Explore Safaga

Safaga, a hidden gem along Egypt's Red Sea coast, offers divers a remarkable underwater experience. Known for its vibrant coral gardens and stunning coral walls, this small port town is a top destination for diving enthusiasts. The waters of Safaga are teeming with diverse marine life, from curious turtles to majestic hammerhead sharks, making every dive an adventure filled with awe and wonder. One of the unique aspects of diving in Safaga is the opportunity to explore impressive wrecks that tell tales of history beneath the waves, adding an element of intrigue to your dive excursions.

The best dive sites in Safaga are often located further from the coastline, making it an ideal location for liveaboard adventures. These well-appointed dive boats offer the perfect mix of comfort and exploration, taking divers to some of the most secluded and pristine dive spots in the region. With options ranging from short trips to week-long voyages, liveaboard experiences provide ample opportunities to discover the rich marine biodiversity that defines the Red Sea. Beyond its underwater allure, Safaga's black sand dunes and mineral springs offer a serene backdrop, enhancing the overall experience for those seeking both adventure and relaxation.

Places to Explore

Soma Bay

7 Divesites 2 Centers

Soma Bay has a rich marine ecosystem and an astonishing variety of marine life which any visitor enjoys.

Upcoming Events

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Orca Coral Garden

Diver Stress & Rescue

18 Nov 2025

The SSI Diver Stress and Rescue specialty program teaches you the skills you need to protect yourself and other divers. You will learn how to identify stress, how to prevent accidents and be taught practical techniques to conduct rescues and provide emergency care. With a combination of pool and open water practice sessions, you will become well prepared and confident at handling emergency and rescue situations. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Diver Stress and Rescue Specialty certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Orca Coral Garden

Navigation

27 Nov 2025 + 2 more

In this specialty program, you will gain the advanced skills and knowledge you need to safely and confidently navigate underwater. You will learn how to use a compass and natural navigation techniques, estimate distance, how to leave and return to a designated point, plus basic navigation patterns. You will also be taught how to combine navigation techniques to enhance your diving experience. All of which hones your underwater observation skills, improves your dive safety and helps you to get the most out of every dive. Upon completion, you will earn the SSI Navigation Specialty certification.

Diver Level Programs / Courses

Orca Coral Garden

Advanced Open Water Diver

08 Jan 2026

If you cannot decide which specialty programs are the best choice for you, join the SSI Advanced Open Water Diver program! You will try Deep Diving and Navigation plus a variety of 3 more specialty areas of choice before committing to full specialty training. It is a great way to experience what advanced diver training is all about and how valuable it can be to your diving adventures. During the Advanced Open Water Diver Program, you will experience 5 different specialties by completing one open water training dive per specialty after a comprehensive briefing with your SSI Instructor. By taking this program you will have total freedom to explore. You can complete the full Specialty trainings any time in the future and credit your Advanced Open Water Diver training towards them.

Top Dive Sites Map

★★★★☆ Kalawy House Reef, South

A beautiful house reef sitting just off-shore from the Magic Life resort. Easily accessible from the beach or the jetty with calm conditions and very clear water.

11,893
Logs
2,300
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Salem Express, wreck

Travel time approx. 90 minutes. This wreck sank in 1991 with many casualties. The Salem Express is 110m long and 18m wide. She lies at a depth of 12-33m.

9,548
Logs
6,665
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
24.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Panorama Reef North

Panorama Reef is one of the top dive sites in the Safaga area. The reef formation and location attract all the amazing large marine species that you would expect to see in the deep blue. Two different dives can be done here: north and south Plato. Both dives average 0 to 40m plus in depth.

4,207
Logs
2,864
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
26.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Tobia Arbaa

Tobia Arbaa is a popular dive site near Safaga and can be reached by speedboat or daily boat tour. The dive site contains five main pinnacles on a shallow sandy bottom and is suitable for entry level and advanced divers alike.

11,444
Logs
7,129
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Al Kahfain (Wreck)

At the Al Kahfain you can only stop at the south wind, otherwise, the wreck can only be dived in a one-way dive. You jump off the boat at the wreck and then dive past the wreck, right shoulder over the coral garden, then back to the anchorages on the east side of Shaab Sheer.

445
Logs
398
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Panorama Reef, Safaga

Approach by boat about 60 min, large outer reef with north and south plateau, depth 18-32m. Steep walls on east and west side, depth 40m+ with current mostly from north direction, in light to medium strength.

12,233
Logs
6,415
Divers
26.0 m
⌀ Depth
25.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Gamul Kebir

Short driving time of approx. 25 minutes and can be approached even in strong winds. Shallow reef (max 16m) with great lighting conditions. Apart from the channel, there is little to no current.

