Diving in Gulf of Suez
Quick Facts
- • Entry types: Mostly shore entries
- • Expect: Varies by conditions visibility
- • Highlights: Discover Gulf of Suez's dive spots
Explore the underwater wonders of Gulf of Suez, sea. This region features 29 documented dive spots, each offering unique underwater experiences. Whether you're seeking calm snorkeling bays, challenging freediving depths, or exciting scuba adventures, Gulf of Suez has something for every underwater explorer. Browse detailed spot information, check current conditions from recent dive logs, and connect with the local diving community to make the most of your visit.
Regional Context
🏛️ Marine Hierarchy
🌍 Associated Countries
Countries in Gulf of Suez (1)
Popular Spots in Gulf of Suez (29)
Abu Nuhas
Abu Nuhas is a dive site featuring four accessible wrecks: Carnatic, Chrisoula K, Giannis D, and Kimon M. The site is suitable for beginner divers due to its shallow depth. Notable wrecks include the Carnatic, which sank in 1869, and the Chrisoula K, which sank in 1981. Divers can explore the wrecks and marine life in this area.
Beacon Rock
Beacon Rock is situated roughly 7 miles west of Ras Mohammed National Park, characterized by a prominent coral outcrop that borders the southern edge of Sha’ab Mahmoud lagoon. The site is named after a metal beacon located at the southernmost point of the fringing reef. It is also the location of the wreck of the Dunraven. Divers can expect to see a variety of marine life, including stonefish, schools of yellow saddle goatfish, glassfish, giant moray eels, scorpion fish, Red Sea lionfish, and crocodile fish. The underwater landscape features large sea fans and Porites coral heads, providing a rich habitat for diverse species.
Blind Reef
Blind Reef, also known as Shabrur siyoul, features coral that is just beneath the surface. Located approximately two hours north of Elgouna, this site is known for its south plateau, which is favored for diving at a depth of around 20 meters, showcasing beautiful soft corals. The north wall offers opportunities for drift diving. Marine life commonly observed here includes moray eels, scorpion fish, stone fish, puffer fish, parrot fish, lion fish, sergeant fish, octopus, as well as various table and soft corals.
Bluff Point
Bluff Point is a wall dive located off Gubal Island. The site features a constant current, making it suitable for experienced divers. You can expect to see a variety of marine life including rays, mackerels, tuna, and various reef fish, alongside well-preserved soft and hard corals. Maximum depth is 18 meters (59 feet).
Bluff Point (Small Gubal island)
Bluff Point, located at 27.681700, 33.808100, is characterized by its stunning wall dive that features both soft and hard coral formations. The site is known for its strong currents, making it a drift dive that is best suited for experienced divers. Marine life commonly observed here includes rays, tunas, mackerels, snappers, scorpionfish, stonefish, lionfish, morays, octopus, barracuda, and butterfly fish.
Carnatic Wreck
The Carnatic Wreck is a cargo ship that sank in 1869 at a depth of 28 meters (92 feet). The wreck is covered in soft corals and is home to marine life including blue-spotted stingrays, sea turtles, giant moray eels, glassfish, batfish, and lionfish. Entry to the site is by boat.
Chrisoula K. (Marcus) Wreck Of The Tiles
The Chrisoula K. wreck, also known as the MV Marcus, is located at an average depth of 20 meters (66 feet) on the northeastern side of Abu Nuhas. The wreck measures 98 meters (321 feet) in length and 15 meters (49 feet) in width, with the bow section in good condition. Divers can expect to see the remains of a freighter that sank in 1981 while carrying a cargo of floor tiles, along with various marine life around the structure.
Chrisoula K., wreck
The Chrisoula K. wreck is one of the notable wrecks situated on the Abu Nuhas reef, approximately 2 hours and 40 minutes north of Elgouna. The wreck's bow is located at a depth of 4 meters, while the stern descends to about 27 meters. The structure remains largely intact, providing opportunities for exploration, particularly in the captain's cabin and engine room. Marine life commonly observed in this area includes sand eels, batfish, moray eels, lionfish, turtles, nudibranchs, flute fish, soft corals, and scorpion fish.
