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Explore Soma Bay

Soma Bay, located on a scenic peninsula surrounded by the Red Sea in Egypt, offers a distinctive diving experience. Just 45 kilometers south of Hurghada, this luxurious destination is known for its stunning sandy beaches and azure waters set against the dramatic backdrop of desert mountains. Underwater, divers are greeted by mesmerizing spectacles, with vibrant coral reefs teeming with life. The house reefs here stretch for several kilometers, providing ample opportunities for both beginners and seasoned divers to explore a variety of dive environments.

Dive sites in Soma Bay, such as Panorama, Abu Kafan, and Shaab Sheer East, are renowned for their large coral pinnacles and abundant marine life. Visitors are often captivated by the graceful movements of eagle rays, the imposing presence of napoleon fish, and the fascinating potato cods. For those seeking adventure, the Salem Express Wreck offers a unique glimpse into history beneath the waves. Whether diving from shore, by boat, or on a liveaboard, Soma Bay promises an unforgettable underwater journey through Egypt's rich marine ecosystem, making it a must-visit for diving enthusiasts.

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Diving in Soma Bay

Due to the easy access, sandy, shore dive sites and the bay-like protected dive sites this is a perfect area for beginners and dive courses. The lagoon at Ras Abu Soma is the perfect sheltered dive area for dive courses to take place. It may not be the top destination for tec divers wanting to dive deep, but it is a dive destination where divers will be constantly entranced by the colours and life which this part of the Red Sea offers. Aside from the beginner courses, and if divers want to specifically visit the shore sites, the rest of the diving is done mostly from boats as the main dive sites are located approximately 10 minutes from the harbour.

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Dive Sites

The best Months to dive in Soma Bay

Soma Bay offers excellent diving conditions throughout the year, thanks to the stable environment of the Red Sea. Water temperatures vary from 21°C/70°F in February to 27°C/81°F in August, ensuring comfortable dives year-round. Visibility is typically above average, ranging from 12 to 22 meters/39 to 72 feet, and can exceed 30 meters/98 feet on particularly clear days.

Diving is possible all year, although divers should be aware of seasonal weather factors. Wind and currents can occasionally affect diving conditions, particularly during the winter months when winds are stronger, leading to choppier surface conditions. However, these factors are generally manageable, allowing divers to enjoy the rich marine life and coral reefs of Soma Bay throughout the year.

Topm Wildlife Sightings in Soma Bay

Soma Bay, located along the Red Sea coast, is renowned for its vibrant marine life and pristine coral reefs. Among the common reef fish that divers can expect to encounter are the colorful Napoleon Wrasse and the elusive Lion Fish. Moray Eels, with their snake-like appearance, are often spotted hiding in crevices, while the Blue Spotted Rays gracefully glide over the sandy seabed.

Seasonally, Soma Bay offers the chance to see larger marine animals. Barracuda and Stonefish are present year-round, but divers may occasionally spot Sea Turtles swimming leisurely through the waters. Eagle Rays are a special treat, often seen in groups during certain times of the year. The rich biodiversity makes Soma Bay a must-visit for marine enthusiasts seeking both common and rare underwater encounters.

Wildlife Sightings are Based on User Generated Content

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 200

Moray Eel

Moray Eel

9.6k Sightings
J
244
F
348
M
372
A
809
M
991
J
991
J
1.1k
A
936
S
1.2k
O
1.2k
N
752
D
529

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Octopus

Octopus

2.6k Sightings
J
34
F
39
M
105
A
279
M
552
J
377
J
354
A
209
S
198
O
217
N
164
D
104
Green Turtle

Green Turtle

2.3k Sightings
J
94
F
107
M
151
A
184
M
220
J
174
J
265
A
243
S
267
O
300
N
156
D
144

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 600

Wrasse

Wrasse

1.9k Sightings
J
92
F
65
M
84
A
152
M
215
J
176
J
233
A
147
S
247
O
237
N
159
D
114

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Eagle Ray

Eagle Ray

1.9k Sightings
J
26
F
40
M
45
A
81
M
153
J
165
J
375
A
213
S
232
O
303
N
133
D
106

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 27

Barracuda

Barracuda

1.1k Sightings
J
47
F
22
M
29
A
30
M
95
J
111
J
140
A
140
S
156
O
136
N
135
D
80
Hawksbill Turtle

Hawksbill Turtle

373 Sightings
J
12
F
22
M
10
A
24
M
23
J
34
J
55
A
55
S
40
O
49
N
30
D
19

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 28

Clownfish

Clownfish

8.7k Sightings
J
291
F
323
M
416
A
726
M
866
J
827
J
994
A
797
S
1.1k
O
1.2k
N
665
D
551

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 12

Lionfish

Lionfish

6.9k Sightings
J
217
F
232
M
366
A
666
M
752
J
672
J
765
A
595
S
741
O
878
N
593
D
427

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 100

Parrotfish

Parrotfish

6.9k Sightings
J
256
F
258
M
326
A
642
M
670
J
640
J
802
A
663
S
763
O
938
N
482
D
412

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Butterfly Fish

Butterfly Fish

6.3k Sightings
J
232
F
256
M
309
A
582
M
626
J
552
J
733
A
565
S
757
O
838
N
502
D
367

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 130

Pufferfish

Pufferfish

5.9k Sightings
J
207
F
172
M
242
A
483
M
608
J
575
J
771
A
585
S
680
O
753
N
452
D
345

