Most northerly of the reefs of Tiran and the northern limit of day boats from Sharm El Sheikh. The wreck of the Lara lies at the northern end. There is superb wall diving along its entire perimeter, with numerous buttresses and gullies. Sightings of sharks, turtles and other big fish are not uncommon and you will find a huge diversity of different corals and sponges as well as clouds of trigger fish, masked puffers and banner fish. At the point you may be lucky and spot a Hammerhead in summer.

• Dive Type: Drift Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 25m

Between Gordon and Woodhouse reefs, smaller round reef with walls plunging deep and fully covered with soft coral, gorgonians and colourful fish life. It is almost possible to circumnavigate this reef in one dive. The east wall plunges dramatically to great depths with a mass of brightly coloured soft corals. The west wall is darker with overhangs and caves but is a great drift dive with sightings of Trevally and Tuna in the blue and schooling reef fish close to the reef.

• Dive Type: Drift Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 20m

Ras Mohammed peninsula separates the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba. Currents flow out of both gulfs and bathe Ras Mohammed in rich nutrients, which assure plentiful and varied marine life. At Shark Reef and Yolanda wreck, many fish species can be found: groupers, barracuda, batfish, Napoleon wrasses, blue-spot stingrays and a special treat, crocodile fish. It's an amusing and memorable site to see groupers swimming around a huge mountain of toilets at the bottom of the sea.
Really several dive sites, Ras Mohammed has earned itself a reputation as one of the top diving areas in the world, here at the tip of the Sinai where the vast bodies of water, the Gulf of Suez and the Gulf of Aqaba meet has created an ecosystem like no other and wall diving is at its very best.

• Dive Type: Drift Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18m

The most northerly site for day boats out of Hurghada. A huge horseshoe shaped reef offering many dive sites on all sides. The north point can be home to Mantas in season. The lagoon is dotted with ergs and is renowned for sightings of the resident dolphin community; divers have previously spent up to 30 minutes with dolphins here.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth:

Literally the reef of Umm Gamar, this reef lies 1km south of Umm Gamar and is the tip of an undersea mountain. The reef wall drops to around 15m on the west side, and is peppered with many caves and overhangs, home for sweepers and glass fish, here the sandy plateau slopes away gently to 30m with the drop off beyond. On the east side the slope is much steeper and drops quickly to the depths, the diving here is superb and can be most often done as a drift. This whole area offers superb wall diving with possibilities of encountering grey reef sharks and good-sized groupers as well as morays, big tuna, and blue spotted rays. On the south east slope lays the wreck of an Egyptian patrol boat which is well worth a visit. (27°11.550’N, 33°54.550’E)

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30m

This isolated reef, lying between Shaab Umm Qamar and Giftun island is known to divers the world over for its large population of semi-tame moray eels. Weather conditions often make the exposed site difficult or impossible to dive. 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 (52ft) 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 (130ft), with a contoured profile offering many caves and cavelets for the more experienced diver. Reef composition is diverse, with most coral species, both hard and soft, making a vibrant and interesting coral habitat. As well as the famous eels, there are innumerable species of reef fishes. The reef’s isolation, combined with the deep water in which it lies, make it ideal for pelagic-spotting, and sharks are as likely here as at any reef in the area. Jacks, tuna and barracuda are also frequently spotted. The big draw is, of course, the large population of giant and other morays flourishing here, thanks in part to the numerous dive guides who have almost domesticated them with regular gifts of food. The eels vary in size, but several are at the upper limit of their growth range. They will often remain outside their lairs in the presence of divers. (27°18.700’N, 33°56.200’E)

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 40m

This wreck of a British sail/steam cargo ship that sank on April 22 1876 was officially discovered in 1977.
The wreck now lies in two sections next to each other, both of which are penetrable, but there is not always an entire route through. The large brass propeller lies to the north end of the wreck and the reef to the west. The engine can be found in the northern section of the wreck.
The sealife is interesting here and a swim along the reef makes a good end to the dive. Napoleon fish are common, as well as lionfish and flathead scorpion fish. There is a particularly impressive brain coral on the reef as you leave the wreck that is only three metres below the surface.

• Dive Type: Drift Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 29m

Also known as “Ships Graveyard”, Abu Nuhas is located close to the busy shipping lanes of the Gulf of Suez. Four wrecks are lying in a chain on a sandy bottom of a steep sloping reef covered with table corals. The following wrecks are found there;

Ghiannis D was on the way from Rijeka to AI Hudayda at the southern end of the Red Sea, when the bow ran aground on the reef on April 19, 1984. The rear half of the wreck lies on the port side. At the front the funnel is the large letter “D” signifying the name of the shipping company, Danae. In front of the funnel is the bridge deck with different areas, an enormous winch and the bollard. Narrow portholes lead into the engine room. The mid-ship area resembles a scrap heap where steel girders are bent and torn up, and the side panels lie caved in on the bottom. Crocodile fish, scorpion fish, parrotfish, and groupers call the vessel home. This wreck is at 30 - 88 feet/10 - 27meters depth.

