There are many dive sites in the Nuweiba area of the Red Sea. A liveaboard safari vessel allows you access to some of the most famous sites including the MFO Pipeline, Abo Loulou and the Sinker. MFO Pipeline is the site of an Israeli desalination plant that has never been used. Two piplines run from the beach into the sea. Soft corals grow in abundance around the pipes and further inshore, seagrass houses smaller species like seahorses. Abo Loulou is a house reef located off the Hilton Resort. This is a fantastic site with an abundance of reef fish, especially Lionfish, Turtles and Stonefish. This site makes for an awesome night dive due to the mass of marine life located within a small area. The Sinker is an old Israeli bouy with chains that are covered in beautiful soft corals that makes for a spectacular dive, especially if you are interested in underwater photography.
If you are looking for adventurous scuba diving in the deep blue of the Red Sea, this is it. The Bells is a small hole located at a depth of 30 metres within a sheer wall that drops more than 800metres deep. With the wall to your back and the deep blue out in front, this is an exciting dive rich with hard and soft corals and a wide range of marine life including the smaller reef dwellers, as well as the possibility of sighting sharks and manta rays out in the blue. The blue Hole is world famous and has witnessed many successful freediving attempts. For the scuba divers this is an exciting shoredive, accessed by a short walk over the rocky shore. Due to its proximity to the land, there are plenty of facilities around this dive site, including toilets, seating and refreshment vendors. The hole is around 25 metres across and plunges over 100metres deep.
The Gulf of Aqaba is approximately 2000 meter deep cut in the bottom of the ocean. At the southern end of the Gulf, the island of Tiran is located. Here the Gulf narrows and becomes shallower. With the change of tides, huge quantities of water flow through this bottleneck and cause very strong currents. In the centre of the Straits of Tiran, a ridge pushes up, running from north to south. On its highest elevation four coral reefs are located: Gordon, Woodhouse, Thomas and Jackson. These reefs are named after British cartographers and present beautiful diving sites. The currents around these reefs are the cause for the extraordinary diversity of corals and big fish swarms. Among others, you can see barracudas, snappers as well as sharks.
The Ras Mohamed National Park is one of the most famous scuba diving sites in the Red Sea. A spectacular sheer wall that plunges into the deep, there is a lot of life on the wall itself and remember to keep an eye on the blue for passing sharks. There can be strong currents.
Gobal Island is home to a diverse selection of dives and offers a comfortable mooring location for the night. The Barge is a beautiful dive over a shallow coral garden and has the remains of a barge that plays host to any number of macro life as well as some large scorpionfish, crocodilefish and a ÔgiantÕ giant moray. Bluff Point is located at the south-east corner of Gobal Island and as the wall drops away to the depths you have a chance to explore the ledges, overhangs and soft corals for marine life that feeds from the nutrient rich currents that sweep through. The Rosalie Moller is the perfect compliment to the Thistlegorm on a Northern trip since she was sunk just days after. A deeper wreck, this is a site for experienced divers and is dependent upon good weather. As well as a fascinating piece of history, this wreck is also host to huge schools of fish as well as a great deal of macro life.
Often referred to as Ôa shipÕs graveyardÕ, Abu Nuhas has claimed a number of ships over the years and the four wrecks span the ages. Abu Nuhas is located near the exit from the treacherous Gulf of Suez, which accounts for its infamous reputation. All four wrecks are within recreational depths and offer visitors a chance to dive on some of the Red SeaÕs most famous shipwrecks. A sheltered bay that has a wide array of macro life among the coral gardens and sandy seabed. Mangrove Bay is also often visited by large rays and turtles.
Brother Islands are two sea mounts in the middle of the Red Sea. The surrounding waters reach great depths and are home to a range of pelagic species. At the right time of year, you can witness several shark species as well as manta rays, dolphins and turtles. Small Brother has spectacular soft corals and a chance to swim with sharks along the pristine reef walls, while Big Brother is home to two wrecks Ð the Aida and the Numidia. Prone to currents, these islands can offer the dive of a lifetime.
This horseshoe shaped bay has beautiful reef walls along its edge and a large patch of sea grass in the centre. The reef is home to a variety of marine life including octopus, nudibranch and moray eels, while the sea grass is where you can find large rays, turtles and often a dugong. There is also plenty of macro life to hunt for among the sea grass with shrimp, eels and even seahorses being found here.
