Tower

Overview

Tower — sometimes called El Aruk Tower — is one of Sharm El Sheikh's classic local dives, a dramatic stretch of the coastal reef south of Ras Um Sid where a vertical wall is split by a deep U-shaped canyon and guarded by a single pinnacle that rises like a tower to mark the entrance. It is the kind of site that delivers big-wall scenery within easy reach of town, usually run as a gentle drift toward Naama Bay, and it doubles as both a relaxed boat dive and an accessible shore dive. Soft corals, dramatic light and an easy profile make it a perennial favourite.

The Dive

The signature feature is the U-shaped cut in the wall: a vertical canyon whose crack plunges far past recreational depth, but whose exit sits at a comfortable 20m, so you explore the upper section and the play of light through the cleft without ever going deep. The dive usually begins near the pinnacle that gives the site its name, drops into the upper canyon, then follows the gently sloping reef south with the current, often finishing over the fan-coral plateau at neighbouring Sodfa. Set a sensible recreational floor around 30m and let the wall and the light do the work — the deep crack is for admiring from above, the domain of technical divers.

Current is typically mild to moderate and the dive is run as an easy drift, which makes Tower approachable for a wide range of divers; good buoyancy along the wall and over the delicate fan corals is the main ask.

Marine Life

The wall and canyon are dressed in soft corals and sea fans, with anthias and glassfish massing in the cracks and overhangs. Moray eels, lionfish, scorpionfish and the occasional Napoleon wrasse work the structure, while the reef slope and Sodfa plateau hold fragile gorgonian fans and a steady cast of reef fish. The open water off the wall turns up the occasional passing turtle or pelagic, especially when the current is running.

Good to Know

Sharm dives year-round and is most comfortable April to November, with water from around 22°C in winter to 28°C in summer; visibility is typically a clear 15–20m or better. Tower is one of the easier and more reliably calm local sites, run as a southerly drift back toward Naama Bay and divable from boat or shore, which makes it a strong choice for relaxed dives and divers building confidence on walls and gentle current.