Southern Red Sea dive sites
Egypt · Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions.
Best Season
Year-round, March to November, May to November
Skill Levels
beginner, advanced, intermediate
Nearby Cities
Marsa Alam
All dive sites
Abu Dabbab Dugong Bay
Marsa Alam · Southern Red Sea · Egypt
One of Egypt's most famous shore-access sites, where a sandy bay with seagrass beds provides reliable encounters with the critically endangered dugong alongside green turtles and guitar sharks.
Abu Kafan
Marsa Alam · Southern Red Sea · Egypt
A remote offshore reef in the southern Egyptian Red Sea renowned for its dramatic vertical walls, large pelagic encounters, and pristine soft coral coverage accessible primarily by liveaboard.
Daedalus Reef
Marsa Alam · Southern Red Sea · Egypt
An isolated oceanic reef rising from the deep Red Sea marked by a historic lighthouse, famous for schooling hammerhead sharks, oceanic whitetip encounters, and pristine coral walls plunging into the abyss.
Shaab Claudio
Marsa Alam · Southern Red Sea · Egypt
A spectacular offshore reef system south of Marsa Alam featuring a massive coral amphitheatre, pristine hard coral gardens, and reliable encounters with hawksbill turtles and schooling pelagics.
Umm Halhala
Marsa Alam · Southern Red Sea · Egypt
A pristine and rarely visited coral pinnacle in Egypt's deep south offering untouched hard coral gardens, resident green turtles, and extraordinary visibility in complete solitude.
Diving in Southern Red Sea
Southern Red Sea offers reef dive sites across 1 location. Browse dive locations by depth, type and conditions before planning your dive.
FAQ
How likely am I to see a dugong at Abu Dabbab?
Abu Dabbab has one of the highest dugong encounter rates in the Red Sea, with sightings occurring on roughly 60 to 70 percent of dives. The resident dugong frequents the seagrass beds in the bay, particularly in the early morning hours before boat traffic increases. Patience is key -- the dugong can appear at any point during the dive, and experienced guides know its preferred feeding routes. However, sightings are never guaranteed with any wild animal.
Is Abu Dabbab suitable for beginner divers or snorkellers?
Abu Dabbab is one of the most beginner-friendly sites on the Egyptian Red Sea coast. The shore entry is straightforward across a sandy beach, currents are minimal within the bay, and the main points of interest sit between 4 and 15 meters depth. Snorkellers can often spot turtles and occasionally the dugong from the surface when the water is calm and the animals are feeding in shallow seagrass. It is an excellent site for introductory dives and training.
What are the rules for interacting with the dugong?
Egyptian environmental authorities and dive operators enforce strict guidelines at Abu Dabbab. Divers must maintain a minimum distance of three meters from the dugong and must never chase, touch, or block its path. Flash photography is prohibited. Only a limited number of divers are allowed near the animal at any time. These rules protect a critically endangered species -- the Red Sea dugong population is estimated at fewer than a few dozen individuals. Responsible behavior ensures continued access to this extraordinary encounter.
How do I reach Abu Kafan reef?
Abu Kafan is an offshore reef located in the southern Egyptian Red Sea approximately 15 kilometres east of the coastline between Marsa Alam and Hamata. It is accessible exclusively by liveaboard and is included on most southern Red Sea itineraries of four days or longer departing from Port Ghalib or Marsa Alam. The crossing takes roughly two hours depending on sea conditions. Some operators also include it on routes from Hurghada heading south.
What skill level is required to dive Abu Kafan?
Abu Kafan is best suited to advanced divers with experience in current and deep water conditions. The walls drop vertically beyond recreational limits and strong currents can develop without warning. Most liveaboard operators require at least Advanced Open Water certification and a minimum of 50 logged dives. Drift diving experience is essential as the standard dive plan involves negative entries and drift along the wall with pickup by zodiac.