Dive Sites

Ras Katy is about 10min cruise from Travco jetty, easy dive site suitable for beginners, check dive and night dive. Boats usually moor near large outcropping coral pillar. Dives are made at the coral pinnacle colonized by small table corals and Raspberry corals. The sandy seabed is starting from about 5m to 18-20m at a point on line with drop off, where there are some Gorgonians. There are a few more pinnacles on the plateau covered by corals, anthias, butterfly fish, Dominos and fusiliers. You also see glassfish and lionfish along the pinnacles, and Crocodile fish, Blue spotted stingrays and scorpion fish on the sandy bottom.
Sometimes when the tide is riding, you may come upon a strong current that will allow you to make a drift dive to Temple.

Temple This site lay in the middle of a large bay between Ras Umm Sid and Ras Katy, easy dive site suitable for beginners, check dive and night dive.
On a vast sandy plateau at the depth of 6-30m there are three coral pillars that resemble the columns of an ancient temple, hence the name given in the early 1970s. A few mooring situated around the largest coral pillar. Since Temple is rather small, you can explore the site choosing your own route, however, you should visit to the beautiful gorgonian with glassfish at around 30m on the edge of drop off. The site presence of many species of butterfly fish, parrot fish, lion fish, Batfish and some Napoleon fish is virtually guaranteed.

Ras Umm Sid is the name of the promontory with a high lighthouse that marks the beginning of the Strait of Tiran on the western coast. It is renowned for the extraordinary proliferation of gorgonians that create a veritable forest here, the most beautiful in all the northern Red Sea. There is mooring situated on a rocky block at 25m, however often we make drift dive, there might be a strong current.
Start from massive pore coral and descends to 25m, where you pass through the famous gorgonian forest, then ascend to the plateau at 14m. Here among numerous coral pinnacles covered Alcyonarians, there are hundreds of reef fish, lionfish, parrotfish and Napoleon fish. From this point, you can return shallow enjoying the small caves with glassfish or pigmy sweepers. Or continue to Paradise if you are making drift dive.

Paradise is a easy drift dive site, check the direction of the current before starting.
Here is a varied and colourful landscape, and large areas are covered with soft corals. You will find a couple of beautiful gorgonians on the drop off and large table corals grow. By going through this superb marine landscape you will be able to admire a host of reef fauna, from parrotfish to the Napoleon fish, butterfly fish and ever present anthias.

Turtle Bay is easy drift dive site, often more quiet than other dive site. Check the direction of the current before starting.
A slope runs at 10-26m and some coral pinnacles stand. At the beginning you explore the reef slope about 26m and circling the coral tower with glassfish, and enjoy some gorgonians at 15-23m. In the northern part you cross the coral garden. Apart from numerous butterfly fish, anthias, Sergeant majors and some Royal angelfish.

The name of this site derivers from 17th century shipwreck of a Turkish vessel with a cargo of amphora containing mercury. Amphoras lay southwest of Tower, on a line with the northern tip of Ritz Carlton hotel. There is a sandy slope begins around 12m and has some coral pinnacles of various shapes. One of the pinnacles around 25m is surrounded by a school of anthias and glassfish. Heading to the northern part, you reach a huge table coral before some pinnacles behind which at 23m and firmly stuck into the reef, you can see the original anchor of the ship with inscription as well as fragments of the amphoras.

Pinky´s wall This wall dive site was named after the multitude of pink Alcyonarian corals, usually not crowded and you will make drift dive.
The steep wall goes down over 180m. Keeping the depth about 15m is the best to enjoy the largest concentration of soft corals. There are different type of Scaridae or parrotfish, splendour wrasses and some groupers.
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Tower is a spectacular dive site characterized by a deep canyon that wall descend vertically for over 120m.You start to drift near Fossile coral tower, soon you will discover the deep canyon. Right after the canyon you will reach sandy plateau that runs at 15-25m that has some pinnacles. Swimming upwards at 12-5m to explore the crevices and caves, one of it has glassfish. Rich in reef fauna with many parrotfish, cube boxfish and butterflyfish, in the blue there are fusiliers and pelagic fish such as trevalleys and barracudas.

