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Made up of 4 reef plates, Jackson, Woodhouse, Thomas and Tiran, the Strait of Tiran separates the Gulf of Aqaba from the Red Sea.
The northern and western sides of the reefs are subject to strong prevailing winds from the north coupled with strong currents, however the eastern and southern sides are more sheltered and most dives are conducted on these sides but care must be taken as even these sides can be subject to difficult diving conditions.
However, the strong currents bring with them vast quantities of plankton which means that there is always plenty of marine fauna from reef fish to barracuda and tuna and, of course, sharks. |
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| Sharm El Sheikh Dive Sites – Strait of Tiran |
Jackson Reef
This is the most northerly reef in the Straits of Tiran and is easily identifiable from the visible wreck on its surface of the merchant ship, Lara, which sank in 1985. Here one can expect to see gorgonian and fire corals. One may spot turtles here and the sharks which frequent this area include the Whitetip and Grey Reef Sharks and Hammerheads, particularly in the summer months from July to September. |
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Woodhouse Reef
This is a long narrow reef with no fixed moorings so only drift dives can be performed here and in good weather. You are likely to see jackfish, turtles, sharks and a variety of different corals. The sharks to be seen here include Whitetip and Grey Reef Sharks, Leopard and Hammerhead Sharks. |
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Thomas Reef
Believed to be one of the best dive sites in the northern Red Sea, only drift dives are possible here as there are no moorings. Here you will see a variety of corals including gorgonians, colonies of black coral and large Alcyonarians. It is possible to circumnavigate the entire reef on your dive, weather and currents, permitting. You can expect to see many reef fish including Angelfish and groupers as well as pelagic fish e.g. barracuda and the Whitetip Reef Shark. |
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Gordon Reef
The most southerly in the Strait of Tiran, Gordon Reef is known for the Lovilla wreck which ran onto the reef in 1981. There is a fixed mooring on the southern side and a rather shallow and wide plateau over which you can dive, making this site easier and safer than the other reefs in Tiran. At this dive site you can expect to see a variety of coral species, Nudibranches, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Hammerheads and spotted eagle rays. |
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