Red Sea Governorate dive sites
Egypt · Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions.
Best Season
Year-round, March to November, March-November, September to December, March to December, year-round, April to November, March to June
Skill Levels
beginner, intermediate, advanced, all-levels
Nearby Cities
Hurghada, Marsa Alam, Safaga
All dive sites
Abu Dabab North
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
The northern extension of the famous Abu Dabab bay, where a sloping reef with dense seagrass meadows provides year-round feeding grounds for dugongs and green turtles in a quieter section away from the main beach entry point.
Abu Galawa Soraya
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A picture-perfect reef in the Fury Shoal system featuring a photogenic sailboat wreck in crystal-clear shallows, a turquoise lagoon, and pristine coral pinnacles teeming with tropical fish.
Abu Nuhas - Giannis D Wreck
Hurghada · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A Greek cargo ship that sank in 1983 on the notorious Abu Nuhas reef, now broken in two with a dramatic bow section rising from the reef slope and an engine room open for penetration.
Careless Reef
Hurghada · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
An offshore reef pinnacle rising from deep water east of Hurghada, famous for its resident grey reef shark population, dense soft coral coverage, and dramatic topography of ergs and pillars in crystal-clear Red Sea water.
Elphinstone South Plateau
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
The southern tip of legendary Elphinstone Reef where a sloping coral plateau drops into deep blue water and oceanic whitetip sharks make regular appearances, creating one of the Red Sea's most iconic and pulse-quickening shark encounters.
Gota Abu Ramada
Hurghada · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A small reef island south of Hurghada known as 'The Aquarium' for its extraordinary density of colourful reef fish, offering shallow, calm diving on a pristine coral plateau that delivers the Red Sea's best fish-watching in waist-deep water.
Hamata Southern Reefs
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
Egypt's southernmost mainland dive destination, where remote offshore reef systems in pristine condition host spinner dolphin pods, resident sea turtles, and coral formations untouched by the mass tourism of the northern Red Sea.
Hurghada Small Giftun Island
Hurghada · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
The protected reef system around Small Giftun Island in the Hurghada Marine Park, where strict access controls have allowed coral recovery and marine life to flourish beyond what is found on the mainland reefs, making it the area's premium dive destination.
Marsa Mubarak
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A sheltered bay south of Marsa Alam where resident dugongs graze on seagrass beds, green sea turtles rest on sandy patches, and a healthy fringing reef offers gentle diving and snorkeling in warm, shallow water.
Marsa Shouna
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A shallow protected bay south of Marsa Alam where calm turquoise water, dense coral gardens, and resident green turtles create one of Egypt's finest sites for beginners and underwater photographers.
Middle Reef Safaga
Safaga · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A submerged coral pinnacle in the centre of Safaga Bay where three reef blocks rise from a sandy seabed, creating a concentrated ecosystem where octopuses, morays, and large schools of glassfish congregate around coral towers in excellent visibility.
Panorama Reef
Safaga · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A massive offshore reef south of Safaga with stunning wall diving, vibrant soft coral plateaus, and regular visits from sharks, dolphins, and large pelagics.
Ras Ghozlani
Hurghada · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A current-swept headland reef south of Hurghada where converging currents attract dense schools of glassfish, hunting lionfish, and large Napoleon wrasse along a colorful coral wall.
Safaga Tobya Kebir
Safaga · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A large reef system in Safaga Bay where a coral-encrusted plateau drops to sandy slopes rich in soft corals, offering relaxed diving among dense anthias clouds, green turtles, and the occasional eagle ray in characteristically excellent Red Sea visibility.
Salem Express Wreck
Safaga · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A 115-metre passenger ferry that sank tragically in 1991, now resting upright on the seabed south of Safaga -- one of the Red Sea's most emotionally powerful wreck dives.
Samadai Lagoon Approach
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
The outer reef approach to Shaab Samadai's protected dolphin lagoon, where pristine coral walls, cleaning stations, and resident spinner dolphin pods offer world-class encounters at a carefully managed Red Sea site.
Sataya Reef (Dolphin House South)
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A horseshoe-shaped offshore reef system in the southern Red Sea where resident spinner dolphins rest in a protected lagoon and the outer walls boast pristine coral growth with shark and turtle encounters.
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A horseshoe-shaped reef sheltering a calm lagoon where a resident pod of spinner dolphins rests daily -- one of the most magical snorkelling and diving encounters in the Red Sea.
Small Brother Island
Hurghada · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
The smaller of Egypt's legendary Brothers Islands, a sheer-sided oceanic pinnacle where walls of pristine soft coral drop into the abyss and encounters with oceanic whitetip sharks, thresher sharks, and hammerheads draw advanced divers from around the world.
Zabargad Island
Marsa Alam · Red Sea Governorate · Egypt
A remote volcanic island in Egypt's Deep South where pristine coral walls, untouched seagrass beds, and the historical legacy of ancient peridot mines create one of the most exotic and least-dived destinations in the Red Sea.
Diving in Red Sea Governorate
Red Sea Governorate offers reef, wreck, pinnacle, wall dive sites across 3 locations. Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions before planning your dive.
FAQ
How does Abu Dabab North differ from the main Abu Dabab site?
The main Abu Dabab beach entry point sees heavy traffic from resort guests, day trippers, and organised dive groups, particularly during high season. Abu Dabab North refers to the reef section accessed by entering the water further north along the coastline, away from the main beach infrastructure. The reef here has denser seagrass coverage and receives significantly fewer visitors, which may contribute to more relaxed dugong and turtle behaviour. The northern section also has more developed hard coral formations on its outer edge compared to the sandier main bay.
What are the chances of seeing a dugong at Abu Dabab?
Abu Dabab is one of the most reliable dugong encounter locations in the Red Sea, with sighting rates reported at roughly 60 to 70 percent on dedicated dugong dives. The resident dugong population is small, likely 2 to 4 individuals, but their dependence on the seagrass meadows keeps them in the bay year-round. Dugongs are shy animals and sightings cannot be guaranteed. They feed on the seagrass in depths of 5 to 15 metres and can remain submerged for 6 to 8 minutes before surfacing to breathe. Early morning dives tend to produce the best encounters before boat traffic increases.
What rules apply when encountering dugongs?
Egyptian environmental regulations and responsible dive operator guidelines require maintaining a minimum distance of 3 metres from dugongs and prohibit chasing, cornering, or blocking their path. Approaching should be slow, low to the seabed, and from the side rather than head-on or from behind. Flash photography is discouraged as it may startle the animal. Groups should be small, ideally no more than 4 divers, to minimise disturbance. If the dugong shows signs of stress such as rapid departure or altered feeding behaviour, divers should immediately back away and allow the animal space.
What is the wreck at Abu Galawa Soraya?
The wreck is a small sailing yacht that ran aground on the reef and sank on the sandy slope at approximately 12 metres depth. The boat sits upright and largely intact, with its mast still pointing toward the surface and the hull colonized by soft corals and sponges. The exact history of the wreck is unclear, but it has been on the bottom for several decades. It is small enough to photograph entirely in one frame, making it one of the most photogenic wrecks in the Red Sea despite its modest size.
Is Abu Galawa Soraya suitable for snorkeling?
Abu Galawa Soraya is one of the best snorkeling sites in the entire Fury Shoal system. The lagoon is shallow with a white sand bottom, calm water, and coral pinnacles rising to within one to two metres of the surface. Snorkelers can see the sailboat wreck clearly from the surface due to the exceptional visibility. The lagoon is protected from waves and current, making it safe and comfortable for snorkelers of all levels. Many liveaboards use this site specifically as a snorkel and relaxation stop.