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Angelfish

Angelfish

5.4k Sightings
J
219
F
214
M
251
A
510
M
484
J
529
J
609
A
461
S
638
O
774
N
407
D
282

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Triggerfish

Triggerfish

5k Sightings
J
178
F
160
M
208
A
417
M
501
J
512
J
623
A
458
S
634
O
647
N
378
D
293

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 85

Surgeonfish

Surgeonfish

4.6k Sightings
J
180
F
189
M
221
A
440
M
424
J
466
J
521
A
388
S
510
O
612
N
340
D
262

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Stingrays

Stingrays

4.5k Sightings
J
168
F
172
M
226
A
329
M
466
J
386
J
581
A
402
S
530
O
586
N
326
D
284

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 8

Bannerfish

Bannerfish

4.2k Sightings
J
160
F
131
M
207
A
407
M
379
J
363
J
536
A
380
S
455
O
551
N
330
D
252

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Soldierfish

Soldierfish

3.2k Sightings
J
124
F
110
M
152
A
296
M
350
J
303
J
364
A
255
S
367
O
406
N
245
D
195

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 25

Boxfish

Boxfish

2.8k Sightings
J
42
F
56
M
62
A
190
M
429
J
475
J
379
A
241
S
356
O
301
N
161
D
118

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 150

Sweetlips and Grunts

Sweetlips and Grunts

2.7k Sightings
J
96
F
95
M
135
A
217
M
234
J
267
J
296
A
230
S
331
O
399
N
201
D
167

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 350

Damselfish

Damselfish

2.4k Sightings
J
97
F
105
M
123
A
217
M
224
J
249
J
269
A
195
S
316
O
309
N
173
D
141

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 90

Goatfish

Goatfish

2.3k Sightings
J
81
F
55
M
93
A
203
M
206
J
237
J
310
A
189
S
293
O
308
N
178
D
124

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Stonefish

Stonefish

2.3k Sightings
J
41
F
47
M
80
A
230
M
291
J
238
J
279
A
225
S
253
O
285
N
193
D
104

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Scorpionfish

Scorpionfish

2.1k Sightings
J
44
F
71
M
64
A
187
M
252
J
192
J
262
A
213
S
294
O
292
N
170
D
98

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Cornetfish

Cornetfish

2k Sightings
J
45
F
72
M
78
A
193
M
222
J
207
J
222
A
131
S
260
O
279
N
152
D
145

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 40

Jackfish

Jackfish

1.9k Sightings
J
77
F
11
M
43
A
108
M
184
J
215
J
273
A
145
S
254
O
266
N
141
D
165

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3

Trumpetfish

Trumpetfish

1.6k Sightings
J
55
F
84
M
78
A
125
M
134
J
204
J
157
A
170
S
194
O
225
N
125
D
75

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 110

Snapper

Snapper

1.5k Sightings
J
68
F
32
M
62
A
120
M
128
J
202
J
180
A
114
S
212
O
209
N
132
D
70

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Grouper/Basslets

Grouper/Basslets

1k Sightings
J
27
F
24
M
12
A
73
M
102
J
125
J
143
A
64
S
189
O
123
N
63
D
61

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 20

Porcupinefish

Porcupinefish

938 Sightings
J
0
F
16
M
12
A
43
M
108
J
100
J
139
A
77
S
198
O
175
N
46
D
24

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Garfish

Garfish

909 Sightings
J
38
F
27
M
18
A
89
M
62
J
69
J
123
A
93
S
106
O
168
N
68
D
48

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 60

Squirrelfish

Squirrelfish

841 Sightings
J
34
F
23
M
17
A
79
M
61
J
44
J
136
A
48
S
160
O
137
N
72
D
30

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 15

Tuna

Tuna

831 Sightings
J
29
F
0
M
30
A
44
M
136
J
64
J
84
A
55
S
85
O
128
N
79
D
97

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3000

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

541 Sightings
J
0
F
13
M
22
A
65
M
107
J
37
J
95
A
25
S
79
O
44
N
42
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 30

Sand Eel

Sand Eel

502 Sightings
J
0
F
28
M
19
A
44
M
49
J
38
J
40
A
56
S
80
O
100
N
48
D
0

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 80

Emperor

Emperor

470 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
0
A
41
M
63
J
47
J
95
A
17
S
95
O
60
N
30
D
12

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 3400

Shrimp

Shrimp

378 Sightings
J
10
F
0
M
0
A
32
M
47
J
29
J
73
A
38
S
72
O
38
N
25
D
14

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 250

Skate Fish

Skate Fish

376 Sightings
J
2
F
22
M
10
A
10
M
46
J
41
J
53
A
68
S
51
O
56
N
17
D
0
Garibaldi Damselfish

Garibaldi Damselfish

353 Sightings
J
12
F
0
M
0
A
35
M
47
J
26
J
56
A
26
S
33
O
44
N
28
D
46

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 300

Squid

Squid

315 Sightings
J
0
F
11
M
0
A
32
M
37
J
0
J
25
A
60
S
89
O
35
N
0
D
26

The image shown is a representative illustration and does not depict every individual animal in this category.

Total number of species approx.: 120

Cuttlefish

Cuttlefish

305 Sightings
J
10
F
13
M
10
A
32
M
30
J
35
J
11
A
35
S
99
O
30
N
0
D
0

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