Sharm el Sheikh

Mainland:

The White Knight Canyon

The perfect site for the first dive of the week; White Knight is one of a few good tech sites that can be dived from a mooring - giving you the chance to check your weights and make adjustments next to the boat. The site is located in the local area, north of Naama Bay. The currents at this site, if any, are usually quite tame and the canyon, which begins at 10m and drops to over 50m, is well worth a visit. Certainly a taste of what’s to come in Tiran.

Straits of Tiran

The Thomas Reef Canyon

The most popular and accessible site in Tiran, in almost any weather conditions, is the famous, Thomas Canyon, located on the South East side of Thomas reef. Depths range from 35m at the shallowest point (South) to the deepest point 96m at the bottom of the chimney at the North end. Some say that the canyon was ‘designed by TDI’ given that its topography is suitable for all levels of technical divers from Advanced Nitrox to Trimix. Rock formations in the Canyon are stunning and consist of arches, chimneys, deep walls and caverns. Due to the lack of water movement, visibility is often well over 35m. Don’t leave Sharm without a visit here!

The wreck of The Lara

The Lara is located on the wind-swept Northern tip of Jackson Reef and may be dived in favourable conditions when the wind is lower. Much of the wreck has been salvaged but the main superstructure from mid-section to stern may be found around the 60m depth range. The bridge and rich, coral-encrusted mast rises to 45m.Who said deco was tedious? Upon leaving the wreck you will be treated to some of Sharm’s best coral and marine life including the possibility of a glimpse at the ‘men in grey suits’. It is Jackson Reef that attracts the yearly pilgrimage of schooling hammerhead reef sharks which congregate in the blue water over the wreck every summer from July to October. It’s not unusual to have 15 of them swimming nearby for several minutes while they ‘check you out!’ If you make it around the Western side of the reef you will arrive at ‘The Aquarium’ near the moorings where you’ll find one of the most stunning coral gardens in the Red Sea. Now that’s a deco stop!

 

Ras Mohammed National Park


Shark and Jolanda Reef is argued to be one of the top ten best dive sites in the world. In July and August it attracts all the big fish and you will regularly find yourself completing decompression stops amongst thousands of snappers, barracudas and batfish. It is a sight to behold. Shark Reef has a 90 degree wall dropping into a real-life abyss. Currents in the area can be very strong and expert navigation is required, however the reefs thrive in such conditions giving Shark and Jolanda the reputation of being the most spectacular dive site in Sharm. Nearly every species of Red Sea shark has been spotted here at one time or another. Jolanda is home to the wreckage of the ship that bears its name. The superstructure lies at 200m however much remains in the shallows at around 15m where you’ll see an abundance of small marine life and napoleon wrasses.


Deep Satellite Reef

Ras Za’atar-Marsa Bareika has a deep site for the more experienced Trimix divers. After descending to 90m on the corner of Ras Za’atar, divers will find a deep plateau stretching seemingly forever into Marsa Bareika. On the seaward side of the plateau is a sheer wall, dropping into the unknown. Deep water corals are abundant on the top of the plateau and the site is renowned for whale shark and manta ray sightings in the summer months. Like many tech sites in Sharm your deco is spent among the warm shallow water, rich in coral and small life.



SS THISTLEGORM

It may be shallow but with the right gas you can experience techy paradise and enjoy super-long bottom times and short deco stops. A favourite here is a 32% or 36% back-gas and a 50% sling. Visit all the places you can’t get to on a recreational dive and enjoy a bit of ‘off-piste’ diving around the outer edges of the wreck. You can spend nearly treble the time inside the wreck compared to single-tank air divers. What are you waiting for?

Link: www.ssthistlegorm.com


DAHAB

The Blue Hole

Have you heard of Dahab’s ‘notorious Blue Hole’? Well it’s not notorious at all and it has ‘claimed’ no one. The Blue Hole has 360 degree reference, hardly any current and average visibility of around 20 to 30m. Its reputation over the years stems from a minority of divers exceeding the limits of their experience and training and reaching depths that they are ill-suited to be at. For the majority of Extended Range or Trimix divers (the only divers qualified to swim through the arch) the Blue Hole represents one of the Red Sea’s underwater beauty spots. By showing respect, good attitude and a well planned dive there is no reason with the right qualifications and experience why you cannot visit this remarkable and historic dive site.

The Canyon

Equally as spectacular as the Thomas Reef Canyon is Dahab’s own Canyon located by shore just a kilometer from The Blue Hole. Beginning at around 20m this stunning underwater crack in the earth winds its way through arches and caverns where beams of light rain down through the overhead gaps in the ceiling. The Canyon reaches a depth of 55m before an exit appears into the open sea. Trimix divers may go deeper still and re-join the Canyon in its second stage called Arthur’s Seat. Most divers travel back through the main Canyon and complete their deep stops and deco in the shallower parts and the reef area next to ‘the pool’. Both The Blue Hole and The Canyon are shore dives where you can swim right up to the entry/exit points with little effort.


The Brothers Islands


These are remote sites accessed by safari boat or private yacht and usually best dived over a few days. The Brothers are two small islands located over 40 miles from land. The larger of the islands, Big Brother, has the lighthouse and also two wrecks. We always find it strange that the best lit of the islands attracts the most shipwrecks! The currents also attract visiting sharks and fish and make for spectacular drift diving. For the technical diver the wreck of the 100 year old British ship, Numidia, is a must. Beginning at only 15m this almost vertical wreck stretches to below 80m deep. The Aida wreck is nearby along the reef and lies between 30m and 60m. Because of the remoteness of this location decompression and trimix dives require meticulous planning and vigilantly conducted surface support and diver tracking.

Elphinstone Reef

A huge 450m long chunk of reef located about ten kilometers from the eastern side of the Red Sea South of Hurghada. Best reached by safari boat this site is surrounded by deep walls and continuous currents again attracting quality marine life including white tip and reef sharks who gather at both ends. The south end is excellent for tech diving where in the realms of extended range and trimix depths you’ll find an arch below which is a strange rectangular object that many speculate to be an ancient Egyptian sarcophagus…or they just had nitrogen narcosis! Again, good planning and continuously maintained surface support is the requirement in this challenging and remote site.


The Salem Express

The wreck of the Salem Express is a simple recreational or technical dive in terms of depth, time and accessibility, but few will argue that visiting this underwater graveyard will not leave a lasting impression on divers. Striking a reef at night near Safaga Port in 1991, the Salem went down in minutes with a huge loss of life. The weather was rough and the sea hostile making rescue attempts dangerous and difficult. Today, she lies on her side just ten meters from the surface but 30m to the seabed. Access is possible and divers can take a cursory glance in the open areas or, with overhead environment training, a deeper penetration inside the holds – not everyone’s choice! Otherwise swim around the outside of this very well preserved and intact vessel with many fine features and fittings to look at.

The SS Rosalie Moller

A great tech dive and not all that old either. Its discovery was only about a decade ago near Tawila Island Gulf of Suez. Sunk only 2 days after the WW2 ship, SS Thistlegorm, this coal supply vessel went down after an air strike by another German bomber crew. At just over 100m in length there’s plenty to see with depths ranging from 30m to the seabed at 55m.

These are a few of many great technical dive sites in the Red Sea. In many locations you can access deep, clear blue water often from shore and certainly from many dive boat accessible sites. In training we have sheltered deep sites where students can reach depth without the exposure of currents or intimidating surface conditions. We choose our sites carefully with consideration of your preferences, the weather, your qualifications and level of experience.