Dahab, Blue Hole
Dive Site Description
The Blue Hole/Bells is one of the most famous dive sites in the world, it´s also the dive site started the hype of diving in Dahab. Usually one enters this site through an open chimney called the Bells. The name comes from the sound of tanks touching the wall as it’s very narrow, only one diver can go down at a time. Divers exit this chimney at approximately 26m and swim to the right along the outer wall of the Blue Hole where majestic overhangs full of corals are waiting to be marveled.
Dahab
Dive Site Description
Dahab juts into the Gulf of Aqaba, with a vast fringing reef. Our entire coastline is one huge reef structure, so what really defines each of our dive sites is a safe entry and exit.
The sites are a mix of sloping reef walls, coral garden, pinnacles, scattered coral heads and, most famously, unique cracks and formations in the sea bed like the Canyon and Blue Hole.
SS Dunraven Wreck (Beacon Rock)
Dive Site Description
This wreck of a British Steamer is on the Southern edge of Sha’ab Mahmoud which is also known as Beacon Rock as the wreck is directly below the South Cardinal Beacon. It is about another hour boat ride past Ras Mohammed and is prone to the weather conditions. Once at the reef there is some protection from the waves but it can still be a little rough. The Dunraven was built in 1873 in Newcastle and hit the reef in 1876. It has sunk in 30m of water right next to the reef wall and is completely upside down in two sections. The length is about 80m and it’s about 10m wide. The stern section is in about 29m to the sand and is open in places for those qualified to enter. This leads to a swim through by the side of the ship’s boiler and out where the wreck has broken in half. The exit being usually filled with glass fish in their thousands. The bow section is in shallower water with loads of places to stick your head into, but nowhere to get in. After the bow section the dive is usually done by fining over the hull which is covered in coral and then moving onto the reef wall and the shallows to finish the dive.
Shark & Yolanda Reef
Dive Site Description
Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are rated as one of the top ten dives in the world and is perhaps the most famous dive site of the Ras Mohammed National Park. The two reefs rise up from untold depths to the surface making a breath-taking, stunning and dramatic topography. The dive is completed as a drift dive and is normally started in the direction of Shark Reef to Yolanda. With this dive it is important to be quick on the entry as otherwise it is possible to drift on the surface and miss the most amazing wall. It is a sheer drop down to 800 meters plus. Hanging out on the wall are snappers, bat fish, barracuda and many more especially when they mass together in the July/August peak period. It’s like diving in fish soup. The current takes you around to the ‘saddle’ the connecting reef between to two vast pinnacles. Depending on the currents your dive guide will guide you around the front of Yolanda Reef. Look out into the blue as there are often large pelagic fish passing. The dive finishes on the remains of the wreck of the ‘Yolanda’. This dive can be a roller coaster ride of currents, which turn every which way during the dive – but it is an adrenalin pumping awesome experience.
Shark Observatory
Dive Site Description
If you like wall diving then Shark Observatory is a ‘must’ dive. It is named after the observatory point on the Ras Mohammed national park headland which towers above the sea level. This dive has a sheer wall peppered with inlets, over hangs and small open cave systems which let the sunlight filter through the coral fringing plate above.
Jackfish Alley
Dive Site Description
Jackfish Alley is a nice gentle drift dive with a varied topography. It is normally dived in the direction towards Shark Observatory, starting off with a small cave swim through in the wall. The wall mellows out into a huge plateau which is split from the main reef by a sandy bottomed alley – hence the name. With good air consumption you can go far out onto the satellite reef or follow the bottom of the alley where sometime you will spot sleeping white tip reef sharks.
Ras Za’tar
Dive Site Description
Ras Zatar is one of Ras Mohammed National Park’s most atmospheric dives due to lighting of the site which is the most spectacular in the afternoon. It starts off as a wall dive which has many open caverns and caves to explore. Most of the caverns have striking light beams shining through from the reef plate which highlight the interior. The wall on the corner turns into a large plateau. At this point the current can pick up speed and due to this it is often a place to spot cruising Sharks. This dive is conducted as a drift dive and is only accessible by boat.
Ras Ghozlani
Dive Site Description
Ras Ghazlani, situated in the Ras Mohammed National Park, is one of the most popular Sharm el Sheikh dive sites due to its versatility; basically there is something for everyone and it’s a great site for PADI specialities. Entering the water, the reef wall descends from the surface to around 14m deep where it meets a plateau extending 30m towards the drop off at around 20m deep. The drop off then descends past 40m depth. Always dived from the boat and rarely a current it allows you to really take your time either heading with the reef on the left or right side taking in the beautiful soft corals along the drop off. Keeping an eye out to 'the blue' maybe rewarded with a special sighting of Manta Ray or even a Whale Shark.
Ras Mohammed
Dive Site Description
Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are rated as one of the top ten dives in the world and is perhaps the most famous dive site of the Ras Mohammed National Park. The two reefs rise up from untold depths to the surface making a breath-taking, stunning and dramatic topography. The dive is completed as a drift dive and is normally started in the direction of Shark Reef to Yolanda. With this dive it is important to be quick on the entry as otherwise it is possible to drift on the surface and miss the most amazing wall. It is a sheer drop down to 800 meters plus. Hanging out on the wall are snappers, bat fish, barracuda and many more especially when they mass together in the July/August peak period. It’s like diving in fish soup. The current takes you around to the ‘saddle’ the connecting reef between to two vast pinnacles. Depending on the currents your dive guide will guide you around the front of Yolanda Reef. Look out into the blue as there are often large pelagic fish passing. The dive finishes on the remains of the wreck of the ‘Yolanda’. This dive can be a roller coaster ride of currents, which turn every which way during the dive – but it is an adrenalin pumping awesome experience.
Temple Reef
Dive Site Description
Temple dive site is in the southern area of Sharm el Sheikh local dive sites. It is a nice easy dive with interesting topography which can keep you exploring for ages. The sight as it names suggests is made up of several massive coral blocks which rise up from the sea bed to within meters of the surface. The main block is surrounded by smaller pinnacles making it look like an ancient underwater temple. The dive is usually done as a mooring dive, so the trick is to get your navigation correct, not to miss the main attraction and return to your boat – which is easier said than done.
Far Garden
Dive Site Description
Far Garden dive site is the northern headland to the Middle Garden site. It can be dived as either a mooring, semi-drift or drift dive although the current is normally very light. The topography is mainly a sloping wall but at the beginning of the dive there are quite a few large coral pinnacles with some Gorgonian Fan corals. Don’t forget to look out into the blue on this dive, as Far Garden is one of the Sharm el Sheikh local sites which Manta Rays like to frequent.