Starting from the
North on the Eastern side of the Sinai Peninsula lie the Straits
of Tiran, one of the most famous diving areas in the Red Sea.
Situated in the middle of the straits are four coral reefs, Gordon,
Thomas, Woodhouse and Jackson named after 19th century British
cartographers. Enjoy exciting drift dives, drop offs, amazing
coral and friendly sharks for the lucky at these dive sites. The
beautiful lagoon next to Tiran island is a popular destination
for lunch and snorkeling.
Tiran
Dive Sites Click
On the dive site you seeking for
Facts about dive:
Like Jackson to the north, this reef is
marked by the wreck of a large commercial
freighter; at the southern end of the
reef, there is also a light beacon to
keep other ships off the reef. A permanent
mooring point lies just offshore near
the light.
The dive site encompasses a wide, oval
sloping patchy reef which extends to the
south and east of the shallow circular
reeftop, rather like the sloping brim
of a baseball cap. The reef composition
is quite varied, with patchy sections,
sand beds and ful-fledged coral gardens.
In the centre of the reef slope, a 'shark
amphitheatre' or bowl dips to 24m; a variety
of shark species can be seen sleeping
on the sandy bottom.
The site boasts a very good range of corals,
with lots of branching varieties. All
of the corals are well preserved, in densely
grown patches that often show a remarkable
mix of different species.
Fish life is not the most profuse in the
Straits of Tiran, but there are some notable
surprises including a huge moray eel with
a body as thick as a small divers waist.
Triggerfish abound while surgeons and
jacks swim in moderately large schools,
and angels, parrotfish and small wrasse
are all present in good numbers. Large
Napoleon wrasse can often be seen along
the reef.
The reef slope is suitable for relatively
inexperienced divers while more experienced
divers will enjoy the incredible experience
to be had at the shark amphitheatre.
Access to the dive: By
local or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh,
Naama Bay or other ports.
Conditions: As with all Straits reefs, can be
swept by current. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
This site is on a generally steep sloping
reef, which includes some plateau sections
and a very deep canyon running along the
reef's southern section. It is the smallest
of the four Tiran reefs, and its position
in the chain leaves it exposed to some
fairly vigorous currents.
The reef's upper section is a riot of
color, encompassing some of the finest
soft coral growth in the Sinai region.
Huge, densley packed fields of Dendronephthya
of every imaginable hue are spread across
the reef, along with antler corals, fine
Stylophora, some Acropora and many other
stony coral forms.
Fish live is also rich, with the greatest
concentration in the shallows. Lyretail
cod and other groupers grow to great size,
and many varieties of rabbitfish and wrasse
congregate along the reef face, accompanied
by box and pufferfish.
The only reason to go much deeper than
20m at Thomas Reef is to explore the canyon;
an option for only very experienced deep
divers. You should not even consider this
hazardous option without consulting your
dive guide.
Access to the dive: By
local or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh,
Naama Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Current can be strong. Experience grade: Everyone
Facts about dive:
Lying between Jackson and Gordon Reef The Woodhouse
is a long, narrow reef running at an angle from
northeast to southwest. From its shallow reeftop,
the reef drops at a sharp angle on all sides;
although it is less than vertical throughout
the reef's length, the angle steepens still
further beyond 25m.
Woodhouse is generally dived as a drift along
the reef's eastern side. The current is usually
moderate, but can pick up speed at certain phases
of the Moon, particularly toward the northern
channel between Woodhouse and Jackson. Care
should be taken not to get pulled around the
point here, as you could be swept off the reef
into the main shipping lane.
Coral cover is excellent throughout the reef,
with dense growth all over; there are a few
sandy patches at depths of around 20m. Many
species are present but because of the sheltered
position of the reef, away from the main current,
a certain amount of sedimentation has affected
the corals here.
Pelagic fish including big tuna and schools
of trevally or jacks. Fusilieres, snapper, surgeons
and unicorns alsoschool here, along with thousands
of other reef fish.
Access
to the dive: Local or live-aboard boat
from Sharm El Sheikh, Naama Bay or other ports.
Conditions: Strong current possible Experience grade: Experienced
Facts about dive:
On the northern edge of the reef, the
wreck of a grounded freighter stands as
a warning to shipping in the busy straits;
most of its hull has been salvaged for
scrap, leaving only a skeletal hulk. A
fixed mooring exists at the southern end
of the reef; dives begin from this point
and proceed generally northward along
the east side of the reef.
Current tends to run from the north, and
generally picks up strength as you approach
the point on the east side. Most divers
will want to make this the northern limit
of their dive, and turn back to the south
here. Strong swimmers with good air consumption
and experience in currents can round the
point, after which the current slackens,
and continue their dive along the reef's
north edge. This should only be done by
prior arrangement with your dive guide,
and great care should be taken, since
divers have been swept off the reef here.
The steep-sided walls of Jackson Reef
are among the finest in the Sinai region;
the current-swept reef is densely grown
with a real profusion of hard and soft
corals, with special accents provided
by luxuriant gorgonian fans, sea whips
and black corals, and vivid growths of
soft coral.
Fish life, not suprisingly, is excellent.
The strong current brings plenty of nutrients
for reef and schooling fish; current and
profile combine to tempt pelagic fish
in from the open water, and large schools
of barracuda and jacks are common here,
as are larger predators including several
species of shark. The smaller reef species
on which these pelagic visitors feed are
profuse.
Access to the dive: By
local or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh
or other ports.
Conditions: As with all Tiran sites, strong
currents are a very real possibility.