Dunraven
The Dunraven wreck, a British steamer that sank in 1876, lies at a depth of 30 meters (100 feet) on Beacon Rock reef. The wreck is upside-down and split into two sections, covered in soft and hard corals, and attracts various marine life including cardinalfish and soldierfish.
Dunraven, wreck
The Dunraven wreck is located off the coast of Shaab Mahmoud, situated further from the main dive sites in Sharm el Sheikh. This wreck lies inverted and serves as a habitat for various marine species. Inside the wreck, divers can observe different types of moray eels, nudibranchs, and vanikoro sweepers. The surrounding reef is predominantly covered with porites, where stonefish can also be found. The site offers a unique opportunity to explore a wreck while encountering diverse marine life.
El Gilwa
El Gilwa is located on the western side of Siyoul Kebir Island, approximately two hours north of the Siyoul Islands. This dive site features numerous coral blocks adorned with soft corals. Divers may experience strong currents at times. Marine life commonly observed includes nudibranchs, glass fish, puffer fish, clown fish, and larger species such as feather tail rays and eagle rays.
Giannis D
The Giannis D, a 100-meter cargo ship wrecked in 1983, lies in three sections at depths of 10 to 28 meters. Covered in soft coral, it attracts various marine life and allows for penetration into the engine room. Diving is available year-round, accessible via boat entry.
Kimon M, wreck
The Kimon M wreck is the fourth wreck situated in the Abu Nuhas region. It is smaller compared to other nearby wrecks and is located in close proximity to the Chrisoula K wreck, allowing divers to explore both sites during a drift dive, provided they have sufficient air supply. The wreck lies at depths ranging from 5 meters to 27 meters. Marine life commonly observed in this area includes stonefish, scorpion fish, moray eels, nudibranchs, stingrays, lionfish, snappers, and boxfish, along with various soft corals.
Rosalie Moller
Rosalie Moller is a wreck dive site featuring a sunken British cargo ship that measures 108 meters in length. The wreck lies at a depth of 55 meters (180 feet) and is accessible only to technical divers due to challenging underwater conditions and visibility that can drop to 10 meters (33 feet). Expect marine life typical of wreck sites and structural remnants of the ship.
Shaab Abu Nuhas
Shaab Abu Nuhas is located approximately 2 hours and 15 minutes north of Elgouna. This dive site features a coral garden that gently slopes down to a notable coral drop-off. It is accessible via boat and is suitable for divers of all experience levels. Occasionally, a current from the north can create drift diving conditions. Marine life commonly observed here includes moray eels, stonefish, scorpionfish, lionfish, flute fish, pufferfish, rays, snappers, clownfish, and octopus.
Shag Rock (Kingston)
Shag Rock features a reef with the Kingston wreck located at a depth of approximately 15 meters. This site is accessible from the shore and is suitable for divers of all experience levels. The wreck is notable for its well-preserved sections, providing opportunities for exploration. The area is characterized by an abundance of table corals, which offer habitat for various fish species. The favorable depth allows for excellent natural lighting during daytime dives, making it a good spot for underwater photography.
Siyoul Kebir
Siyoul Kebir, also referred to as Ras Siyoul, is located on Siyoul Island, approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes north of Elgouna. This dive site is accessible from the shore and is suitable for divers of all experience levels. The area features vibrant coral reefs and two prominent coral blocks situated beneath the mooring line, which are populated with anthias fish. Divers may encounter a variety of marine life, including clownfish, moray eels, lionfish, Napoleon wrasse, octopus, stonefish, scorpionfish, firefish, flute fish, triggerfish, puffers, and occasionally zebra sharks resting on the sandy bottom. There can be currents present, which may be utilized for drift diving.
Siyoul Kebir
Siyoul Kebir is a dive site located off the island of Siyul Kebir in the Strait of Gubal, accessible by boat from Sharm El Sheikh or Hurghada. The site features a reef with dense coral patches, big valleys, and hollows, with the northern area experiencing stronger currents and a higher density of corals. Divers can expect to see pelagic species as well as typical reef inhabitants.
