Marsa Alam, Red Sea, Egypt

Sha'ab Sharm

Sha'ab Sharm is an offshore lozenge-shaped reef 25 km off the coast at Wadi Lahami in the southern Red Sea, accessible only by liveaboard or long day boat. The reef is famous for big-pelagic action: schooling hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) on the eastern point in summer, regular grey reef and silvertip shark passes, large dogtooth tuna and barracuda walls. The southern plateau (around 25 metres) is patrolled by oceanic whitetips and silky sharks in autumn, and giant trevally and mackerel hunt over the wall. The walls drop past 60 metres and are decorated with large gorgonian fans, soft coral curtains and dense black coral. Hard coral cover on the upper plateau is excellent. Currents are strong and unpredictable, and the dive is run as a drift along one of the wall sides. Suitable only for advanced divers. Visibility 30–40 metres. Inside the Elba protected area.