Safaga alone is the place utterly different from Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh, or even Dahab since a certain time. Adorable, undefiled reefs impress even the most experienced divers, who are already tired by crowds under water and numbers of boats at diving sites in other Egyptian resorts. Here under surface, instead of other groups of divers and sea of bubbles, we take delight in beauty of the underwater world.
Max. depth -16m
distance: 35min
difficulty level (1-5): 1
Tobia Kebira is an oval, shallow reef ideal for all divers. A low depth of the site, beside which boats moor makes it a perfect site for the first day. After jumping into water and holding the right balance we swim along the main reef northward. After we swim past the isthmus with beautiful coral walls and sand-eels at the bottom, depth increases by a maximum of 16 metres. You can have a second dive here in the southern formations, which extend southward as far as the place, Tobia Soraya. In this case you need to swim in the isthmus to the right reef and swim around it on the outside eastern side.By the main reef you can encounter typical Egyptian animals such as: flatfish, moray eel, lionfish, octopus, stone fish and scorpion fish. It is worthwhile to take a glance at the Big Blue. If you’re lucky enough you will chance on common eagle ray, barracuda or humphead wrasse.
Max. depth -13m
distance: 35min
difficulty level (1-5): 2
Three distinct coral blocks, which may be swum all the way round within app. 50 min. Western chains of ergs are worth seeing from the perspective of shallow straits (4-6m) and it is necessary then to finish off at the beautiful poles. Whereas as the northern formation is concerned, it can boast a captivating garden in the cove and an impressive pillar of gorgonians and glassfish. The greatest attraction of the eastern formation is a picturesque canyon and a little cave, which can be swum through. Tobia Soraya is a diversified and charming site. You can encounter flatfish, octopuses, shoals of glassfish and big eye emperors. Sometimes, common eagle ray or humphead wrasse also reach here.
Max. depth -15m
distance: 30min
difficulty level (1-5): 1
This shallow reef in the shape of horseshoe is ideal for all of the divers. In the heart of the main reef you can see a breathtaking, round lagoon. The place, where boats moor is 6m deep. Swimming along the main reef northward we will reach lovely coral blocks, and the depth will increase by max. 15m. In the south, there you can find a large coral block, which creates narrows with the main reef. This site is rich in corals. You can see shoals of little colourful fish here, and at the depth we can often find camouflaged sea creatures such as: stonefish, octopuses or fish-crocodiles.
Max. depth -16m
distance: 30min
difficulty level (1-5): 2
One of the most charming reefs located not far from marina. It consists of main, round block and a few smaller and larger ergs. The beginning of diving is held on the southern part of the main reef, where depth amounts to 12m. However, the most interesting are the eastern and northern parts, beside which we will find ergs too. It is worthwhile to swim them around and look around closely as common eagle rays, barracudas and large flatfish occur here occasionally. By the main reef on the way back it is worth reducing the depth up to 5-7 meters to cast a glance on a beautiful garden of hard corals and shoals of fish, which always float there carried with waves. If at the end of diving we have 80-100 Bar left it is worth swimming east of the main reef to see a large horseshoe-shaped erg.
Max. depth -15m
distance: 35min
difficulty level (1-5): 2
A very characteristic place. It consists of 7 pillars located near to one another at the depth of 12m. They are overgrown with both hard and soft lovely corals. Each of them is peculiar. The first off south is the place where we will always find some lionfish, and sometimes a scorpion fish. Between the next two there is an interesting isthmus, through which we always swim through to a small rock, under which a moraine often inhabits. The most interesting is the second erg off the south side. A little cave goes through it, which is too narrow to swim into it, but as much fascinating that it is worthwhile to look inside and admire lovely, soft corals and shoals of glassfish. On the other side, we will find plenty of lionfish, at times even hunting for small fish. On the way from one pole to the other it is worth looking attentively into the bottom since you can spot arothron stellatus, octopuses, scorpion fish, and even humphead wrasses.