Carnatic was on the way from Liverpool to Bombay with 27 crew members, 203 passengers as well as a cargo of cotton, copper, and 40,000 pounds Sterling in gold. She ran aground in the night September 13,1869. Now the wreck lies at a depth of 65 - 88 feet/20 - 27 meters. The hull is covered with hard and leather corals.

Chrisoula K started her last trip on August 30, 1981 loaded with cheap Italian tiles. Chrisoula K ran aground due to a navigation mistake of the captain and sank in the same night. The wreck lies at 16 - 80 feet/5 - 25 meters depth.

Shaab el Erg: Shaab el Erg, also known as “Dolphin House”, is famous for dolphin sightings; it is not uncommon for a school of dolphins to join the dive. The reef drops down to a coral garden at 40 feet/12 meters deep with marine life like nudibranchs, tunas, trevallies, jacks, scorpionfish and sea turtles.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 25m

Giftun Island is arguably one of the best dives in the area. There is a 2 euro entry fee, but the site is well worth the money. There is a 100m drop and you drift along with the current so when you make your way back up there is no real difficulty. There is lots of picturesque coral: soft and hard, to be seen. Tuna and barracuda can be seen here as well.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth:

The Thistlegorm was discovered in 1956 by Jacques Cousteau and is probably the most famous wreck in the world. It sank in 1941 when it was hit by a German bomb that blew a hole in the port side, igniting tank ammunition that was in the hold. The explosion ripped the roof of the ship backwards, rather like opening a tin of sardines.
The stern section of the wreck lies almost horizontal to the sea bed; the remainder of the wreck is nearly upright. Inside the wreckage, tyres, tanks, motorbikes, Bedford trucks, waders and Wellington boots can be seen. Penetration is possible around the bridge and blast area. The large prop is still in position and the guns on the stern are in excellent condition.
Artillery litters the blast area. A bath tub can be seen towards the bow and a toilet near the stern. The sea life is impressive with possibility of seeing tuna overhead the resident turtle. Expect this to be very busy, especially once the day boats have reached it; it is likely to be chaos both on the surface and under the water.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth:

Gabr El Bint means the "Tomb of the girl" and it is the southern dive site of Dahab. Part of the attraction of this site is the novelty of the commute- by camel loaded down with high-tech diving gear along the inaccessible coastline between Dahab and Nabeq.
The first dive is done to the north of a hard coral buttress that you can see from the shore. The underwater landscape is fantastic with a wall running around the north point of a curving bay and descending to more than 50 meters depth decorated with table corals, black coral. Within the bay, the wall begins at around depth of 8 to 20 meters and give life to shelters and small caves, it is of outstanding beauty.
The second dive is done south of the hard coral buttress. In shore, a large sandy lagoon dotted with coral heads lies just next to a hard coral buttress. It is an excellent place to spot Rays and numerous Crocodile fishes. The upper reef slope widens with a true forest of soft corals. It is exceptional and teeming of life. Beautiful Gorgonians and impressive Cabbage corals lie down between 12 and 30 meters.
This is one of the most unusual sites along the Sinai coast and well worth the journey.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30m

This site takes its name from a long, narrow and very beautiful canyon created by an ancient volcanic activity. The huge fissure now overgrown with hard and soft corals runs north to south from the shallow reef just off shore to a depth of around 54 meters on the reef slope further out (ideal for technical divers).
Access to the site is through a shallow and sandy lagoon laying a few steps form the shore line. It is inhabited by a rich fauna comprising Butterflyfishes, Bluespine Unicornfishes, Cornetfishes and even juvenile Barracudas. On the most western point there is a saddle serving as an entry (and exit) point to the open sea and a coral garden. Among the large range of reef fish here, some notable residents include the Pufferfish, Snappers, Lyretail and Coral Grouper, Basslets and Red Sea Anthias.
The entry to the Canyon is done through it largest point at 22 meters. The progression through the Canyon is easy and the light effect caused by the sun rays is surreal.
The exit of the Canyon is done through a huge hard coral block with a man-sized opening in this coral hummock. The numerous small cracks of this coral block allow the air bubbles emitted by scuba divers to escape giving a fantastic touch to the scenery.

• Dive Type: Shore Dive
• Diver Level: Experienced Diver - 50 + Dives
• Max Depth: 100m

Shag Rock is a large circular reef with two small wrecks on it. The Carina is a broken up wreckage of a 19th Century steamship that you drift past quickly. The kingston is another 18th century steamship, but is more intact than the Carina is. The reef makes quite a good dive with lots of branching coral, butterfly fish, yellow goatfish, sweet lips and sea cucumbers.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 16m

This Greek freighter hit the reef in April 1983 and over the course of two weeks slowly broke into two parts and sank. She is the most dived wreck in the area, laying in 24 metres and leaning to port with a fully intact stern section and an impressive engine room packed with glass fish.

