Safaga
Abu Kafan
Abu Kafan represents the long, narrow reef separated of 90 mines/2 ч of driving from Safaga. The reef name is translated as "depth" of what it is possible to be convinced, having made here immersing. The underwater rock of a reef abruptly goes down in abyss of the sea to a mark more than 100 m. In its northern part the plateau with hardly acting on a direction to the sea coral blocks settles down. In a southern part of a reef there is the big and motley block connected to a reef on depth of 18 m. Further a reef is stretched infinitely far on the south at the maximum depth of 30 m.
As well as to all kept away from Safaga to reeves, the trip to Abu Kafan can be restless, that there will be aside after arrival into place because of it enough a good security. Currents on a reef variables, but the current from the north on the south, bending around a reef from an East side that creates quite good conditions for dreeft dive prevails.
If possibility you make immersing in the conditions of currents along northern part of a plateau allows, grasping its East side. Local residents estimate it much above, than northern plateau of reef Panorama (pay attention to cross-currents from the east on the West). If weather conditions do not allow fulfilment of similar immersing you can plunge in a southern part of a reef, passing by the southern block, edge of east plateau if the direction of currents allows, and back to a reef.
The underwater rock is covered by soft, black corals and huge a gorgonarijami-sea fan. Turtles can be seen constantly and in a considerable quantity. There is a possibility of a meeting sulphur рифовой and silvertips sharks. In the field of northern plateau it is possible to notice the big tuna in size from 1 to 1,5 m. Seasonally here the big flights of barracudas or their separate representatives which consider this place as the house live. It is possible to meet hummerhead sharks in the late summer.
GAMUL KEBIR
To the north from Safaga-Island the big round reef Gabul Kebir reached of 20 mines of driving by the ship from Safaga is located. In its middle there is an extended anonymous reef, and in the northeast three small motley coral blocks have settled down. The territory round a reef was densely occupied with fields of various kinds of underwater plants.
At this reef it is possible to plunge under any weather conditions. Places of fastening of a boat are well enough protected, that will not make problems to throw an anchor in this place. Currents come here from the northeast and can sometimes be strong enough.
You can pass from the ship through "Fossma" in a direction to three blocks (depending on force of a current count on 20-30 mines) or to begin immersing directly at them, floating to a place of fastening of a boat which will throw the anchor after disembarkation of divers at blocks on the usual place.
This reef is known for presence of the big flight of barracudas (15-20) size to 1,5 m. Flight consists from is yellow - and тёмноплавниковых the barracudas patrolling territory round three erg or at fields of underwater plants to the north from the basic reef. Eagle rays and reefs whitetips sharks too are not a rarity in these places, and sometimes here even it is possible to meet a sea cow. Around erg groups of Sweetlips and Grunts live. In sand there live the whole colonies of sandy eels and if it is good to look narrowly it is possible to see rare microscopic representatives of a sea-bottom.
GAMUL SORAYA
On distance of 15 mines of driving by the ship from Safaga reef Gamul Soraya which is second in chain of the reeves, stretched to the north from Safaga Island is located. The reef has the roundish form and has presence of four blocks, in the southeast, two of which can be seen from a sea surface.
At Gamul Soraya it is possible to make immersing under any weather conditions that will rescue the diver from disappointment if it did not manage to get on a desirable reef because of not enough good weather. The current comes to this place from the north, sharing at a reef in two and bending around it from both parties.
You can plunge directly at the coral block jugo-to the east from a reef where you can will take pleasure in beauty of a coral garden. The big block being more close to a reef, is located on depth of 13 m. a little further in a direction from a reef you will find empty from within a coral column in size of 6-7 m, being on a deep mark 16 m and поросший gorgonarias. 60 m further on the south you will find the picturesque block in the form of a horseshoe, on distance of 70 m from which it is possible to see most beautiful of all above the presented blocks. Its basis is on depth of 18 m, and its highest part reaches sea surfaces. Glass small fishes, fishes-cardinals, and their natural enemies have found in its southern part a shelter.
After survey of all sights it is necessary for you to check up quantity of air in your cylinders. If it makes more than 100 bar you can round a reef completely. Otherwise it is better to you to come back at once to a boat.
