Dive Sites

There are so many wonderful reefs and wrecks all over the Red Sea which means no matter where you decide to go diving, you won’t be disappointed. Below you will find some of the better know dive sites the Red Sea has to offer but just be aware that some of these sites are only suitable for more experienced divers.

>Shark and Yolanda (Sharm el Sheikh)
>Blue Hole (Dahab)
>SS Thistlegorm
>Elphinestone (Marsa Alam)
>Small Giftun Island (Hurghada)

Shark and Yolanda (Sharm el Sheikh)

Located at the very Southern tip of the Sinai Peninsula, Shark and Yolanda is one of the most popular dive sites in the area with the day boats from Sharm el Sheikh. Dives generally begin on Shark Reef where you will often see a school of barracuda. From there, continue round on the second reef where you will find the cargo from the wreck of the Yolanda which ran aground during a storm. Since then, the ship itself has slipped off the edge of the reef coming to rest at a depth of around 145m. There is still plenty of its cargo on view with bath tubs, toilets and basins all over the place as well as plentiful marine life of all shapes and sizes. If you know where to look, you can also see the remains of the captain’s BMW which was on board.

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Blue Hole (Dahab)

The Blue Hole lies around 12km north of Dahab and is one of the most famous sites in the Red Sea. It has an almost circular shape 150m wide and 110m deep. A good start point for the dive is at El Bells which is 250m north of the Blue Hole. El Bells is a half open chimney which drops to a depth of 30m and has an arch at 26m. Start a drift dive from here and on your way to the Blue Hole, you will pass beautiful coral gardens teeming with marine life. In the deep blue, you also have the chance to see Yellowfin Tuna and the resident Napoleon Wrasse.

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SS Thistlegorm

The Thistlegorm is the most famous wreck in the Red Sea. This British cargo ship was sunk by German bombers during World War II and has provided divers with a fabulous wreck to explore. The Thistlegorm lies at a depth of 30m and the hull is easily accessible and inside, divers will find the wide range of supplies it was carrying to the British 8th Army including Bedford trucks, BSA & Norton motorcycles, Bren guns and a steam locomotive. Sadly, many of the artifacts have been plundered and in 2007, the Hurghada Environmental Protection and Conservation Association (HEPCA) began work installing permanent mooring bouys and drilling holes in the hull to allow trapped air to escape. If you are a wreck diver, the Thistlegorm is a must. If you aren’t a wreck diver, you should make an exception for the finest wreck in the Red Sea.

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Elphinestone (Marsa Alam)

Elphinestone is located xxkm from shore and is 300m long with sheer sides. At its shallowest point, it is only 1m deep but drops off steeply. The current can be strong which means that Elphinestone offers some excellent marine life. Sharks often swim by to feed on the fish and the northern plateau is home to schooling Hammerheads. There are also frequent sightings of Oceanic White Tips.

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Small Giftun Island (Hurghada)

Small Giftun is one of the finest dive sites in the area and has been a marine park since 1996. It offers some stunning dive sites with incredible coral and marine life due to its exposed and waters that are high in nutrients. One of the finest dive sites close to Hurghada, Small Giftun Island is suitable for all levels of diver with depths from just 5m down to about 40m.

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