Sodfa Two types of dives are possible at Sodfa. The 1st route towards the west in direction to the dive site Tower, and the 2nd towards the east in direction of Ras Sodfa. Both dives lead along a sandy slope at an average about 12m between the reef ledge and the drop off between 18 and 22m.
On the sandy slope some coral pinnacles rise up and you will see some large gorgonians near the drop off around 20m. The 2nd route offers more various panorama with a higher richness in corals and fauna represented by fusiliers, surgeonfish, triggerfish, anthias, dominos, parrotfish, glassfish, Red sea banner fish and common lionfish. Massive pore corals, gorgonians, big table corals and yellow soft corals are common elements on this site

Near Garden It’s just 5min cruise to reach to this site from Naama Bay jetty, easy dive site that you can choose mooring or drift dive.
Diving begins while descending onto a sandy plateau at about 15-20m which is bordered on the ridge of the drop off by a series of hard coral heads, then proceed along numerous gorgonians up to a ridge with four pinnacles. In condition permit, you might reach the site of Middle Garden where often you meet Spotted eagle ray. You will come upon many Blue spotted stingrays, Napoleon fish and Triggerfish. Some small White tip reef shark has chosen this site as its home.

Middle Garden is It’s easy dive site suitable for beginners and check dive. Totally sheltered from wind, waves and currents. A vast sandy plateau stretch out onto the reef ledge ending at 5m and the drop off is situated between 12-14m. Heading to the Fiddle Garden, the sand plateau narrows, giving rise to a beautiful road of white sand, it is bordered by corals. Some table corals are scattered all around often creating small sandy avenues that recall garden path, which gave the name of this site.
An alternative is a drift dive heading to the Near Garden. Schooling fusiliers, puffer fish, triggerfish, dominos, pullers, Blue spotted stingrays and also some Spotted eagle rays constitute the typical fauna of this site.

Fiddle Garden is It’s easy dive site suitable for beginners and check dive. Totally sheltered from wind, waves and currents, there is a few mooring situated. The seabed is sandy, flat and shallow, around 10m, with coral structures contouring sandy street from where some massive pore corals ride up. The drop off starts from 14-20m, more interesting to explore some coral pinnacles with glassfish.

Far Garden is situated in the northernmost part of Naama Bay. It is differs from the other localities in the bay, since there is a series of large coral pinnacles located between the ledge along the reef and the drop off, which become gradually steeper in an eastward direction. Here you can make either mooring or drift dive. Mooring dive will allow you to explore the pinnacles, they are frequented by a great number of reef fish, small Scalefin anthias, lionfish, fusiliers and Sergeant fish. Continue to the east, you will reach a cave with glassfish at 5m. If the weather is good, start to drift from this cave, descending to 30m, where you will see from above, the top of “The Cathedral” that open out at about 32m and penetrates the reef for a dozen meters.

It seems that the name “Sharks Bay” derives from the fact that local fishermen once came here to unload the sharks they had caught. On the southern part of the bay, you will see an old sailing ship, Jump-About-Gib, which hit the reef many years ago. The classic dive runs through some large coral formations that rise from the sandy floor, sadly disfigured today by numerous waste objects. Here you turn into the entrance of the deep sandy canyon on the southwestern side of the bay. After following the canyon at 30m, some slowly up to 18m to explore a sandy plateau and the reef ledge. Which has a remarkable variety of hard and soft corals.

White Knight is a small bay bordered by a rather well developed reef with a large crevice that opens onto a sandy plateau from 6 to 18m. Here there is a mooring point near colony of Garden eels. On the southwestern side of the bay is a canyon with sandy floor that descends to 38m. The eastern side of this canyon is composed of two hard coral buttresses on which you will see a large Salad coral. Next to the entrance is tunnel that begins at 10m and open into the canyon at 13m. Also there is a few cave on this canyon.

