Facts about dive:
The madreporic reef of ras gamila separates
a vast and rather shallow sandy lagoon from
the sea is crossed over by small natural canal
that is sometimes used by local fishermen.
ras gamila is
an interesting place for a fine drift dive that
is not too difficult. the classic dive, which
must be followed in any case when the tide is
swilling, begins immediately after you have
passed the Conrad international resort area
from this point you dive onto a vast sandy plateau
with a slight incline, staying at a depth of
about 15 meters and then continue in a sort
of gliding motion northwards, parallel to the
beacon. On the gentle slope of the reef, which
descends to an average depth of about 8 meters,
there are many large colonies of porites
coral and some gaint triggerfish often pass
by , while on plateau there are large acropora
corals, around which schools of pelagic fish
swim.
Access to the
dive: By shore, or by local or live-aboard
boat from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Gentle and sheltered, with easy profile. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
This site is a sloping wall at the point
of Ras Nasrani (Arabic for Christian Point).
In profile, it varies between very steep
to moderately sloping, depending on location
- the steepest wall section lies south
of the point, while the reef to the north
flattens somewhat. Inshore, a shallow
mini-wall follows the edge of the reef
top.
The reef is well covered in dense hard
and soft corals, with lots of massive
coral heads, some good branching forms,
and a nice selection of colorful soft
corals. Fish life is spectacular, with
a huge range of reef and schooling species.
Morays hide in reef crevices, fusiliers,
jacks, surgeons and barracuda school of
the reef, and nedle fish shimmer near
the surface. Large turtles are also a
common sight, paddling lazily along the
reef slope.
Access
to the dive: By shore, or by local
or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama
Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Current can be fierce - novices
be aware. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
The site, lying inside the bay formed by Ras
Nasrani to the north has numerous points of
interest. Just inshore from the boat mooring
a deep canyon extends down from the shallows,
while to the north of this mixed sand and coral
patches lead to a wide sand slope colonized
by garden eels. To the south, a wooden wreck
adds even more interest.
Most dives begin at the entrance to the canyon,
a narrow, sand-bottomed canyon descends steeply,
passing through a series of overhangs and two
covered swimthroughs, one at around 15m and
a second, for advanced divers only, leading
out to the reef face at 35m.
After leaving the canyon, there are two options
- turning right takes you south along the reef
to the wreck, while a left turn takes you across
the reef slope to the eel garden and a series
of beautiful shallow reef patches.
Swimming south and gradually ascending, ou will
see a dense assortment of species, including
star and cabbage corals, staghorn and table
acropora, and several varieties of soft coral.
At around 14m, ten minutes swim south from the
canyon, you will encounter the upturned bulk
of a wood-hulled wreck - the Noos 1, a local
dive boat that sank in 1994 after an electrical
fire in the engine room.
Access to the dive: By local
or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama Bay
or other ports.
Conditions: Some deeper sections require caution. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
This site, lying just in front of the
Shark Bay Camp and Dive Center, is a sloping
reef broken by a large sandy area which
houses the dive center's jetty and boat
area.
To the south, the reef has a moderate
slope and is well covered in coral; north
of the jetty is a shallow area good for
relaxed snorkeling.
Directly in front of the sandy shore entry
point, a deep canyon drops through the
reef; its mouth lies at the foot of the
reef wall forming the sand slope's southern
edge. The canyon's steep and sandy floor
descends rapidly to depths of 60m and
more - take care not to be drawn too deep.
Exiting the canyon, you can explore the
moderately sloping reef to the south,
gradually ascending before turning back
to the north. This section shows dense
growth of both hard and soft corals, although
less pristine than at some places along
this coast. Fish life is diverse and interesting,
with angels, parrotfish, grouper, wrasse
and morays among the attractions on the
reef, and rays and flatfish lying on the
sandy entry slope.
Access
to the dive: By shore, or by local
or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama
Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Easy shore entry, but watch out
for boat traffic. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
A garden-like reef of colorful corals running northwest
to southeast, the northwest portion of the reef is
steeply sloping with a sharp drop off toward the point,
while the southwestern section has a more gradual
slope pinnacles and outcrops dot the reef, and the
tops of these, together with the shallow inshore reef
top, make for good snorkeling.
Coral growth throughout the site is concentrated in
small patches, with strong growth of dozens of species,
from staghorn and antler coral to delicate Dendronephthya.
Fish life is good, with lots of wrasse - Napoleons
in particular - as well as big parrots and grouper.
Hawk fish, scorpion fish, fairy basslets, damsels,
and many lizardfish and crocodile fish can be found
on the many sandy areas.
Access to the dive: By local or live-aboard
from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama Bay or other ports. Conditions: Generally calm and carefree.
Facts about dive: As it's implies,
this site lies in the central of the bay between
far garden and near garden, more or les
on a line with the impressive Hyatt Regency complex.Totally
sheltered from wind, waves and currents, Middle
Garden has fixed mooring point just opposite the
central section of hotel. Dives are made onto
a vast sandy plateau that is from 6 to 10 meters
deep: from here you can go northeast, keeping
the reef on your left and then descending to maximum
depth of 14 meters, where you will see the drop
off .
Access to the
dive: By shore, or by local or live-aboard
boat from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Gentle and sheltered, with easy profile. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
This site begins on an inshore mini-wall that
drops from the surface reef table to about 15
m. From here, the reef slopes gently outward,
maintaining an even profile to 25m, where the
slope steepens considerably. A huge number of
pinnacles, heads and coral clumps dot the reef
as it descends, hosting populations of colorful
small reef fish. The larger reef fish are also
present as the bluespottet stingrays resting
half hidden on the sandy bottom.
