Paradise Reef (Orabi)

Besides Paradise Reef, the reef is also known to Egyptians as Orabi, a name that refers to local fishermen. At the southern tip there are caverns and small caves visible even from the boats; they lead only a short way into the reef and are much simpler than those of Umm Khararim, about 600 m away. On the western side, coral towers 3 to 12 m high form an erg landscape with abrupt slopes. In the south-east corner rises a forest of coral pinnacles. Along the wall, swim-throughs and caverns shelter delicate sea fans in the overhangs, among mountains of Porites hard coral in shades of pale olive and blue.

The southern side holds a lagoon with a coral garden, where damselfish, butterflyfish and sometimes turtles swim along the bottom and the walls. Inside the lagoon, a coral that has grown from top to bottom like a waterfall stands out, stopping just 30 cm from the bottom. Gobies and pipefish move about on the sand of the lagoons, and the cavern has yellow fan corals. Bumphead parrotfish appear on the eastern coral towers, while eagle rays and reef sharks are found to the west. There is also a sandy bottom with garden eels. The reef also gathers schools of fusiliers and snappers, as well as moray eels, lionfish, turtles, reef sharks and, with luck, manta rays. Those looking for macro will find nudibranchs, shrimps and crabs.

In the far south of the region, diving is possible all year round, and spring and autumn tend to bring the calmest seas.