Max. depth -20m
distance: 40min
difficulty level (1-5): 2
It is a long reef at the coast of Abu Soma and as the same name suggests itself – it is a ravishing garden stretching along one and half a kilometer. It begins with shallow lagoons and gradually descends along the slope covered with hard corals as far as sand to the depth of 15-20m. This place is famous for plenty of murrains, which hide in various nooks and crannies. You can also encounter boxfish, butterfly fish, flatfish, and at shallow places there is a multitude of shoals of a variety of colourful fish. It is also worthwhile to peek at the Great Blue since barracudas, common eagle rays, and sometimes even dolphins like travelling along this reef.
Max. depth -120m
distance: 45min
difficulty level (1-5): 3
To the north of Abu Soma Garden the place called Ras Abu Soma begins. You dive there from the boat moored by last or last but one line or by zodiac. The northern part of this site is a majestic wall, which descends into a hundred-a few dozens of meters. By the eastern part, the plateau emerges, which if currents permitting, it can be swum around on the outside edge and at the end of diving you can cross it and finish off by the garden wall of Abu Soma. This place is very diversified and it is worthwhile to look out here for a so-called “big game”.
Max. depth -30m
distance: 35min
difficulty level (1-5): 2
Tobia Hamra is situated south of Ras Abu Soma and north of Sandy Island. Diving here is not complex. The reef descends slowly from 5 to 30 meters. There are 3 sites situated here for mooring ships. Tobi Hamra is popular due to a beautiful coral garden, broken with many sand ditches. It is a perfect place for underwater photography. Scorpion fish, moray eels and scorpion fish can often be noticed here, and a turtle in deeper places.
Max. depth : >100m
distance: 60min
difficulty level (1-5): 3
Removed about an hour’s road from Panorama Reef seaport is one of the most renowned sites in Safaga, often visited by safari boats. It is 1km long and is of oval shape. At both ends plateaus are situated beginning at 15 meters and finishing at 30 meters. They are entirely covered with both hard and soft corals, between which you can find various species of sea animals: from flatfish, lionfish and octopuses ending in scorpion fish, stonefish and crocodile-fish. In midwater we can look out for turtle here, barracudas or even a shark. Wall lovers will fall in love with beautifully carved shelves and view of so-called “big blue”. Diving in the southern plateau is carried out from boat, and the northern one in so-called “drift” (diving with the current) from zodiac or boat with swimming in one direction.
Max. depth –30m
distance: 80min
difficulty level (1-5): 3
80 minutes off port there is an expansive, round reef with dozens of small, shallow ergs in the south-east corner. On the northern and western parts there are situated coral gardens, which descend up to 30 meters. In the south at the depth of 20m, there is a solitary erg. From the eastern side a vast plateau stretches as far as Hal-Hal over a length of almost 500 meters. It is covered by one of the most picturesque gardens of hard corals in the Red Sea. There is a drop-off here too, but far in the north-east of the main reef.
Max. depth ->100m
distance: 100min
difficulty level (1-5): 4
Abu Kafan is a long, elongated reef removed by over 90 minutes of Safaga. The name means depths in the free translation. When you dive, you will see why. The walls descend here vertically as far deep as a few hundred meters. In the north and south, there are beautiful plateaus overgrown with soft corals. Southern plateau is very expansive, it begins at about 18m and extends to the south up to the depth of about 50m. There is great and colourful erg close to the reef, and beautiful, majestic overhangs and gorgonies. Outside there is a huge chance to see barracudas, big tuna fish and a turtle, and with the stroke of luck a shark can be spotted here.
Max. depth – 32m
distance: 95min
difficulty level (1-5): 4
Salem Express is a wreck of passanger ferry, which sank in 1991 on the way from Saudi Arabia to Safaga. As the result of crash with the reef, the ferry foundered and settled at the depth of 30 meters. Port side lies as deep as 10m. Over 10-meter long shipwreck overgrown with corals makes an unbelievable impression. For more advanced divers there is an opportunity to see interiors: a living room, corridors and captain’s bridge. At the stern you can admire big screws and a dark entrance to a stern part, which was once barred by a large hatch. Around the shipwreck and inside it there are personal things scattered, radios, bags, clothes and other various items reminiscent of a great tragedy, which affected a few hundred people, for whom it was their last voyage
Max. depth -30m
distance: 90min
difficulty level (1-5): 3
Reef has an elongated shape and is about 1km long. It is a splendid place with two excellent diving sites at both ends. At the eastern end of Shaab Sheer there are three ergs, which create the channel with the main reef. There lies a vast garden of hard corals with a lunar, magical atmosphere outside, which you will not see anywhere else, and three ergs hide magnificent caves, grottos and overhangs between which an enchanting play of lights goes on. This place is often visited by dolphins.
