Turft El Shahed

Overview

Turft El Shahed — also written Torfet El Shahed and known locally as Ben El Gebel ("between the mountains"), Sha'ab Torta or Sha'ab Dorfa — is a sheltered cluster of coral pinnacles in the Giftun Marine Park off Hurghada, set off the northern tip of Small Giftun close to Banana Reef. Tucked behind the reef and out of the wind, it is a calm, all-levels site with healthy coral and a relaxed, exploratory feel — a quiet gem rather than a famous name, and all the better for it. Sea turtles have a particular fondness for its soft-coral pinnacles.

The Dive

A shallow channel runs west from the mooring toward the pinnacles that are the main event. Northwest of the channel the bottom is mostly flat sand scattered with random coral blocks; continue north and you reach a beautiful coral erg riddled with cavities and overhangs. The pinnacles themselves are smothered in soft corals, and the sandy bottom between them is alive with gobies sharing burrows with shrimp. Average depth is a comfortable 16m with a sensible recreational floor around 20m, so this is an easy, unhurried dive spent weaving between the coral heads. Closer to the mooring, the corals on the south side of the main reef are in poorer condition, but a stonefish often holds court there to make the safety stop worthwhile. Divers with good air and navigation can drift all the way to neighbouring Banana Reef.

Current is usually light thanks to the reef's shelter, which makes Turft El Shahed friendly for newer divers while still rewarding the experienced with its macro life and quiet character.

Marine Life

The soft-coral pinnacles are a turtle favourite, and the sandy flats are prime macro territory — goby-and-shrimp pairs, crocodilefish tucked under table corals, and Moses sole lying camouflaged on the bottom. Eagle rays and feathertail rays are common visitors, and turtles are often seen feeding among the soft corals spread across the sea floor, so it is worth keeping an eye on the blue as well as the reef. The mix of macro subjects and gentle conditions makes it a relaxed photographer's site.

Good to Know

Hurghada dives year-round, most comfortably April to November, with water from around 22°C to 29°C across the season; visibility is typically a clear 20–30m. Turft El Shahed sits within the Giftun Marine Park, roughly 90 minutes by boat from central Hurghada, and its sheltered, shallow pinnacles suit divers of every level — an easy, characterful dive that pairs well with nearby Banana Reef and the other Giftun sites.