Siyoul Lagoon
Siyoul Lagoon is located on the northern side of Siyoul Soraya Island and is accessible from the shore. The site features a prominent main reef along with a plateau and coral garden, which can be accessed via a small channel. Divers can expect to encounter a variety of marine life, including nudibranchs, glass fish, puffer fish, clown fish, and other reef species.
Siyoul Soraya
Siyoul Soraya, often referred to as the 'small brother' of Siyoul Kebir, is located approximately two hours north of Elgouna. This dive site offers a depth range from 2-3 meters down to 14-15 meters, making it accessible for divers of all experience levels. The site presents opportunities for drift diving and encounters with various marine species, including dolphins and eagle rays. Additionally, divers may observe scorpion fish, stone fish, crocodile fish, clown fish, puffer fish, box fish, parrot fish, and stingrays during their dive.
Small Crack
Small Crack is a dive site typically accessed via boat, where divers navigate from the outer reef through a narrow crack into a lagoon. This site is recommended for advanced divers due to its unique topography and potential currents. Marine life includes garden eels, clownfish, and a variety of corals such as table and fire corals, along with gorgonians and numerous reef fish species.
SS Carnatic, wreck
The SS Carnatic wreck is located between the Giannis D and Chrisoula K, resting at depths ranging from 22 to 27 meters. While it is smaller than other wrecks in the area, it offers unique features such as its exposed ribs and the presence of glass fish. Divers can also encounter a variety of marine life, including turtles, nudibranchs, moray eels, lionfish, scorpionfish, snappers, napoleon wrasse, crocodile fish, and soft corals. The site is accessible from the shore.
SS Thistlegorm (Wreck)
The SS Thistlegorm is a renowned wreck dive site located at coordinates 27.813700, 33.920800. This site is recommended for advanced divers, with a depth reaching up to 17 meters at the bridge. Divers typically conduct at least two dives, exploring both the interior and exterior of the wreck. The site features notable anti-aircraft guns and various deck areas, including trains, tenders, and winches. Inside the wreck, divers can observe a significant amount of military equipment and a variety of fish species. The recommended use of Enriched Air Nitrox (EAN) enhances the diving experience here.
The Alternatives
The Alternatives is a notable dive site characterized by a series of pinnacles positioned above a drop-off. The first pinnacle, known as 'Stingray Station,' serves as a significant cleaning area for various stingrays. Divers of all experience levels, as well as snorkelers, can explore this site. Surrounding the pinnacles, divers may encounter moray eels, shrimp, a variety of reef fish, and larger groupers, contributing to the site's diverse marine life.
Thistlegorm
The Thistlegorm wreck is 125 meters long and 18 meters wide, resting at a depth ranging from 15 to 33 meters. Divers can explore various artifacts from World War II, including military equipment and vehicles, using interconnecting doorways throughout the vessel.
Ulysses
The USS Ulysses wreck lies at depths of 8 to 30 meters off the northern coast of Small Gubal Island. The site features hard and soft corals and is populated by various fish species including sergeant majors, anthias, and scorpionfish. Dolphins are occasionally spotted in the area.
Ulysses, wreck
The Ulysses wreck is located near Gubal Island, resting on its left side. The bow is situated at a depth of approximately 5 meters, while the stern reaches down to 27 meters. The wreck is home to various marine life, including glassfish, flutefish, lionfish, scorpion fish, stone fish, moray eels, puffer fish, box fish, nudibranchs, and stingrays. Divers should be aware that strong currents can occur, but the site is generally accessible for exploration.
Umm Usk
Umm Usk is a reef with a maximum depth of 9 meters (30 feet) and visibility up to 30 meters (100 feet). The site is known for bottlenose dolphins and features Acropora coral structures. Diving is available year-round, with water temperatures at approximately 22°C (71°F).
Yellowfish Reef
Yellowfish Reef features a diverse range of marine life, including yellow sweetlips, bannerfish, and butterflyfish, along with barracudas, jacks, wrasses, sea turtles, and whitetip reef sharks. The area has colorful coral structures, but be aware of potentially strong currents while diving.