Shark Reef & Yolanda Reef
Overview
Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef together form what many experienced Red Sea divers consider the single greatest dive in Egypt. Located at the extreme southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula within Ras Mohammed National Park, these two coral towers rise from deep water and are exposed to open ocean currents that bring nutrients, plankton, and predators in abundance. The standard dive follows a drift route that covers both reefs, delivering dramatic changes in scenery across a single unforgettable descent. I remember my first time dropping into the blue off Shark Reef's north wall and immediately spotting three grey reef sharks cruising below at around 30 meters. The wall itself is a vertical coral cliff covered in soft corals, gorgonian fans, and massive plate corals. Napoleon wrasse of extraordinary size patrol the wall edge, utterly indifferent to passing divers. Schools of bohar snapper stack up in the current, their silver flanks flashing as they shift formation. Looking into the blue, the silhouettes of barracuda and jacks are constant. The drift carries you across a sandy saddle at around 15 meters to Yolanda Reef. Here the dive transforms into something genuinely surreal. Scattered across the reef slope lie the remains of the MV Yolanda's cargo: porcelain toilet bowls, bathtubs, and washbasins sitting upright on the seabed, encrusted with coralline algae and surrounded by curious reef fish. The contrast between pristine coral and bathroom fixtures is simultaneously absurd and beautiful. Yolanda Reef itself offers superb coral gardens in the shallows between 5 and 15 meters, with table corals and branching formations hosting dense communities of anthias, butterflyfish, and wrasse. Giant moray eels peer from crevices, lionfish hover under ledges, and blue-spotted stingrays scatter from sandy patches. The combination of pelagic drama at Shark Reef and the unique character of Yolanda makes this a dive that justifies its legendary reputation, delivering something different every time conditions change.
Marine life
Dive profile
DEPTH PROFILE
DEPTH PROGRESSION & WAYPOINTS: Shark Reef & Yolanda Reef
Location
Near Sharm El Sheikh, in the Sinai Peninsula region of Egypt.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Yolanda wreck cargo at this site?
The MV Yolanda was a Cypriot freighter that sank in 1980 at the tip of Ras Mohammed. The ship carried a cargo of bathroom fixtures and has since broken apart and slipped deeper. What remains accessible to recreational divers between 15 and 25 meters is the scattered cargo field: porcelain toilet bowls, bathtubs, and basins now encrusted with coral and surrounded by reef fish. The ship's hull rests much deeper beyond recreational limits, but the cargo field creates one of the most bizarre and photogenic underwater scenes in the Red Sea.
How strong are the currents at Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef?
Currents at this site range from mild to strong depending on tidal conditions and can shift direction during the dive. The standard dive plan involves a negative entry and drift from Shark Reef to Yolanda Reef, using the current rather than fighting it. Dive guides assess conditions before each dive and adjust the entry point accordingly. While intermediate divers can handle typical conditions, strong current days may require advanced experience and good buoyancy control.
When is the best time to see sharks at Shark Reef?
Grey reef sharks and whitetip reef sharks are present year-round at Shark Reef, but sightings tend to be most reliable from June through October when water temperatures are warmest and shark activity around the reef's deeper sections increases. Early morning dives often produce the best encounters as sharks patrol the wall edge before boat traffic increases. Schooling hammerheads are occasionally spotted in deeper water during summer months.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Data Provenance
This profile is compiled from 3 operator submissions and 142 community logs. Key facts (depth, entry) are verified against official hydrographic charts.