At blocks it is possible to see flights of crucians, plataxes, fishes-butterflies and groups of Sweetlips and Grunts. Along with them here live красноротые груперы and the Pterios miles hunting on glass small fishes. In set of deepenings of the basic reef it is possible to see Sphaeramia nematoptera. Various kinds груперов and flights сладкогубов can be observed on all extent of a reef. Even орляковых slopes you will find here the whole set.
At the basic reef fish an angel (the place is not disclosed) lives. And in 1997 here it was possible to see the sea cow considering this reef by the house.
MIDDLE REEF
Middle Reef it is located on distance 1,5-2 hours drivings by the ship from Safaga and represents the big roundish reef with set of low blocks in its southeast part. In northern and east part of a reef there are the coral gardens leaving in abyss of the sea to 30 m, and the lonely coral block on depth of 20 m. In east part of a reef in the south towers begins a plateau, stretched on 500 m in direction Hal-Hal. It is covered by the picturesque gardens of firm corals which are one of most beautiful in Red sea. Here too there is a steep rock which is far enough from the basic reef in the northeast.
On a way to a reef you should jump on waves that remains behind directly on an immersing place. Currents come here from the north and vary from weak to stronger.
You can begin immersing at northern, western or east walls of a reef in a current direction (if weather conditions allow) that will give the chance to you to see the big fishes. The majority of divers begin immersing in a place of fastening of a boat, passing by coral gardens, to east plateau. The plateau is covered by labyrinths from sand and corals that can misguide the diver. To us cases when some divers have come up far from a place of fastening of a boat are known and, that is worse, have been carried away far enough by a sea current. Therefore we advise to be in this place cautious enough and to have in stock a buoy and a compass.
Middle Reef is more known for beauty of coral gardens, than the abundance of fishes. Nevertheless here it is possible to see a considerable quantity of fishes-parrots and carolinensis. Steep rocks of a reef have tunas, a mackerel, flights of the fishes-surgeons, separate representatives grey reefs sharks, reefs whitetips sharks and, in usually late summer, hummerhead sharks. Near to boat fastening it is possible to observe of turtles, morays, flights of young barracudas (300-400) and groups of Sweetlips and Grunts.
Panorama reef
It is one of the greatest and the most known reef Safaga. It the huge 400 metre coral block. Usually divers plunge on a southern extremity where the most beautiful plateau falls on 35 metres, and then also the wall sharply breaks leaves on 80 metres.
Reef Panorama also is known under the name "Abu Alama", that "the father of masts" means. It speaks presence of a concrete column in northern part of the reef serving earlier by a reference point which later has been replaced by a modern beacon.
The reef is located in an hour of a course from Safaga. It is a plateau with the vertical, practically steep walls leaving on some hundreds of metres. From a reef North side there is a plateau located on depth of 20-25 metres. A place for mooring - the South side of a reef protected from a wind and currents. At strong excitement to plunge on a reef North side it is possible only from "Zodiac". The best plan of immersing is dreeft dive from the north on the south lengthways the most picturesque western wall of a reef. However it is possible to plunge and on a South side, it is direct at anchor parking.
On northern plateau it is possible to see flights Paracanthurus hepatus, Naso hexacanthus, barracudas, huge a mackerel, reefs whitetips sharks (are more met in the western part of a reef), grey reefs sharks (are more met during after-dinner time), Eagle rays, dolphins, silvertips sharks and even ocean whitetips sharks. The southern plateau is well-known for a family from three fishes-Napoleons where they live together with morays, crocodilefishes and a turtle with the deformed armour. Here you also will find the big flights of small fishes-clowns (50-60). And it is possible to observe of turtles in any part of a reef.
RAS ABU SOMA
Extended reef Ras Abu Soma is located at northern termination of a bay at Safaga and has two places of immersing: Abu Soma Gardens (a reef inside) and "Ras" (see a card). Both places of immersing are reached 45 mines of driving by the ship from Safaga. "Ras" has the abrupt steep wall which is going down on depth of 25 m on a plateau of a reef that does its similar on Small Giftun at Hurghada.
The place of fastening of a boat is well enough protected from weather conditions that it is impossible to tell about a direct place of immersing. Currents come here from the north and can be very strong, passing along east wall of a reef, at all not mentioning a place of a parking of a boat.