Ras Bob is sheltered from waves and wind, and usually weak current. Suitable for all levels and very interesting for snorkeler as there is many hard and soft corals. The mooring situated on the sandy floor at 20m near colony of Garden eels. There are many small bays with light colored sandy floors in which you will see numerous small caves and gullies in the shallow water. Crocodile fish and Blue spotted stingrays often rest on the sand.

The name of this locality means „Christian Cape“ in Arabic. You can make drift or mooring dive. Start drifting from the floating pontoon close to the big hard coral ridge above a shelter that opens at 30m and then come up slowly towards a submersed sandy bay. Beyond this point the sand gives way to the corals. After you have passed some large gorgonians at about 20m, you will come upon large colonies of massive hard corals of the genus Porites that form extensive banks. The dive goes through the zone between the reef slope, which has many small crevices studded with multicoloured Alcyonarians, and drop off situated about 30m away. .

Ras Ghamila is an interesting place for a fine drift dive that is not too difficult. You dive onto a vast sandy plateau with a slight incline, staying at about 15m. On the gentle slope on the reef, which descends to an about 8m, there are many colonies of Porites coral and some Giant triggerfish often pass by, while on the plateau there are large Table corals around which schools of pelagic fish swim. The drop off is hardly to see during the dive, there is also many large gorgonians can be seen around 25m on this plateau.

The bay was open to scuba divers only a couple years ago, and access is still restricted and allow on its outer sides only. Small sake with two banners, red and green, set into the sandy coast indicate the area not to be entered. There used to be two-fixed mooring situated on the accessible coastal part which then were removed, so today the dive at Ras Ghozlani has to be done a drift. The route winds along an extensive sandy slope starting at 6m that descends to the drop off situated at around 25m. A series of coral pinnacles, often covered with soft corals and school of anthias, together with huge Acropora table and branching corals rise up from the sand. The table corals offer shelter to batfish, glassfish or sweepers and groupers, on the sandy slope there are Bluespotted stingray, pufferfish and triggerfish.

Ras Za’atar is the rocky promontory that delimits the deep bay of Marsa Bareika to the south. Usually you drift to the northeast with the reef on your left side. At the beginning, you will discover a table coral with gorgonian situated at 21m and winds along the gorgeous wall, which descends vertically. The wall is decorated by colourful Alcyonarians and gorgonians with peculiar horizontal position as well as colonies of Black coral. You will find the chimneys, which began at 10 to 15m, and narrow towards the surface where they open into the reef platform; from these crevices the rays of the sun penetrate the recesses creating spectacular effects. And there is some Lionfish, Pigmy sweepers and some big groupers. Once past the tip of the wall, turn into Marsa Bareika bay over a sandy slope with many coral pinnacles that create a true coral garden. Jackfish, Barracuda and some tuna cruise the blue in search of prey.

The name of this sites delivers from the wide sandy road between the coral ledge bordering the coast and a parallel satellite reef that is often frequented by jackfish and other predators. Start to drift from the white mark on the cliff, after descending to 6m you will see the large entrance to the first cave, which penetrates the reef for about 40m. Heading to the southwest, you will come to a large coral outcrop beyond which at 14m, there is another cave that runs upwards and has wide exit hole at 6m. On the southwest side of sandy bay, there is another coral outcrop with populated by glassfish at 11m. Continue the same direction and you will be at sandy alley at 18-20m. Whitetip reef sharks, Manta ray, jackfish, Blue triggerfish and Bluespotted stingray have often been spotted in this area.

Eel Garden is well sheltered from the currents, but since it is exposed to prevailing winds and waves, you must pay attention to the condition of the sea. The dive is easy and the route winds through the sandy plateau slightly inclined to the east opposite the beach. On the central part of the sandy ledge there is a small cave out of which appears to flow an impressive V-shaped stream of sand. The middle section of the plateau is populated by lovely colony of Garden eels that can exceed 80cm in length. These creatures must be approached with extreme caution, since they are very timed and will slip quickly back into their lairs at the first sign of danger.

