Diving in Safaga, Red Sea Orca Has many years of dive industry experience the centre opened in 1995, one of the first dive centres, with only one thing in mind a completely diver friendly facility. The prime location of the centre situated in the sheltered bay of Safaga has now become much loved by all who visit. With its own private jetty directly next to the centre and excellent divesites in the bay offering calm moorings for the boats, allowing you to enjoy a relaxed diving experience. You will find a fleet of five dedicated diving hardboats in operation at the Orca Dive Club Safaga. The highly experienced and friendly crews who have been working together with us for years guarantee to take you safely and comfortably to only the best dive sites. All boats are equipped with the neccessary safety equipment in line with international standards. You will find oxygen, first-aid, VHF marine radios, lifejackets and state of the art communication and navigational aids on-board.

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	Safaga Dive Sites in Detail Their are more than 10 inshore and offshore reefs in Safaga. There are plenty of secret little areas to visit and sites that arn't filled with divers. Shaab Saiman Depth: 2-40m Cruising time: 60min Shaab Saiman is the northernmost reef that can be dived from Safaga, and its an absolute treat. The hard coral formations are second to none in the Red Sea. The reef starts in just 2m of water and gradually drops down to between 20-30m on the lower plateau. Here on the eastern side of the coral plateau you find a small drop-off that falls out to sea in a terrace like fashion. Following the opulant and mesmerizing hard coral ridge in a northerly direction away from the boat will see you gliding over massive and healthy table, staghorn, salad, and brain corals with their residents seeking refuge within. When passing over this hard coral ridge in a westerly direction you will see the coral bank dropping off below you into a large sandy channel with a depth of 30+m. Following the coral ridge in a southerly direction you will see the sandy channel rising out of the depths to 10m and it is here you will find many free standing table corals. These table corals are much loved shelters for crocodile fish, moray eels and white tip reef sharks. Frequent encounters with turtles, eagle rays, barracuda, grey reef sharks and dolphins make this a memorable dive if weather permits. Ras Abu Soma Depth: 4-80m Cruising time: 45min Ras Abu Soma is located near the southeast tip of a large outcrop area of coastline, known as Ras Abu Soma, off Soma Bay. There is a large lagoon in the reef top and this site is easily accessible from the shore, where in recent years a jetty has been constructed, as well as a dive vessel. Any current present will normally run from north to south although current isn't common here. The reef drops down to around 15m where there is a sandy slope littered with pristine hard coral formations - acropora table coral and large boulder coral abounds. Giant moray eels frequent the area and so do cuttlefish and octopus. The sandy slope continues down to around 25m before the wall drops away into the depths. As you head to the north the sandy slope becomes thinner until it eventually joins the main reef wall. Shortly before this happens down the wall at 35m is a small cave or overhang which goes a short distance into the coral reef. Heading back to the south you can finish your dive over the sand plateau where blue spotted rays and even the occasional eagle ray may pay you a visit. With clownfish ever present in their anemones and all the colourful marine life this site has to offer, this is a very pleasant dive suitable for all levels of diver. Tobia Arba Depth: 3-30m Cruising time: 30min Note:: The ideal spot for photo/videographers Tobia Arba is also known as the "seven pillars". The name has led to a lot of confusion over the years as "arba" is the Arabic word for the number four, whilst Tobia is the name of the local fishermans land mark, Tobia Island - a sandbank that is clearly visible from any point in the bay area. The reason for its Arabic name derives from a local fairy tale about how this dive site came into being. It is said that an old fisherman, while tending his nets in the exact location of the divesite asked for Gods help in providing him with land, so he would beable to give his four sons some sort of inheritance. On returning to the site the next morning to haul in his nets he was surprised to find that five coral pinnicles had grown out of the sandy bottom overnight. With his prayers answer he returned home to share this blessing with his sons. There are indeed five main coral pinnicles at this site, however the two pinnicles on the western side of the site split up from each other on the way to the surface. Looking down on this area from the boat you will be able to count "7 pillars" hence this name. Tobia Hamra Depth: 4-35m Cruising time: 20min Tobia Hamra translated from the Arabic - "hamra" is red and "tobia" is an ancient Arabic word for sand. The "Red Sand" is then the name of this site. Not meaning the underwater landscape, but more the ancient form of GPS used by the local fishermen. When you speak about the "Red Sand", they will all know you are talking about the north eastern side of Tobia Island" where barren rock breaks the surface and in the evening when the sun sets looks like it is on fire. This vast and long reef which stretches nearly 2km north to south offers spectacular dives for all levels of experience, and features everything from massive hard coral gardens, to shallow lagoons with scattered coral blocks and lush soft coral growth. This site can be dived more than once in the same