Diving in the western part is begun from the shallow isthmus. It is necessary to swim there against the current quite often so as to find your way to a beautiful and clean garden. Swimming further by the main reef we will find ourselves beside an askew wall of hard corals.
Max. depth -18m
distance: 90min
difficulty level (1-5): 2
800m to the south of Shaab Sheer, there is Shaab Sheer Soraya. This reef, of round shape and maximal depth of 18m is one of a few options for a second dive around Salem Express wreck, which is nearby. The reef itself consists principally of hard corals with plenty of small grottos and caves, in which you can find scorpion fish, moray eels and sea slugs. There are also shoals of lined butterfly fish and bannerfish.
Max. depth -26m
distance: 90min
difficulty level (1-5): 3
It is a large (115 m) wreck lying at the depth of 22-24m. Constructed in 1967 it sailed as a passenger-car ferry. It bore various names, the last one before change to Al Kafhain was Poseidonia. It set sail for its last cruise on the 22nd November of 2005. As usual, there are several versions. One of them says of collision with Abu Nuhas reef (iron reef), the second one tells the story of the fire. Anyway, the whole crew left the ship, which later unmanned drifted southward so as to ultimately crash with Shaab Sheer reef. There it rests upside down by the very wall of the reef. The most interesting looking is the bow and stern of the ship although it is also worthwhile to look inside, particularly inside a spacious room, the top of which is tightly filled with dozens of life jackets.
The current often occurs here, and diving can be performed by solely jumping from the boat or zodiac and swimming in one direction as far as the place where you can moor your boat (about 50 minutes of swimming).
Max. depth -20m
distance: 95min
difficulty level (1-5): 5
This outer reef is accessible only at calm weather since it does not guarantee any protection of the boat from rise and fall of seawater. The main part of the diving site is created by two large blocks overgrown with an abundance of corals. Between them there is a channel, in which banfish can always be seen. There are lots of schools of fish on the whole reef, a humphead wrasse, turtle, tuna fish, barracuda, and sometimes a common eagle ray. Strong currents occur here.
Max. depth -18m
distance: 85min
difficulty level (1-5): 3
Shaab Claude is a range of small reefs, which extend to the south of the eastern limit of Shaab Sheer. It has a one clear-cut erg in the southern east, and in its south-western corner there is a long ridge made up of a few smaller ergs. The whole reef lies on the sandy bottom as deep as 15-18 meters. There are strong occasional currents here. The most attractive is the eastern side of reef. Here shoals of snapper fish, lined butterfly fish, puffer fish, turtle or triggerfish.
Max. depth -20m
distance: 80min
difficulty level (1-5): 3
App. 5 km to the north of Ras Abu Soma, there lies a cape known as Ras Umm Hesiwa. To the northern-west from here in direction of Sharm El Naga, there is located little known reef called Shaab Saiman. A hard coral ridge runs across the coastline and is separated from the main reef by a narrow, sandy canyon. In the most shallow spot, the canyon is 8m deep, and in all directions it descends deeper gently. The reef ridge alone in the most shallow place lies at the depth of 2 meters. Behind the ridge, from the seaside, a broad plateau of depth from 15 to 20 meters is situated.
Shaab Saiman can be visited only at windless weather. Many species of fish can be spotted here: barracudas, snapper fish, common eagle rays and even sharks.
Max. depth -80m
distance: 80min
difficulty level (1-5): 5
Freely translated as: „beautiful reef” and that is how it looks in reality. However, so as diving was possible in this place, ideal weather conditions are needed indeed. Current on this reef is practically always present and it is mostly strong. Reef consists of two smaller blocks with plenty of soft corals and gorgonians, with an addition of a lovely drop-off starting at 30m, and ending at 80m. It is one of the most adorable, multicolored and vibrant reefs in Safaga. On account of its situation, often big fish can be encountered here.
