Introduction

Cruise boat of about 25 meters long, the Sea Fear can accommodate 14 divers as well as 3 or 4 staff members. Although the boat is rather well-equipped – dining room, large and covered diving platform on the back of the boat, upper deck (perfect for sleeping). There is no air conditioning in the cabins and therefore it can get really hot.

A cruise is a great way to reach diving sites that cannot be visited from the resorts on the mainland. During the day, it is possible not to see any other boat, although they tend to stick together for the night. Sites are in a much better condition than the ones at Hurghada. During this trip, the boat journey started 300 km South of Hurghada (location reached by bus); therefore, we were directly on the most interesting diving sites.

Unfortunately, today the corals in this area are not in such a good shape. For this reason, cruises focusing on wrecks between Hurghada and Sharm-El-Sheikh might be more attractive.

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

• 

  Wadi Gimal Reef

  rating : 4.0

  depth : 18 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  In the middle of the sea, this reef can hardly be seen from the surface. 3 or 4 small sharks were seen, as well as lots of fish. It is strongly recommended to do some snorkeling before the dive, as it gives a good general overview of the site.
  
  
• 

  Karlos Radira

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 20-35 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  Far from the shore, an isolated reef with several white-tip sharks, and a huge napoleon.
  
  
• 

  Shaad Sharks

  rating : 3.0

  level : for advanced divers

  depth : more than 40 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  Wall falling to the depths, with hammerhead sharks, blue-spotted rays, napoleons and lion fish…
  
  
• 

  Abu Dabab sud - Abu Dabab nord - Abu Dabab 1

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 16-25 m
  description :
  
  The Abu Dabab 1 site, the most interesting of the three, has many caves and arches. Many fish including several small white tip sharks, a crocodile-fish and a box-fish.
  
  
• 

  Dolphin Reef (nord)

  rating : 3.0

  depth : 15-25 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  Note that this is not the famous Dolphin Reef, which is located much further to the South... Here, we swam with about 60 dolphins inside the lagoon, but it was not possible to touch them. On the outer reef, dive in the current on several pinnacles. A 3-meters long shark (sleeping !) was seen, as well as a huge moray.
  
  
• 

  Elphinstone Reef
  
     [N25°18'753 E34°51'570] 

  rating : 3.0

  level : for advanced divers

  depth : more than 40 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  A couple of years ago, divers were sure to find some big animals at Elphinstone Reef. Today, you would need luck to that, even is from time to time hammerhead sharks are encountered along this wall falling at more than 80 meters... Since this site is visited by lots of cruise boats, it is really important to arrive on the spot early in the morning, around 7 o'clock, before other divers. Still an impressive dive.
  
  
• 

  Shaad Marsa Alam
  
     [N25°04'716 E34°53'886] 

  rating : 1.0

  depth : 17 m

  visibility : excellent
  description :
  
  Except a couple of rays, nothing special to signalize during this dive, along a lagoon.