holiday. Although due to its geograpichal position on the eastern side, it is advisable to dive here in the morning when you have more ambient light. Frequent sightings of turtle's, napoleon, jacks, blue spotted sting ray, lion fisn, morays, and stone fish as well as all the usual reef inhabitants. Sandy Island Depths: 4-25m Cruising time: 20min Sandy Island, situated at the southernmost end of Tobia Island, is a beautiful white sandbank surrounded by turquoise lagoons. The north eastern side of the reef is a wall dropping from just below the surface to 30m in the sand. On this sloping wall there is an abundance of hard corals including salad, brain, fire and huge table corals. To the south of the lagoon where the boats moor, you will see a group of five blocks shaped into a crescent moon, running east-north to west-south. Here you will find blue spotted sting rays, lion fish, large puffers, jacks and trevellies and sometimes stone fish. On the open east side look out into the blue as you will often see napoleons and even mantas passing by. The sheltered lagoon is also a favourite spot for a group of friendly bottlenose dolphins. Tobia Kebir Depth: 5-25m Cruising time: 30min Tobia Kebir is a large oblong reef with a chain of ergs stretching southwards. The name comes from its close proximitry to Tobia Island and it being so large - "kebir" meaning big in Arabic. Emerging from a shallow sandy bottom this site offers interesting diving. A dive site for all levels and interests including snorkellers. Boats generally moor on the southern side of the reef where there are also a number of ergs which make for interesting investigation. Ideal for all levels of diver there is rarely any current here. If current is present it will normally run from north to south coming down the sides of the main oval shaped reef. Look out for large moray eels in the reef and occasionally free-swimming specimens. There is a proliferation of Red Sea fish life here - emperor angelfish, Red Sea bannerfish, butterflyfish and numerous wrasse to name but a few. Finishing your dive on the ergs is a good option as the very southern part of the reef has slightly less in the way of coral and marine life. Panorama (North and South) Depths: 5-80m+ Cruising time: approx. 60min One of the true highlights off Safaga! Panorama is the most northerly site in the off-shore reef chain. This huge seamount rising up to just below the surface from a depth of 400+m offers exchilarating diving for all experience levels. You will find two divesites on this reef. The first is the world renowned "South Plateau" with its ever famous gorgonian chimney and anemone city. Boats moor up on the sheltered south western side of the main reef and here you will make your entry into the water. Depth here on this sheer wall side is 80+m, with its abundance of hard and soft corals patrolling napoleons, maurding jacks and large schools of fuseiliers. Making your way onto the plateau you will encounter large groupers, giant morays, blue spotted stingrays and lion fish to name just a few. Moving onto the eastern side of the south plateau situated on the drop-off in 27m of water is a most incredible sight. A large cluster of giant gorgonian fans surround a crack in the reef that drops to well over 50m. These gorgonian fans with their resident long nose hawkfish are intertwined with beautiful soft corals and is a feast for the senses. It is not uncommon to see schools of tuna, large open water rays and reef sharks from this point. Shaab Quais Depth range: 4-35m Cruising time: 60 min Shaab Quais literally translated means "Good Reef". That is in the case of this fantastic site not an understatement. This reef boasts some of the most spectacular soft coral growth in the Red Sea. The site consists of two small coral pinnacles which drop from 4m below the surface on the plateau in approx. 20m. These pinnacles are home to literally millions of anthias which give thses coral structures an orange glow. On the eastern plateau you will find a breathtaking carpet of soft corals and clusters of gorgonian fans. Within this carpet you will find huge table corals standing silently like sentries, offering shelter to large groupers and giant morays. The drop-off stretches itself out in a depth of 24-28m and then goes down the wall to 80+m. Here you will see patrolling napoleons, tuna, barakuda, schools of unicorn surgeon fish, turtles, reef sharks and occasionally hammerheads. This reef can only be dived under dead calm weather conditions and even then the current is renowned to be furious. Abu Kafan Depth range: 5-100m Cruising time: 90min Possibly the best dive in Safaga. Abu Kafan roughly translated means "father of the abyss" and this a fitting description for this reef. This is the most southerly lying reef that we dive on and it grows out of depths in excess of 600m to rise just below the surface. On the north and south side you will find two long and slim plateaus that are covered in a vibrantly coloured carpet of soft corals, with awesome table corals dotted around. The north side is best dived in the form of a drift, and after jumping into the water you will descend on to the plateau in 25m. Moving in a north easterly direction you will arrive at the eastern drop-off, with its majestic fan and brush corals offering safe refuge to long nosed hawk fish, in the blue you will see patrolling unicorn surgeon fish and large schools of fuseilliers. Frequent encounters with barracuda, turtles, tuna, and reef sharks, plus the occaisional hammerhead with the abundant and varied coral growth make this dive one not to be missed. These are just some of the dive sites available to give you a good idea. Safaga is also famous for its wreck diving, contact us for more info.