This is a magnificent wall dive, while looking down into the deep blue, you can admire a grandiose environment and at the same time see large pelagic predators and Hawksbill turtles. Even a Whale shark has been seen in this area. On the wall, you can explore rich in Alcyonarians, gullies, large gorgonians shelters and caves swarming with life, without losing sight of the blue from which Jackfish, Barracuda and some sharks might suddenly appear.

Sharks Reef & Yolanda Reef is the most famous and popular dive site in the Red sea for the variety of its marine environment and above all for the extraordinary abundance of its reef and pelagic fauna. However, to enjoy this site in all its splendour you should go there in the summer months. Another point to bear in mind is that the incredible spectacle of schools of hundreds of barracuda, jackfish and batfish that appear before your eyes can be enjoyed only by those with enough technical know-how to face the currents, which at time are extremely strong. There are many drift dives you can make here, up to the weather conditions, currents and level of divers. One of the classic way is to start from Anemone City, which lies at 12-20m and just out like a large balcony. On this plateau you can see the large colony of Red Sea anemonefish. After Anemone City you must swim in the blue for a few minutes to lead you directly to Shark Reef. Here a wall that descends vertically to an abyss more than 70m deep, keeping this wall to your right. If you observe the blue you will easily spot schools of batfish, walls of jackfish, snappers and Bluespine unicornfish. You easily also find big school of small Blackfin barracuda, sometimes forming circles within which often move one or two Blacktip sharks. After going a few dozen meters more, you will reach the sandy and shallow saddle that connect Shark reef and Yolanda reef which silhouette takes shape right after a big gorgonian situated at 20m and second gorgonian at 14m, this one signal the start of a splendid coral garden with mauve coloured Alcyonarians contouring the eastern wall of Yolanda. After having cross this garden and curved around its southern corner you will see the remains of the cargo of Yolanda, a Cypriot merchant ship that sank here on the night of 1-2 April 1980 while on its way to Aqaba: containers, bathtubs, sanitary fixtures, wallpaper, case of whisky and even a BMW320 automobile that belonged to the ship captain. The wreckage is always surrounded by large Malaber groupers, Napoleonfish, Onespot snappers and fusiliers. The ship was pushed by waves to a depth of 50m at 1987, and on the 15th March 1987, sank into the blue during a violent storm. If you still have some air left, you can explore the sandy lagoon stretching out behind Yolanda reef and the saddle between the two coral outcrops inhabited by Bluespotted stingrays, scorpionfish, Stonefish, Napoleonfish and Crocodilefish.

Jackson Reef is the most northerly reef in Tiran and is known for the wreck, partially demolished in 1996, of the Cypriot merchant ship Lara that sank here in December 1981. Diving here usually begins on the southern side, which is sheltered from the waves and wind, and there is some fixed mooring line. The reef on the southern side in the shallows is cut with sandy splits, and then descends steeply to the sandy seabed at 45m where you can see some Garden eels. Going westwards, you will see some gorgonians and a splendid red sea anemone at 28m. This is followed by a plateau that connects to Woodhouse reef by a saddle. The southwest corner where numerous fire corals can be seen, is subject to current which can be extremely violent, if conditions are right, you can make drift dive on the eastern part of the reef. Here, about 15m down, is a sandy ledge that sinks into the blue to the north. It is quite easy to spot turtles and large pelagic fish in this zone. Whitetip reef sharks, Grey reef sharks and Scalloped hammerhead are especially common at this point from July to September, as well as regular sightings of them on the northern side of the reef, out in the blue from the wreck of the Lara.

This dive site used to have a wreck called Kormoran that sunk in 1984, she was laying in the shallow less than 12m. But now there is only some remaining are left and most of the part are not there anymore. Here still you can enjoy numerous coral garden surrounded by Sohal surgeonfish and yellow goatfish. But you only allow diving here in a very calm sea condition.

