Carless Riff

About one hour northeast of Hurghada, amid-sea reef plateau pushes up from the abyss. It is mostly in the 12-25 m range, gently sloping to 22-24 m at its edges where it drops off steeply. Standing on the plateau are two ergs, the larger to the northwest, the smaller to the southeast. They are surrounded by a forest of coral that swarms with fish.

Sea conditions

The ergs offer no protection from the sea and this lack of a decent anchorage has saved Careless from its own popularity (divers can’t get here every day). The current is unpredictable. On the surface, it always comes from the north but deeper down, it has been known to run any which way.

Dive plan

There are two good dives here. Firstly, drop into the north of the ergs and head south along the eastern drop-off finishing on the southern erg. Alternatively, dive from the mooring taking time to explore both sides of the plateau and circling the ergs in a figure 8.

Marine Life