Introduction

Safaga (also known as Bur Safaga and Port Safaga) is located 53 km south of Hurghada. What was a small fishing and mining town (phosphate was exploited there) became a tourist town famous for scuba divers and windsurfers. Still, Safaga has an unpolluted atmosphere, black sand-dunes and mineral springs making it one of the nicest towns along the Red Sea. It is also a good base for a day trip exploration of the Eastern Desert or of Luxor, one of the most impressive sights of Egypt, only 220 km away.

One of the only disadvantage of this destination is that most diving sites are 60-90 minutes by boat from the town itself.

Travel facts

Diving type

Destination

easily accessible

bargain destination

Diving level & type

for beginners

for advanced divers

shore diving

liveaboard

Diving Characteristics

pelagics

lots of fish

lots of corals

interesting underwater scenery

Other activities

attractive natural spots

gastronomy

night life

beach

snorkeling

Diving Sites

• 

  Middle Reef West

  rating : 3.0

  depth : ---
  description :
  
  Drift dive in a weak current, on a gentle slope covered with reef. Beautiful corals, especially the hard ones. Divers will feel in a garden during this dive! One turtle, two stingrays and lots of reef fish.
  
  
• 

  Panorama Reef North

  rating : 3.0

  depth : ---
  description :
  
  Interesting coral around a depth of 25 meters, a huge napoleon, a turtle, two rays and a stonefish. This dive is carried out as a drift dive, as the current is strong; but the dive remains relatively easy.
  
  
• 

  Panorama Reef South

  rating : 3.0

  depth : ---
  description :
  
  Steep slope to 80 meters, although not a vertical wall. Beautiful coral, a napoleon, a stingray, a school of trumpetfish. Nice dive... especially in comparison with the others.
  
  
• 

  Gamul Kebir Nord

  rating : 2.0

  depth : ---
  description :
  
  Several large potatoes on a sandy bottom. A moray eel, a large grouper, a small napoleon, a devilfish.
  
  
• 

  Middle Reef East

  rating : 2.0

  depth : ---
  description :
  
  Drift dive in a slightly stronger current than on the Middle Reef West dive site. Very nice coral, even if there was a lot of dead coral at the end of the dive. Two napoleons (of a relatively small size).
  
  
• 

  Tobia Aarba

  rating : 2.0

  depth : ---
  description :
  
  Several large potatoes on a bottom of 15-20 meters. No need to descend too deep, as most of the fish stayed on top of the coral. Fairly interesting relief.
  
  
• 

  Tobia Hamra

  rating : 2.0

  depth : 10 m
  description :
  
  Sandy bottom down to 15 meters, followed by a very gentle sloping going deeper. The most interesting area for this dive is at around 10 meters. Some interesting coral potatoes, but relatively few fish. A few diodon, trumpetfish, stingrays and a stonefish. Although a certain variety of fish can be seen, the site is not that interesting.
  
  
• 

  Ras Abu Soma Garden

  rating : 1.0

  depth : ---
  description :
  
  A large moray eel swimming at the top, a few small schools of small fish... but of very little interest overall!