This is one of the dive sites in the Hurghada area known for Dolphin sightings and there is a fair chance of this happening. If you donÕt when youÕre diving then as the vessel departs the dive site, there is a strong chance they will follow the boat. With the vessel moored on the south side of the reef, to your left there is another horse shoe erg that forms a channel. Diving through the channel there can sometimes be a strong current but if you are going to see dolphins this is usually the place. This channel is full of table corals, soft corals, schools of jacks feeding on silversides and if youÕre really lucky you may even see a Napoleon being cleaned by Cleaner Wrasse. You will then come to a pinnacle at 10m where you may spot a giant moray eel or a lion fish resting and waiting for night fall so they can feed, after the pinnacle itÕs up to you, whether you go to your right along the reef wall or left to the horse shoe erg (both sides can be seen from the pinnacle). Either way you will not be disappointed there is a large coral garden to look around or plenty to spot on the reef wall. Keep a look out as you may see a turtle swimming by and if you do decide to go into the coral garden make sure you keep the reef wall in site as itÕs easy to lose orientation.
Named after the God of the sea in Greek mythology, this dive site has a lot to live up to. The south side is not the most interesting part of the dive. When you start your dive, going west, you pass the pinnacle at the corner and a spectacular coral garden lies in front of you. First head out from the reef into the coral garden and you will find a beautiful pinnacle at 12m. Make your way through the magnificent coral garden staying at 12m. Swim further north towards the reef wall and you will be amazed at the abundance of beautiful corals growing on in tiers upon each other. Because you are still relatively shallow you can enjoy the sun shining down and enjoy the colours and the contours of all the different shapes. This also gives you an insight how reefs are formed. When itÕs time to turn around you will have the reef on your left shoulder. This dive site is more for the beautiful corals than marine life but of course the usual candidates can always be seen: parrot fish, Anthias, trigger fish, bat fish, angel fish, anemone fish to name a few.
Means mother of the moon. A reef, twice the length of the island, reaches out towards the north. In a nut shell, this dive site is a sloping reef wall with three pinnacles attached to it. A lot of divers make their way down to 30m straight to the cave at the bottom of one of the pinnacles but there is nothing much to see here and the tops of these pinnacles are much more interesting with amazing soft coral, full of colour. Glassfish, lionfish feeding and stonefish hang out on the edge of the pinnacles. Stonefish are very well camouflaged, so keep your beady eyes open! The first pinnacle starts at around 20m and has lots of cracks so take a look inside and you most probably will see a crocodile fish taking a rest inside, accompanied by some lion fish. Further along the reef wall going north you will come to the next pinnacle at 18m and along the way you may see free swimming moray eels. The second pinnacle it the one with the cave so itÕs up to you if you want to go 30m and take a look inside or not. If you stay at the top of this pinnacle you will see an abundance of marina life busying themselves with their daily duties. It is very beautiful but donÕt forget to check out into the blue now and then in case something big is swimming by. The last pinnacle is at 15m this is not as impressive as the first two but well worth a look.
El Mina was one of four T43 ocean-going minesweepers; built in former USSR, it was delivered in spring of 1956 as part of a $120million arms treaty negotiated by President Nasser during a meeting in Moscow on 24th September 1955. On the 6th February 1970 Israeli aircraft approached Hurghada over sea from the east. Coming in at low altitude to avoid radar detection, their mission was to attack the radar station next to the airfield. At the same time, stationed at the naval base in the harbour, was the minesweeper El Mina. El Mina was hit by a small bomb on the starboard side and went down. The best way to start this dive is at the stern. The wreck is lying on the portside, leaning on the superstructure. As you continue on the south side over the stern deck, you will have a good view of the two propeller screws and rudders. Here you can find the big reels of cable used to tow the torpedo Ð like minesweeping devices. Before you come up to the superstructure you pass the rear anti-aircraft gun and machine gun beside the funnel. Close to the seabed, at the back of the superstructure you can take the opportunity to have a look in the telegraph room before passing the next two machine guns in front of the bridge. The mast was ripped off as El Mina hit the seabed and can now be found north of the wreck. When you come up to the bow area you will find that this part of the wreck has quite a lot to offer. First there is the mount for the second anti-aircraft gun. The gun fell off when El Mina rolled over and is to be fond a short distance south of the bow. The starboard anchor is still in place on the hull and next to the anchor you find the blast hole from where the bomb hit. This is full of glass fish so of course lion fish are also hanging around. This invites for a swim through and a glance into the corridor. From here you head back on the starboard side of the superstructure where you have a few doors and portholes that give you a chance to have a look at the interior of the wreck. All along the last section of the wreck you will find the torpedo-like devices that were towed for minesweeping. Max depth is 32m at the stern, 26m at the bow and 19m around the blast hole on the top of the wreck.
