South Ras Abu Galum

Overview

South Ras Abu Galum is the diving end of a wild, protected stretch of Sinai coast north of Dahab — a sandy slope and twin reef walls inside a 400-square-kilometre national park, reached only by boat or camel. Pristine coral, dramatic pinnacles and near-guaranteed turtles combine with a genuine off-grid adventure: many divers come for the day, or stay overnight in Bedouin huts under the stars, making this as much an experience as a dive.

The Dive

The dive usually begins on a sandy slope descending from the shore, with the reef wall rising on both sides as you drop in. The site has an easy average depth of around 20-30m and suits all levels, the topography opening into dramatic rock formations and large pinnacles that double as cleaning stations. Following the reef, you pass trevallies, jacks and a resident turtle or two before working back up into the shallows, where vivid fire corals and schools of reef fish fill the reef top. The pinnacles are the structural highlight — tall, sculpted and busy with life — and the gentle profile leaves plenty of time to enjoy them.

Marine Life

Turtles are all but guaranteed here, drawn to the cleaning stations on the pinnacles, and eagle rays — and, less reliably, mantas — hang around the site too. Trevallies and jacks patrol the reef, schools of reef fish work the shallows, and the healthy hard-coral plateau and fire corals near the top add colour to the ascent. The protected status of the reserve, declared in 1992, shows in the quality and density of the coral.

Good to Know

South Ras Abu Galum dives year-round and suits all levels. The catch — and the charm — is access: the site lies about 15km north of Dahab and 8km north of the Blue Hole, inside Ras Abu Galum National Park, and isn't easily reached by road. Divers arrive by boat, or by camel along the coast from the Blue Hole, often combining the trip with an overnight stay in the original Bedouin huts for stargazing dinners and breakfast on the shore. Visibility is typically good at 10-30m. It is one of Sinai's most rewarding combinations of quality diving and genuine wilderness.