The western side of Tiran Island is bordered by a madreporic formation standing over a splendid coral lagoon with an average depth of 10-12m, and known by scuba diver as Laguna reef. A transverse hard coral wall divides the lagoon into two parts – North and South Laguna – both of which are marked by a beacon. South Laguna, the larger of the two is the best mooring point in the region and offers safe shelter form any unfavorable sea conditions. The outer side of Laguna reef is an interesting site. This area strongly influenced by tidal currents which will determine the southerly or northerly direction of your dives, which should b made preferably in the afternoon. South of south beacon is a wide plateau with large table corals that narrows gradually in a northward direction, becoming a steep wall rich in reef fauna that swims among numerous species of hard and soft coral and some gorgonians. Near north Laguna there is another plateau with many table and fire corals.

Woodhouse reef is narrow and long and thus offers no shelter at all to boats and has no fixed moorings, therefore only you can make drift dive at this reef. The most interesting part of the reef is the northern half to the eastern side, with a canyon that opens out at about 30m and runs parallel to the main axis of the reef until it reaches a sandy ledge. The sandy ledge then widens northwards to a14m, leading to the saddle that connect to Jackson reef. It is quite easy to see jackfish, sea turtles, sharks and a great many corals, both hard and soft, including some colonies of black coral that are at about 22-26m. It is advisable to end your dive before the saddle, especially when the sea is choppy.

The lack of mooring points makes drift diving necessary. The southern corner of the reef is the classic starting point which continues along the eastern side where the wall, rich in multicolored coral, descends to a sandy plateau that begins at about 25m and has a slight incline. Here on the wall you can see large Alcyonarians, impressive gorgonians, whip corals, black corals and other Antipatharians with their characteristic spiral shape. After passing a double line of gorgonians, at 35m a splendid and extremely deep canyon opens out, running parallel to the reef and crossed by three impressive arches. At the eastern corner of the reef you may come upon a very strong current. If you can get pass this point, 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 you will see many crevices and caves, and a wealth of fauna consisting of sea turtles, reef fish and pelagic.

Gordon reef is known and easily identified by the wreck of Loullia which ran aground on the northern end in 1981. There is fixed mooring on the southern side and a wide and rather shallow plateau that fan out, make this dive site safer than the preceding ones. Starts off from the mooring point and winds in an easterly direction and then northwards along the eastern side of the reef. Halfway along this side you can see many metal drums scattered at 10-20m. From here you can either double back to the starting point or make a drift dive and proceed north; in this case you will come across a rather small sandy plateau on which some Garden eels live. The opportunity to observe various species of corals, small nudibranchs and with bit of luck, White tip reef sharks, Hammerhead sharks and spotted eagle ray.

Three miles west of Ras Mohamed, a series of outcropping coral pinnacles extends east-west for about 1.5miles on the southern edge of Sha’ab el-Utat. As it is 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 in 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 come 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 swarming with fauna where you can find numerous coral genera, large groupers, Bluespotted stingray, squids, nudibranchs and even Leopard sharks

There is a small semi outcropping reef situated 6.9miles west of Ras Mohamed with a small beacon indicating the southern tip of Sha’ab Mahmud. The British merchant ship Dunraven sank in 1876 and she lies upside down at 15-30m. Dunraven was the subject of a memorable BBC documentary film in 1979 and has become a classic site for scuba divers. Since the cargo bales of was lost during the shipwreck when the ship caught fire, the wreck looks like a large, practically empty cave. You can access through the three main openings at the stern, center and the bow. The dive begins from the stern, the deepest point of the wreck. After going a few dozen meters, you can penetrate the hull – populated by large groupers, lionfish, glassfish and multicoloured Alcyonarians, It is best to exit through the opening amidships by the engine room, so that you can explore the outside of bow area and the nearby coral garden.

Small Crack is the more southerly channel of Sha’ab Mahmud. Its central body is divided by a large coral formation into two secondary channels from 5 to 8m deep with tidal currents that can become extremely strong. When the tide is flooding and the current it generates moves northwards, you are pushed from the lagoon out towards the open sea. If on the other hand the tide is ebbing, the current runs south towards the lagoon: it is therefore preferable to dive then, so that you can drift back to your boat moored inside the lagoon. Obviously a zodiac would be ideal for dives in Small Crack. On the outer reef wall, which descends to a sandy floor around 20m, you will see gorgonians, Alcyonarians and large table corals. Often there are turtle and also Leopard sharks and Whitetip reef sharks. In the summer there are schools of barracuda and jackfish, and near the mouth of the channel there is an abundance of fire coral.