This dive site is also known as Gorgonian garden. It is recommended to make a drift dive on this site so just follow the current which usually comes from the north along the reef wall on your right hand side. This is a fantastic dive for anyone who likes soft corals and gorgonians. The reef wall is covered with a mixture of colours and shapes waving in the current, which gives a magical impression. After this point you will start to see a shelf appearing on the wall, getting wider and wider until the top reef wall is turning to the west and the plateau begins. This beautiful plateau has masses of coral blocks under which you may find rays and scorpion fish, free swimming moray eels and a big Napoleon wrasse. By now itÕs time to move near the reef wall and start to go shallower. Sometimes you may find a mild current going against you. The corals along this part of the dive are outstanding and there is a good chance of seeing porcupine fish hiding in between the corals, as well as schools of goat fish huddling together swimming against the current and if youÕre really lucky you may have a turtle searching for food on the top of the reef. If you think that is enough well you may also have a huge Napoleon swim by just before you finish your safety stop. What a great way to end a dive.
This Gota is probably the most famous in Hurghada and known as an Aquarium on the east side. It is possible to dive two sides of this Gota: west and east
There are several moorings at this dive site so it is difficult to say where you start your dive. The depth is around 10 Ð 12metres and the main feature of this dive are two satellite pinnacles and a plastic shark. Start your dive by having a look at the shark monument put here by HEPCA (Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association), and then continue around the satellite erg straight to the west. Around this area you sometimes meet a turtle who is familiar to divers and will allow close encounters Ð but remember to look and not touch. The next stop awaits straight to the north and is a three-peaked pinnacle in visual range from the first erg and main reef. This is very rich in marine life and is worth some time. Cracks, holes and overhangs give shelter for glassfish while jacks and lionfish are hunting on schools of silversides. There are lots of beautiful soft corals and if youÕre a photographer, your camera is definitely recommended on this dive. From here you can make your way back to the reef. The reef has three tongues that you will pass and is very beautiful with corals and schools of goat fish, banner fish, butterfly fish and sweetlips. You will come to a free standing small coral block just a little away from the reef. It looks like an upright mirror and at the top is fire coral so take care not to get too close. Around the bottom you will find some sweetlips and soft coral. ItÕs really beautiful and a definite photo moment. After this point along the reef wall you will see cornet fish which will sometimes swim very close to you as though you have a new buddy.
This is a fantastic dive site. The amount of fish you will see here during one dive will no doubt amaze you. To start the dive it is best to swim straight out over the sandy bottom from the south side at 9metres. After a few fin kicks, you will start to see the first of three pinnacles. This is very pretty and worth a good look around but do not waist too much time here, there is still a lot to come. Continue going north and you will come to the two further pinnacles side-by-side. The one to the right has an overhang and all around it you will see anthias, silversides and lionfish. A few metres towards the reef the next pinnacle can be seen. Here you also find anthias and lionfish, silversides and jacks and on the back side a school of banner fish often hangs around. From here you can see the main reef again. Swim with the reef on your left shoulder and after a while you will see big brain corals cascade down from the top of the reef and out over the sandy bottom. This is a great place to see schools of masked butterfly fish, sweetlips and snappers and a crocodile fish trying to camouflage himself in the sand. There are loads of Christmas tree worms of all colours on the brain corals. This is also a very beautiful spot. Follow the reef until it is time to turn around. On the way back you will go over the brain corals and make your way through this dramatic underwater landscape. The feeling of being superman flying through a city of corals is amazing. All the different shapes and colours it is really spectacular. Normally while cruising through you will come across a huge school of yellow tailed barracudas, a huge school of goat fish which you may fancy swimming through, they will part slowly and you really feel like you are diving with the fishes. At this point you should be near your boat.
Discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau, the S.S Thistlegorm is one of the most famous wrecsk in the world due to its history. It sank in 1941 during WWII, when it was hit by a German bomber. At the time the vessel was carrying supplies of amunition, wellington boots, jeeps and motorcycles for the British army. The bomb hit the port side and ignited the amunition hold causing a catastrophin explosion. The wreck is in deterioration, although there are still opportunites for penetration. The marine life around the wreck is impressive, with tuna, barracuda and turtles frequenting the site.
The wreck lies off two areas of reef known as Shag Rock. The Kingston is a twin mast steamship that was built in the early 1870's and can also be referred to as Sara H or Sarah H. She ran into the rock in 1881 and took 2 days to finally sink, settling upright in around 18metres of water. She is fairly intact and provides an interesting dive site, especially good for photographers.
Daedalus reef is a small, circular reef, around 500metres wide. A small lighthouse sits ontop of the reef. Steep walls on the north side and a plateau on the southern side allow for varied dive. Strong currents attract larger marin wildlife such as jacks, tuna, barracuda, and sharks.
A fantastic dive site with an abundance of beautiful corals and marine wildlife. Elphinstone is well-known for for the regular presence of the Oceanic Whitetip shark. As well as these, divers can expect regular encounter with barracuda, turtles and tuna. A long and relatively thin reef, two dives can be carried out on both the northern and southern plateau.
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