El Erug

Overview

El Erug — also known as El Aruk Giftun, and nicknamed the Magic Mushrooms — is a classic shallow Hurghada dive where a field of coral pinnacles stands on a bright sandy seabed like a scattering of mushrooms. Sheltered in the lee of Giftun Kebir, it is an easy, sociable site of countless ergs to weave between, ideal for relaxed diving, training and photography. "Aruk" is simply the Arabic plural for erg, and the site lives up to it.

The Dive

The ergs rise from a sandy bottom at around 12–14m, shallow enough for long, unhurried dives among the coral towers. The site is loosely divided into three clusters: Erug Diana to the southwest, built around a central split erg; Erug Giftun in the middle, where one of the smaller pinnacles hides a glassfish-filled cavern; and Erug Gigi to the northeast, an almost straight line of eleven ergs set close enough to hop easily from one to the next. The pinnacles are densely coated in hard and soft coral and make natural gathering points for fish.

Conditions are usually calm in the shelter of Giftun, but the site can catch a surprisingly strong current at times. Because every erg looks much like its neighbour it is easy to lose your bearings, so a compass is genuinely useful here. The gentle depth and simple layout make it well suited to Open Water divers and courses.

Marine Life

Anthias cloud every erg, and the coral heads host bannerfish, butterflyfish, goatfish, groupers and clouds of glassfish. Look on the sand and around the bases for moray eels, scorpionfish, blue-spotted and other rays, and the occasional Napoleon wrasse cruising through. Crocodilefish are a reliable find for sharp-eyed divers.

Good to Know

El Erug sits about 45–75 minutes by boat from Hurghada, just north of Gota Abu Ramada and often paired with it on a two-dive day. Visibility is typically 20–30m. With its shallow profile and maze of friendly pinnacles it is a favourite for beginners, refresher dives and underwater photographers — just keep an eye on your navigation among the look-alike ergs.