Shaab el Erg

90 minutes to 2 hours north of Hurghada depending on the weather and where you leave from. It is vast horseshoe shaped reef with its open side facing south. At the centre of the horseshoe is a shallow lagoon dotted with ergs (hence the name). It is dived in a number of places: on the north point, on the east wall, or on the south west point (illustrated) known as Gota Shaab el Erg. The latter is the most popular. A shallow channel separates a large erg from the main reef. On the south and west sides is a wide sandy plateau and numerous towers and coral blocks.

Sea Conditions

It can be rough getting there, but on arrival, you couldn’t find a better anchorage. Current on the Gota is mostly weak.

Dive Plan

Forget the main reef, there is easily an hour’s good diving on the Gota and its surrounding towers and pinnacles alone. Four very photogenic blocks lie in 16 m water to the south (they are cut off from the illustration).

Marine Life