6,036
Logs
3,777
Divers
15.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Tobia Kebir

An easy dive without much current, therefore suitable for beginner divers. From Tobia Kebir, you can make 3 different dives. Also diveable in bad weather.

11,048
Logs
5,525
Divers
16.0 m
⌀ Depth
24.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Selim

This dive site belongs to the dive sites which are dived from land. The entrance is on foot after a short distance over the reef top.

52
Logs
44
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
21.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ El Makluf ED

Shore dive with the minibus. Entry through a hole in the reef top and a canyon. Several coral blocks reaching from 10m to 40m to just below the surface. In the south very nice coral garden with many table corals.

297
Logs
244
Divers
22.0 m
⌀ Depth
22.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Ras Dudi North

Part of the fantastic house reef at the Magic Life Hotel south of Safaga, right on the doorstep. The dive site can be reached comfortably from the hotel's own jetty.

2,423
Logs
502
Divers
19.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★★ Coral Garden / Gassous Bay

Nice house reef with a north and south side. Easy access from the beach. No boat traffic! No current and diveable in any weather. Night and early morning dives are possible daily!

24,377
Logs
2,218
Divers
20.0 m
⌀ Depth
18.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Abu Kafan South

MACHINE TRANSLATION: Abu Kafan Depth: 6 - 100m / Travel time: 80-90 min.is about 80 minutes outside Of Soma Bay. Roughly translated, Abu Kafan means "father of the abyss". This is a suitable description for this reef. If you dive here, you know why! Abu Kafan can be described as a smaller version of Elphinstone.

1,577
Logs
1,165
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
25.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Abu Kafan North

Abu Kafan North Depth: 6 – 100m / Cruising Time: 80-90 min. This site is about 80 minutes outside of Soma Bay. Roughly translated, Abu Kafan means “father of the abyss“ and this is a fitting description for this reef. If you dive here you will know why! Abu Kafan can be described as a smaller version of Elphinstone.

1,486
Logs
1,128
Divers
25.0 m
⌀ Depth
26.0 m
⌀ Visibility

★★★★☆ Sha’ab Sheer East

This rest area is popular and frequented by safari boats due to its large, quiet and safe dock. The reef begins only a few inches below the surface and at low tide, the tips of the coral heads break through the surface.

3,405
Logs
2,522
Divers
18.0 m
⌀ Depth
23.0 m
⌀ Visibility

Diving in Safaga

One of the top dive sites which divers come and visit here is Salem Express which is a truly breathtaking wreck dive. It is not possible to dive inside the wreck but considering it sank almost 20 years ago, it has become its own ecosystem and is now home to many species of corals and fish life.

Most of the diving here, done by the dive centres, is shore diving as most of the best dive sites are located there. There are options for liveaboard diving as there are a few dive sites located offshore.

Night dives at the Seven Pillars dive site are also really fun due the Lion Fish which start using your torchlight beams for hunting!

The best Months to dive in Safaga

Divers wanting to dive in the Red Sea have the benefit of being able to dive any month of the year as conditions in this area are ideal for diving throughout. Apart from the days with high wind, weather conditions are never too extreme here to prevent diving. Water temperatures reach a maximum of 28 degrees Celsius in the summer months between June and September and reach a minimum of 21 degrees Celsius in February. Visibility remains constant throughout the year at around 22-25 metres.

Statistics

Historical data and trends

Dive Activity & Environmental Conditions

Centers Map

ORCA DIVE CLUB SAFAGA AMARINA

Amarina Resort Abu Soma - Safaga, 00000 SAFAGA, EGY

Volkert Dive Center

Paradise Beach Resort Abu Soma, Red Sea Safaga, EGY

ORCA DIVE CLUB SOMA BAY

The Breakers Hotel, 19411 Soma Bay, EGY

United Divers

Dolphin Beach Hotel, 00000 Safaga, EGY

Blue Aqua Diving Center

K8, 84711 Safaga, EGY

Magicdivers Kalawy

Magic Life Hotel Kalawy, 0000000 Safaga, EGY

Alia

Aluminium, Marina, Safaga, 1944601 Safaga, EGY

Club Ras Soma Diving Center

Soma Bay, Km 48, Safaga Road, P.O.Box 149, 84711 Hurghada, EGY

Blue Submarine Diving Centers

Kilo 8, Lotus Bay, 11423 Safaga, EGY

Orca Coral Garden

ORCA DIVE CLUB CORAL GARDEN, SAFAGA, EGY

Moumen Nabata

Tobia Hotel - Safaga, Red Sea - Egypt, EGY

Extra Divers Sharm el Naga

Red Sea Dreams Resort, Viva Blue, 0000 Safaga / Red Sea, EGY

Dimensions Bleues-Ducks Safaga

Aqua Mondo Abu Soma, Red Sea Safaga, EGY