Oceanic whitetips
The reef's famous visitors.
Alexander Vasenin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa — CC BY 2.0 · Alexander Vasenin — CC BY-SA 4.0 · Dereck Keats — CC BY 2.0 · Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa — CC BY 2.0 · Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa — CC BY 2.0 · Derek Keats from Johannesburg, South Africa — CC BY 2.0 · Alexander Vasenin — CC BY-SA 4.0
A lone coral reef out in the Red Sea north of Marsa Alam, known locally as Sha'ab Abu Hamra and counted among Egypt's most famous and thrilling dive sites, its walls rising from great depths almost to the surface. The reef walls are covered in pink and red soft corals of astonishing density, with clouds of little golden reef fish and sea turtles around them. Divers come for the sharks, above all the oceanic whitetip, seen mostly in autumn, and hammerheads sometimes appear. Currents can be strong and the depths are great, so diving here is for experienced divers, though snorkelling over the top is possible on calm days. An underwater memorial plaque is fixed to one of its walls. It is reached by boat from Marsa Alam or Port Ghalib, or on liveaboard dive cruises, at prices set by dive centres. Boats follow strict rules around the sharks for visitors' safety.
The reef's famous visitors.
Dense, colourful walls.
Rich sea life.
Offshore north of Marsa Alam, reached by boat
Diving here is for the experienced because of the currents and depth; beginners do better at Abu Dabbab Bay and the shore reefs.