The bow is very interesting too but is a long swim out. She is a great wreck for penetration but beware of disorientation due to the angle at which she lays. Be wary of the many lion fish and scorpion fish that call this wreck home and watch out for the strong surges in and around the wreck in rough weather.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 24m

The Carnatic is a British P & O steamer which struck the reef in 1869 and sank the next day as the weather worsened. She was a passenger and mail ship and is sometimes known as the ‘wine’ wreck for the numerous bottles once found in the holds; sadly not many now remain to be seen. Rumour has it that she sank with forty thousand pounds sterling of gold bullion, much of which was never recovered. The wreck lays in 29m and now the whole hull is draped in multicoloured soft corals and the inner areas are full of glass fish complete with red mouthed grouper sentinel. One davit supports a beautiful table coral. The wreck is now home to large grouper, octopus and morays and jacks and tuna cruise overhead.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 29m

The Woodhouse Reef is located between Thomas and Jackson reef, Woodhouse reef is the narrowest and longest reef in Tiran. With no moorings this dive is always done as a drift. The Reef offers a sheer wall dropping down to a sandy ledge at 30 meters and dropping away into the abyss. The most interesting point of this dive site is the famous canyon that opens out at a depth of 30 meters and runs parallel to the main axis of the reef. Here divers will have the opportunity to spot black coral at a depth of around 22 meters and lots of pelagic fish cruising past in the blue.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 22m

This is a small split in the middle of Shaab Mahmoud’s barrier. Drift along the outside wall next to beautiful corals and colorful fish. Look for a sand slope that leads you up and through the crack. When the current is right you can fly through the 5m deep channel and be thrown out across the sandy lagoon!

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

This is the most southerly reef of the four and has a different topography from the others offering both a shallow plateau area and drop offs. A huge variety of reef fish and big schools of grouper can be seen here and on the sandy bottom at 4 to 5 meter there is an eel garden area along with coral encrusted drums. The top of the reef, with its lighthouse, is also home to the wreck Lovilla which sits almost parallel to the wreck on Jackson Reef.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

The wreck of the Ulysses lies on her port side on the northern face of Gubal Sheghir with her bow, or what is left of it, lying in 4-5 meters of water and the rest of the wreck descending down the reef to where her propeller lies partially buried in the sand at 28 meters. The wooden deck has long since disappeared leaving only the skeleton of the ship’s iron deck supports. This allows easy penetration into the wreck with no chance of becoming lost. However, the interior of the wreck is encrusted with extensive marine growth. The after-most part of the ship is the most complete, with her propeller and rounded stern leading up to the ship’s engines located approximately amidships. Her shaft is clearly visible as well. The main deck still has bits, chocks, and other equipment mounted on it. Located on the seabed around the wreck are also bits and pieces from the ship, including a bathtub!

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 18

The Salem Express is a former 100m long car and ferry passenger. She was finishing the trip from Jeddah in Saudi Arabia to Safaga full of pilgrims returning from the Mecca when she sunk December 17, 1991 in the middle of the night.

The Salem Express is quite shallow. The wreck starts at 12m and the seabed is at 30m deep. This is a huge wreck and you will need at least 2 dives to explore it all. Even after two decades in the water, there is still little fauna around the wreck. There is also now a bit of coral growing on the shipwreck.

• Dive Type: Wreck Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30m

The El Mina was bombed by the Israelis in 1969 in Hurghada bay, but still has a sister ship afloat nearby which is worth looking at to compare to what you are about to dive. The wreck now lies on its side and there are a lot of small holes to peer into and penetration is possible, although tight, through a significant amount of the wreck. Sea urchins are abundant on the wreck and a very large moray was found living in one of the holes. An interesting dive.

• Dive Type: Wreck Dive
• Diver Level: Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30m

Siyul Kebira is a varied reef composed of dense coral patches with lots to explore. The undulating reef face has furrows, vallies, and depressions. The north side of the Siyul Kebira reef is covered in corals, and both sides of the reef feature a mix of different coral species – hard corals as well as soft ones. The fish life is vibrant and diverse, and Siyul Kebira attracts larger pelagics as well. Nurse and leopard sharks are sometimes spotted on the sandy bottom. This dive site is at 72 feet/22 meters depth.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 24

Thomas Reef is the smallest reef in the strait. The reef’s ends are vertical walls with a large plateau at 25 meters depth on the south eastern side. This plateau is covered in colorful coral and has a fence of gorgonian fans longnose hawkfish can be found.

• Dive Type: Boat Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 25m

The El Khafain was built in the UK in 1967 and the original name was the Ulster Queen. It is one of the newer shipwrecks in the Red Sea and sank in 2005. She was a roll on, roll-off ferry for vehicles and passengers and similar in appearance to the Salem Express. The ship departed Hurghada enroute to Jeddah, Saudi Arabia when an explosion occurred in the engine room and started a fire which spread quickly. There was an attempt to tow the ship to port but it capsized while in tow, drifted and sank in 25 meters of water with the top of the wreck at 6 meters.

• Dive Type: Wreck Dive
• Diver Level: Advanced Open Water Diver
• Max Depth: 30