Red Sea Governorate

Hurghada 2

Egypt



By boat less than an hour from Hurghada.

Petra is also known as Shaab Petra.

Petra



By boat from Hurghada. An extension of the Umm Gamar Reef, this reef starts about 1 kilometer south of Umm Gamar, it is the top of an underwater mountain.

Shabrur Umm Gamar is also known as Shabrur Oum Gamar.

Shabrur Umm Gamar

This offshore Island is surrounded by good diving on all sides. 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 plateau is home to Napoleons, Emperor Angels and free swimming Morays. The east and west side have awesome drift dives and the northern tip or "halg" has a magnificent coral garden but is only accessible in very good weather. Big groupers and lots of sweepers live in the multiple caves found along the eastern and western walls and drop offs of this tiny island's fringing reef.


By Boat from Hurghada or El Gouna.

Umm Gamar is also known as Sha'ab Umm Gammar, Umm Gammar.

Umm Gamar

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 centres on two peaks or pinnacles which brush the surface in an otherwise open sea. The valley between these pinnacles is about 16m deep, and offers a wide range of dive possibilities for those not interested in deep diving. A few metres east of the saddle, a steep wall drops well beyond 40m, with a contoured profile offering many caves and cavelets 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.

Careless reef is located 3 miles NNE from Giftun El Kebir island, south of Shaab Umm Qamar.

Carless Reef is also known as Careless Reef.

Carless Reef

Part of the Abu Nugar complex, and west of Umm Gamar, 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.

By boat from Hurghada

Sha'ab Iris is also known as Iris, Shaab Iris.

Sha'ab Iris

Abu Nugar is a big reef system in north Hurghada. Very nice hard coral (one of the best for coral in Hurghada) but not so much fish. Shallow and quit easy, visibility sometimes bad. 

North from Hurghada

Gota Abu Nugar North is also known as Erg Iris, Gota Abu Nugar.

Gota Abu Nugar North

The reef has beautiful hard coral, especially in the tunel between the main reef and Gota Shaab El Erg. Nice coraltowers in north and a tongue on the west side. Best thing on this reef is the dolphins. Especially calm days with warm weather, dolphins is almost sure to pass by. If there is not too much people and they do not chase the dolphins, the dolphins swim to you. I have spent a lot of time swimming with dolphins here. 

Shaab El Erg is a reef between Hurghada and El Gouna. Boats from El Gouna comes here very often, boats from north Hurghada quite often. It is also a stop on any northern liveaboard trip.

Dolphin House is also known as Shaab El Erg.

Dolphin House



Abu Nugar reef, north of Hurghada. Access from Hurghada or El Gouna.

Erg Abu Nugar

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.  This was the most like swimming in an aquarium that I have found and one of my favorite dives.

By boat from Hurghada

Turtle Bay is also known as Torfa Hamada.

Turtle Bay

Very nice dive with a lot of tiny creatures. This is also a good place to meed dolphins !

This dive site has many names, including "Dolphin Reef" and "Turtle Bay".

Small reef located northeast of Giftun Island. 45min from Hurghada.

Torfa Fanous East is also known as Fanus East, Torfa Fanus, Dolphin Reef, Turtle Bay.

Torfa Fanous East

Great for a drift dive.  This is an underwater shelf about 30 meters wide with a reef on the west side, and a drop off wall on the east.  It's deaper than many sites in the area and therefore hosts some larger wildlife.

By boat from Hurghada

El Fanadir is also known as Fanadir, Sha'ab El Fanadir, El Fanadir North.

Petra

Snorkeling and Scuba Diving at Petra