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Your questions about diving in Safaga answered below:



Common Questions (Answers below)
Where is the Red Sea ?
Why is the scuba diving in the Red Sea so good?
What fish and ocean life will I see?
What after-diving fun can I expect?
Does it have year-round sunshine?
Is the diving the same year-round?
What equipment will I need to dive in the Red Sea ?

Where is the Red Sea ?
The Red Sea separates the north east coastline of the African continent from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East .The Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez around the Sinai peninsular come together creating the northern most point of the Red Sea, and at its most southern point meets the Indian Ocean . Only 5 hours flight from the UK , the Sinai peninsular is surrounded by Egypt , the Gaza strip, Jordan and Saudi Arabia . The Red Sea also flows past the Sudan , Eritrea , Djibouti and Yemen coastlines.

Why is the scuba diving in the Red Sea so good?
The higher salt content and protected topography of the Red Sea has allowed hard corals to grow over thousands of years. Heat from the deep Median trench (reaching a depth of 2,850 metres) beneath the Red Sea , warms the water to a much higher temperature at depth (21 o C at 1,000 metres where normally the Ocean temperature is 6 o C). The high mineral content, warm temperatures and year-round sunshine have created one of the most bio-diverse seas in the world.

What fish and ocean life will I see diving in the Red Sea ?
Hopefully will see: Dolphins, grey reef sharks, manta rays, white tips, scalloped hammerheads & turtles! Normally always see: Blue spotted eagle & sting rays, lionfish, yellow clown fish, napoleon fish, large moray eels, yellow and blue masked butterfly fish, emperor angel fish, giant triggerfish, steep headed parrot fish, stone fish, bluespine unicorn fish, shoal surgeon fish, bluegreen pullers, octopi, blackfin barracudas, large shoals of jacks, red antheas, lined butterfly fish, nudibranchs, fan corals and much, much more...
Sighted on occasion: Whale sharks, tiger sharks and whales.

What after-diving fun can I expect?
Diving is a social sport. The Red Sea is a very social place, with Sharm el Sheikh being quite lively and upbeat, and Dahab a more relaxed and laid-back place. It has plenty of bars and restaurants. Locals and tourists mix freely, and our divers and instructors often spend time in the evening over a beer discussing the days dive, and anything that comes to mind! Some divers prefer time alone, and relax with a nice evening meal watching the sunset. All rooms have a few sky channels.

Does the Red Sea have year-round sunshine?
Yes! Being far closer to the equator (on the same latitude as the Sahara Desert ) it is hotter, and has only two seasons. The Sinai peninsular air temperature ranges between 20 o C and 40 o C, has an average humidity of 55% and an annual rainfall of 250mm. So, it is hot and sunny year-round.

Is the diving the same year-round?
The visibility is fairly consistent – around 30 metres. During the winter months you will see less divers, but also less large predators and Manta rays. The spring season brings hundreds of baby fish, so the visibility drops a little. The summer is the best time go scuba diving in red sea and see large marine life, especially for diving in sharm el sheikh.

What equipment will I need to dive in the Red Sea?
Most divers use anything from a 3mm shorty to a 5mm one or two piece wetsuit. If you get cold quickly use a 5mm, especially in the winter months. DSMB's are generally not needed (non-tech diving) but of course it's always safer if you have one. Torches are great for the many crevices and coral heads. Adjustable strap fins and wet boots definitely recommended over full foot fins. Contact us for more information.

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