Here is better to make immersing in a current direction, having begun it on distance of 400 m from "Ras", having left a beacon it is enough far behind of itself. Visibility in this place will amaze you with the clearness that will allow to follow outlines of a steep wall of a reef far in abyss exhausting. In process of passage further on the south there is more appreciable the wall of a reef falling on its plateau. Shortly before it it is possible to see a small bay of a reef, and it is a little to distinguish further the beautiful cave located on depth of 35 m. It completely it is covered by soft corals at which the glass small fishes hiding from malicious gruppers huddle. 4-metre corals-oleny a horn have taken places on a plateau of a reef in which you can take pleasure, floating on depth of 4,5 m in a direction to a place of fastening of a boat.
The underwater world of this reef is full of riddles - sometimes here it is possible to see set of the big fishes, and sometimes will not have the luck to notice any live soul at all. If good luck you can see barracudas, a mackerel, groups of Sweetlips and Grunts, squids and flight plataxes and Naso hexacanthus smiles to you. Leopard sharks, bluespotted stingray, Eagle rays, hammerhead sharks and giant sea devils (only in March and April) have been here too noticed grey reefs sharks, reefs whitetips sharks, Geigenrochen. If to you at all has not carried, you should be content only Ostracion cubicus.
RAS UMM HESIWA
On distance of 45 mines of driving by the ship from Safaga and it is a little to the north from Ras Abu Soma is small reefs a uvula. In its northern part the wide plateau smoothly falling from 15 to 30 m is located, and the narrow long end of its northern part leaves far in the sea, reaching a deep point from 25 and further to 40 m.
This place practically is not protected from weather conditions that allows to make here immersings only at good weather. Currents come here from the northwest, not mentioning a separate part of east plateau of a reef. If you try to leave for its limits can feel the force of currents knocking down that does the plateau most part not suitable to immersings.
This place is known presence of huge corals-oleny a horn which can be seen on a reef plateau, beginning immersing on a mark of 20 m are closer to its steep wall. The wall of a plateau does not represent any interest for divers, therefore is better to proceed on a plateau to its termination where it is possible to feel force of undercurrents. Remember that you should be very attentive not to become their victim! On a return way you will pass at less deep part reefs a plateau where you can see the fragments of the corals which have remained after a southern storm in 1996
Floating on a reef plateau, do not forget to look under its huge corals which frequently are a place of shelter reefs whitetips sharks. Huge moraysit is possible to see in a place of a congestion of fishes-cleaners. Flights carolinensis occupy the central part of a plateau, and fishes-butterflies and Ostracion cubicus have found the shelter at its northern and southern terminations. The site of a reef and its undercurrents specify in presence here sharks.
SHAAB HUMDALLAH
At the southern termination of the big flat plateau which is bending around reef Shaab Sheer, is Shaab Humdallah, that represents some the coral blocks rising from abyss of the sea on depth of 18 m. smallest of them is in the middle between its other colleagues. A considerable quantity of soft corals on block walls do its by the most attractive to divers. The most southern as though bends before the visitors, representing to their attention a huge cap huge gorgonarias - a sea fan. The most northern and biggest block possesses the small tunnel which has grown from within with soft corals. Western will present to attention of divers the channel through which it will be possible to float.
This place of immersing is very similar to a place of immersing at Hal Hal, that means full vulnerability for sea excitements. For this reason here it is possible to make immersing only under good weather conditions. Currents in this place can be strong enough, that is not a determinative for immersing cancellation.
You make immersing directly round coral blocks, bending around them in any direction convenient to you. The tunnel of the northern is not subject to passage as even your air vials can damage corals growing here. Passing the channel of the western block, you should supervise attentively the buoyancy as you can unintentionally damage the big coral-oleny a horn which is swept up not at once for divers. If you still had air enough it is possible to pass a little to the south where there are some more eminences.
Between northern and southern block it is possible to see a considerable quantity of the masked fishes-butterflies, and in the tunnel of northern reef to find pair groupers.
For cards of immersings of thanks sites
http://www.divingsoft.com/redseamap и
http://www.webdive.ru
The text has been translated by means of the electronic translator. The big request! If you notice discrepancies of transfer, write, please, to the guestbook! Thankful in advance :)