The SS Thistlegorm was built in 1940 in England by Thomson & Sons. It measures 131 metres long and 17.5 m wide.
Coming from Cape Town, loaded with war material (ammunitions, mines, locomotives, tank cars, motor bikes, boots, medicine etc.) to supply the British troops in North Africa.
German bombers coming from Crete on October 6, 1941 attacked it, the bombs hit the aft hold.
The remains of this tremendous explosion can still be seen, it has become the area’s most sought after wreck.
Thistlegorm was build to transport refurbished wartime materials for the British troops. In May1941 with a crew of 39 me it had left the port of Glasgow, Scotland, with a cargo of munitions, bombs of different kinds, anti tank mines, Lee Enfield MKⅢrifles, a hundred of BSA motorcycles, BSA W-M20, Matchless G3L and Norton 16H, Bedford, Morris and Ford trucks, two light Bren Carrier MK Ⅱtanks, two steam Stanier 8 F locomotives complete with two coal tenders and water tankers necessary for travel in desert zones, transport trucks, portable field generators, spare parts for airplanes and automobiles, medicine, tyres abd rubber boots. The cargo was destined for British 8th Army stationed in Egypt and Cyrenaica(Lybia); yet the German forces controlled the Mediterranean so circumnavigating Africa and passing through the Suez Canal to reach the port of Alexandria was considered safer route. The Thistlegorm was already on its way up to the Red Sea when it received the order to anchor in Gubal and wait as the Suez Canal was temporarily obstructed by a vessel that had hit a German mine, On the night of 5-6th October two German Heinkel HeⅢ bombers, coming from their base in Crete, sighted and attacked the ship. It was hit by two bombs on hold no.4 where the munitions deposit was situated. The explosion was very violent and tore the ship in two whilst the locomotives, despite their weigth of 126tons each and the fact that they were tied to the deck, were catapulted into the air, sinking to seabed about 30mat 1.30am on 6th Oct 1941.It was Jacques- Yves Cousteau with his ship Calypso who discovered the wreck in 1955 and who mentioned it in an article published in February 1956 in the monthly National Geographic Magazine, however, did not reveal the position of the wreck, thus it went forgotten for almost 40 years until 1992 when it was rediscovered by an Israeli skipper. In a short time a great favorite with scuba divers from all over the world and is now the most visited wreck in the whole Red Sea.

Exploration of the ship is usually done in two phases. The 1st dive is a general tour of the wreck resting in its NW-SE position; the 2nd dive includes penetration of the holds. Descent s and ascents are done along the ropes with which dive boat is moored to the wreck. Visibility is not always good and tidal currents from bow to stern can be present and sometimes very strong.

Shag rock situated about a mile south of Sha’ab Ali and 6miles away from the wreck, Thistlegorm, is the name given to a shallow reef marked by a small metal lighthouse on its southeastern side. A big sandy plateau by this lighthouse extends to 8-10m, with a fixed mooring. On the northern side of the reef on the sandy seabed at 15m, there is a small wreck lying in a south north direction with its bow stranded on the reef. It is British cargo Kingston sunk in February 1881. The exploration of the ship starts at the stern at 15m where the still intact propeller can be observed. The route continues into the inside of the hull, easily accessible as the wooden bridge is no longer there and the area is well illuminated by sunlight. The remains of the engine room with the boiler are still nicely visible whereas the bow area situated at 4m is destroyed. To the right of the wreck you can see the remains of the mast resting on the seabed. The fauna here is particularly interesting and comprises surgeonfish, rabbitfish and nudibranchs. From here you continue the dive either to the east or west to explore the reef populated by rich fauna represented by jackfish, groupers, snappers, turtles and Whitetip reef sharks or Eagle rays. Schools of dolphins are regularly spotted in this area.