef
edge and then crossing the few metres
of lagoon to reach the coral garden. The alternative
dive is a drift on the northeast side along the reef to
reach the coral garden that finishes at the mooring
points.
The coral garden has three very nice ergs
covered with soft coral and plenty of glassfish and
other small fish. Another highlight of the dive is the
gorgonian near the end of it. It is common to see
turtles or dolphins passing by, eagle rays, blue spotted
rays, jacks and barracuda.
This dive
is situated just the west side of El Fanous. The reef
has a narrow gap in the wall at 4 metres that leads to a lagoon
following the reef at 9 meters. South of the lagoon is a
coral garden at 12 to 14 metres. Boats moor along the
reef just before the gap.
When
currents are strong, a drift dive is also a good option,
starting north and following the reef to the mooring
points. The other options are to start crossing the
coral break and follow the reef or follow the south part
of the lagoon to the coral garden.
Dolphins
are frequently passing by in the afternoon. The reef and
the coral garden are rich with fish, octopus, moray eels,
butterfly fish, triggerfish and more. This is also home
to turtles.
This dive
site is located near Abu Ramada. There is a sandy plateau
at 18 metres leading to a drop off. But none of it is
of any real interest. The dive is actually on the 3 ergs standing on
the plateau with the biggest nearly reaching the
surface.
The area
is not protected by any nearby reef so current can
actually make this dive impossible but incredible when
it is mild or absent. It is obviously a very preserved
dive site with all kind of marine life to see. This site
is especially advised for underwater photographers.
Since current most often comes from the north, this is
the best side of the ergs. The best way to dive is
starting at the sandy bottom and circling the 3 blocks
while slowly coming up.
You can find there pretty much everything you can think
of, especially in terms of variety of corals, hard and
soft, sponges and all the different kinds of fish that live near
the coral. Big ones are there too.
Erg
Somaya is situated on the east side of Small Giftun
Island. The reef is a wall going down to a sandy plateau
at a depth between 15 and 24 metres followed by another
drop off going deeper than 50 metres.
Moorings
are along the wall and since there is generally a
current present,
the best option is a drift dive along the wall, possible
in either direction, finishing at the mooring points.
The sandy plateau has several big coral formations.
There are interesting caves at 25 to 30 metres along the
drop off, full of glassfish and their predators. The end of
the dive along the shallow part of the reef is worth
mentioning as well for its soft coral and gorgonians.
Encounters with white tip sharks are possible along the
drop off. This reef is home to turtles, Spanish dancers,
jackfish, barracuda, napoleons, moray eels, batfish,
groupers and more.
Abu
Ramada is a small island with a long plateau that starts
at its north tip at 15 metres depth and slowly slopes
down to around 25 metres, next to the drop off on the
east side.
Current
is generally strong coming from the north, calling for a
drift dive starting north and swimming down to the
plateau, then following the plateau and ending on the
east wall at the mooring point. There are moorings on
top of the plateau but they are only usable on rare
south wind days. There is a large coral block on the
plateau at about 15 metres depth. Another highlight of
the dive is a cave starting in around 30 metres that
comes up to 25 metres just before reaching the east drop
off at the border of the plateau.
This dive
is rather for big fish seekers than coral garden lovers.
It is even possible to encounter hammerhead sharks and
sailfish cruising around.