The undemanding profile of this reef, with its
ample sandy areas, make it an excellent venue
for novice divers and the shallow reeftop and
upper reef mini-wall are perfect for snorkel.
Advanced divers will find plenty of scope for
exploration on the deeper reef slope.
Access to the dive: By local
or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheik, Naama Bay
or other ports.
Conditions: Generally calm and carefree, no adverse
conditions are likely. Experience grade: Experienced
Facts about dive:
This site, named for a tower-like rock
formation on shore, lies just below the
Tower resort complex.
For shore entries and exits, especially
at low tide, it is worth knowing about
a short-cut, halfway across the reef top,
directly out from the steps, is a small
submerged cave mouth - this opens out
into a passage leading through to the
open water, cutting out half of the awkward
clamber across the reef top.
The reef is most interesting in its upper
reaches, with the exception of the canyon
which drops to depths of 40m: Coral in
the top 20 to 25m is excellent, with a
very wide variety of species. Quality
is good, particularly nice site to dive
in the morning, when the sun's rays reach
down into the canyon and the deeper reef
slopes.
Access to the dive: By
shore entry or local or live-aboard boat from
Sharm El Sheikh, Naama Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Shore entry can be tricky at low
tide. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
Access from shore requires a four-wheel-drive
vehicle to get to the clifftop, then a rather
strenuous scramble down a narrow wadi. You will
then need to make a surf entry across the jagged
reeftop. This shore entry should only be attempted
by fit divers experienced in rough shore entries.
Once in the water, conditions are near perfect;
generally clear visibility reveals a beautiful
sheer wall dropping to great depths, well grown
with coral. Particularly the pink soft corals
for which the site is named.
Coral growth, especially soft corals like Dendronephthya,
is what this site is all about. Hard coral growth
is not as dense as at many sites near here,
but the profusion of soft species more than
compensates. Glassfish hide in shimmering schools
in the recesses and overhangs, while schooling
fish hang off the reef face.
There are also good numbers of parrotfish, rabbitfish
grouper and wrasse.
Access to the dive: By shore
or by local or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh,
Naama Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Shore access is physically demanding. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
This is a medium sloping reef, bounded inshore
by a mini-wall to around 10m, and a shallow
reeftop 30 to 40m wide in places. The reef face
is well covered with outcrops and pinnacles
and boasts an excellent variety of coral species.
Fish life is equally diverse, including many
sedentary reef fish - scorpions, devil scorpions,
stonefish, lizardfish, hawkfisk and others-
as well as the usual vast array of free-swimming
reef species.
When accessing the site from shore, particularly
at low tide, the long walk across the reef table
can be exasperation. In all but the lowest tides
you can in fact swim across the reeftop with
your fully inflated scupa gear extended in front
of you.
Like many sites along this stretch of coast,
the route to the shore access point is via a
constantly shifting network of jeep tracks.
Check with local dive centres for up-to-date
route information.
Access to the
dive: By shore, or by local or live-aboard
boat from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Generally easy, although shore access
can be tricky at low tide. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
This is really a combination of two dive
sites; the southernmost, Fiasco, lies
just north of the point at Ras Umm Sid,
while Paradise is the northern extension
of the same reef.
The Paradise section has some amazing
outcrops - like a garden of abstract sculptures.,
To the south, the pinnacles continue,
intersperesed with some very nice acropora
tables. A very good density of soft corals
is complemented by a wide range of hard
species. The quality of coral at this
site, particularly inshore, is among the
finest on the coast.
Big jacks and barracuda of more than a
metre can be seen here when the current
is running as can schooling and solitary
reef fish. Sandy sections host interesting
bottom dwellers such as crocodilefish
and bluespotted stingrays.
Unless a decent current is flowing, the
site can be somewhat dull as water movement
brings out the full variety of fish life.
With a strong current it is possible to
drift from the north end of Paradise almost
to the point of Ras Umm Sid on one tank.
Access
to the dive: By shore, or by local
or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama
Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Some strong currents - drift diving
is a good possibility. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
This is a steep sloping wall, extending
from the point at Ras Umm Sid inward toward
the bay to the west. The reef follows
the shoreline, and is marked by intermittent
sand patches, coral heads and pinnacles.
Coral attractions include gorgonians,
acropora, fire corals, dense soft coral
patches and some substantial coral formations.
Fish life is more than acceptable, with
lots of big and small jacks/trevally,
emperor and regal angelfish, various parrotfish,
picasso and other triggerfish, yellowspine
and ringtail surgeons, napoleon wrasse,
moray eels and lionfish on the reef, and
crocodilefish and stingrays on the sand.
Access
to the dive: By shore, or by local
or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama
Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Strong currents possible; shore
entry difficult due to wide reef flat. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
This is a flat, sloping reef with two major,
and a few minor, pinnacles adding contour to
the reef face. The largest of the pinnacles
is 'The Tower'; its bulk is a split by two major
fissures, one of which can be swum through.
The second should not be entered, to avoid damaging
the delicate gorgonians growing along its sides.
All the pinnacles hide a surprisingly rich variety
of reef animals.
Coral growth throughout the site is good, with
a density and mix of species difficult to match
in the immediate area. The fish are as pleasant
a surprise as the corals, with a truly amazing
range of species colonizing the reef.
The surprising richness and diversity of this
site make it one of the region's most underrated
sites.
Access to the dive: By shore,
or by local or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh,
Naama Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Gentle and sheltered, with easy profile. Experience grade: Everyone
