The area around Soma Bay/ Safaga has some great diving close to the mainland as well as offshore in the areas of Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan. Some divers say these equal the great sites of Ras Mohammed and Careless Reef. The whole area is protected and the same rules apply as elsewhere so please follow them.
Sha'ab Saiman
Hard coral reef running parallel to the shore, separated by a narrow, sandy canyon, rises from 20-30m to 2m below the surface. Large schools of snapper, goatfish, fusiliers circle over the plateau and look out for the occasional white tip reef shark and turtle. Hard coral formations second to none in the Red Sea.
Ras Abu Soma
Fringing reef sloping gently to the drop off offers numerous quality dive sites, including the ever popular Emperor Divers House Reef. Schooling reef fish, exhibitionist octopus and resident morays, stonefish and turtles are included in the reef's attractions. Sightings of eagle rays are not uncommon and easy access from the dive centre to the water via the purpose built jetty makes this one of our most popular sites!
Tobia Arba'a
Also named the 'seven pillars' (although the Arabic name means 4!), these ergs rise from a sandy bottom and display a fascinating landscape of soft corals, glass fish and gorgonians. Giant puffer fish, blue spotted rays and octopus as well as the ubiquitous lionfish compete for attention with the local Napoleon wrasse.
Tobia Kebir
Large oblong reef with a chain of ergs stretching southwards. Emerging from a shallow sandy bottom this site offers interesting diving with schooling fish, morays and groupers and many broomtail wrasse. A dive site for all levels and interests.
Tobia Soraya
South of Tobia Kebir, run a chain of pinnacles forming a Y shape. Stingrays, trigger fish and big shoals of banner fish with gorgonians and acroporas in the background are a good build up to the swim throughs and canyons between the ergs, which this site offers.
Gamul Soraya
Very colourful dive with hovering sweetlip shoals, bannerfish and butterflyfish. Garden eels can be seen at 14m on the south side of the main reef and blue spotted sting rays and scorpion fish abound. The hard coral gardens in the shallows are stunning and the smaller ergs adjacent to the main reef offer the colour of soft corals and a good chance of seeing crocodile fish.
Panorama Reef
One of the highlights of the area. Huge coral formations with walls dropping to over 200m. Numerous grottos and overhangs, gorgonians and soft corals. Jacks, barracudas and reef sharks often visit the area. Panorama is also the home of Anemone City, ranging from 14m up to 5m over 40 Magnificent anemones offer homes to hundreds of feisty clownfish. A stunning spot for your safety stop! The north plateau is a stunning array of purple soft corals and a south bound current offers a thrilling drift!
Middle Reef
Northerly reef face slopes to 30m, then plummets vertically to much greater depths. Hard coral gardens on the east and west corners with acroporas, brain and salad coral. Fun dive on the south side through the shallow labyrinth of caves, tunnels and passages. Groupers, puffers and sweetlips.
Umm Hal Hal
Two small pinnacles covered in pristine hard and soft corals rising from 20 m depth. Often strong currents so a rare treat if conditions allow.
Fellow Rocks
Two coral mountains rising from 25m to 3m below the surface. Seldom dived due to exposure to bad weather conditions on the surface and the strong currents under the water.
Abu Kafan
Possibly the best dive in Safaga, a 300m long, narrow barrier features a 'plateau' in both north and south extremes, teeming with anthias and soft corals. Superb wall diving dropping off to over 300m with overhangs covered in soft and black coral and giant gorgonians. Frequent sightings of jacks, tuna, barracuda, reef sharks and the occasional hammerhead.
Sha'ab Sheer/Wreck of Al Khafein
A horse shoe shaped reef creates a shallow lagoon on its south side and hard coral gardens on both its east and west extremes. Porites, acroporas and fire coral in huge and splendid formations with schooling jack, snapper and tuna fish. Reef fish such as bannerfish and butterfly fish are plentiful and the occasional larger pelagic is sighted. Since November 2005 Sha'ab Sheer has become the resting place for the wreck of the Al Khafein which drifted into the north side of the reef after a fire in the engine room caused the crew to abandon ship.
Wreck of the Salem Express
A Ferry carrying pilgrims returning from Mecca, sank in 1991 after hitting the reef at night. 300 victims perished in one of the greatest marine tragedies of all time. Divers are asked to dive the wreck considerately with respect for the great loss of life and penetration of the wreck is forbidden. The propellers make an impressive sight and the covering of hard corals now colonising the wreck show the power of the ocean to make new life out of this tragedy. Fish life is now abundant and the funnels of the wreck with large "S" and the name on the bow are clearly visible. The site is reasonably sheltered and is not exposed to strong current and can be dived at all levels from 12m to 30m.
