Turtle Reef

Overview

Turtle Reef is a gentle coral-garden dive in the Giftun island group off North Hurghada, near the El Fanous sites at the northern end of Big Giftun — sheltered, shallow and, true to its name, one of the area's most dependable spots for turtle encounters. A calm lagoon, easy depths and a short boat hop from Hurghada make it a favourite for beginners, training and snorkellers, as well as a relaxed warm-up dive for the experienced. It is all about soft light, healthy coral and the chance to share the water with a grazing turtle.

The Dive

This is an undemanding boat dive over a sloping coral garden. A narrow channel typically leads in toward a shallow lagoon around 9m deep, with the reef sloping gently on to about 14m and a sensible recreational floor near 20m — so the whole dive sits in easy, well-lit water. The plan is a leisurely loop through the coral garden, following the slope and the sandy patches, with no need to chase depth. The sheltered position behind the reef keeps the water calm and the coral in good condition, which is exactly what makes it such a forgiving, photo-friendly site.

Current is usually light, and the shallow, protected setting makes Turtle Reef a strong choice for first dives, courses and confidence building. Gentle conditions and good visibility mean plenty of time to slow down and look around.

Marine Life

The coral garden is classic shallow Red Sea reef — butterflyfish, anthias, parrotfish and clouds of glassfish over healthy soft and hard coral. Green and hawksbill turtles are the star attraction, regularly seen feeding among the corals, and the nearby Fanous sites are well known for the occasional pod of bottlenose dolphins passing through. Blue-spotted stingrays rest on the sand, and lionfish and moray eels round out a friendly, easy-to-watch cast.

Good to Know

North Hurghada dives year-round, most comfortably April to November, with water from around 21°C in winter to 28°C in summer; visibility is typically a clear 15–25m in the sheltered lagoon. Turtle Reef sits in the Giftun group a short boat ride (around 30 minutes) from Hurghada, and its calm, shallow profile makes it ideal for beginners, students, snorkellers and anyone after a gentle, turtle-friendly dive. It pairs naturally with the other Fanous and Giftun coral gardens for an easy day out.