Star Diving
Google 5/5 (581 reviews)
Marsa Alam · Egypt · Red Sea
Max. depth · 27 mEl Fanous, Marsa Alam: Pinnacles and Reef Gardens
El Fanous offers a dynamic and biodiverse underwater experience, combining vibrant coral gardens, impressive pinnacles, and frequent encounters with charismatic marine life, making it a truly captivating dive site.
What makes this site special
- Diverse topography with walls, pinnacles, and coral gardens
- Shallow eastern wall rich in fish banks and floral corals
- Two spectacular pinnacles/ergs covered in soft corals
- Western side offers a gentle drift along the wall into a protected lagoon
- Fissures create captivating light effects
- Frequent sightings of balistes (triggerfish) and turtles
- High chance of encountering dolphins (bottlenose, common)
- Extensive coral gardens with table corals and diverse hard/soft corals
El Fanous about the site
El Fanous offers a diverse underwater landscape, splitting into rich eastern and western sections, each presenting unique diving experiences. The eastern side features a flourishing shallow wall, a vibrant canvas teeming with dense schools of fish, while the western flank provides a distinct drift diving experience along a reef wall that extends towards a vast, serene lagoon. This varied topography ensures that El Fanous caters to a wide range of diving preferences and skill levels.
On the eastern side, a shallow coral wall gives way to a gently sloping sandy bottom, punctuated by extensive coral blocks and prominent pinnacles. The shallower sections are particularly rich, with thriving table corals and smaller coral structures. Approximately 20 meters to the northwest of the main reef, two impressive pinnacles, locally known as ergs, rise from the seabed, lavishly draped in soft corals and creating a spectacle of color and texture. These formations are densely covered, providing shelter and feeding grounds for a variety of marine life.
The western side is characterized by a narrow reef wall extending towards a large, calm lagoon, largely protected by the surrounding reef structure. A clearly defined channel leads from the mooring through a coral garden, gently sloping from about 6 meters to a maximum of 14 meters before reaching the 9-meter deep lagoon floor. This sheltered layout offers a consistent divable area, making entry and initial descent straightforward onto the sandy expanse, and the absence of strong currents allows for a leisurely pace.
Throughout El Fanous, vibrant coral formations are a defining feature, with diverse soft and hard corals covering the reef walls, pinnacles, and coral gardens. The eastern side boasts a sprawling coral garden nestled between 5 and 12 meters, showcasing an incredible variety of corals. The healthy coral ecosystems support a wide array of reef fish, consistently present throughout the site, and the interaction between structured reef and sandy patches creates varied micro-habitats that contribute to the observed biodiversity.
El Fanous is renowned for its prolific marine residents and charismatic visitors. Balistes, or triggerfish, are a common sight, and during their nesting season, females can be observed vigorously guarding their nests. Keep a keen eye out for turtles, gracefully gliding through the water or resting on coral ledges, particularly in the coral gardens where they feed. The presence of dolphins, including bottlenose and common dolphins, adds an element of magic, with encounters being frequent, especially during earlier or later parts of the day.
Diving El Fanous: the marine life you’ll meet
Diving conditions
El Fanous is accessible to divers of all levels, from beginners to experienced explorers. Dive depths range from a minimum of 5 meters to a maximum of 27 meters. Water temperatures are typically 23°C or above. Currents are generally mild, supporting a comfortable drift dive experience without significant challenge, and the western lagoon area is particularly sheltered and protected.
Three dives not to miss
Map of hotels, dive sites and dive centres in Marsa Alam
Dive centres in Marsa Alam
Hotels in Marsa Alam
Board a liveaboard from Marsa Alam
16 liveaboards depart from Marsa Alam another way to explore the region, over several days at sea.
Frequently asked questions about El Fanous
When should you dive El Fanous to look for dolphins?
El Fanous offers frequent encounters with bottlenose and common dolphins, with sightings especially likely during the earlier or later parts of the day. This timing may suit you if dolphins are a priority, while the site also provides coral gardens, walls, pinnacles, and a protected lagoon.
What level of diver is El Fanous suitable for?
El Fanous is accessible to divers of all levels, from beginners to experienced explorers. You can choose between the shallow eastern wall, coral gardens, and the western drift toward the sheltered lagoon, matching your experience and interests while enjoying varied underwater terrain at a leisurely pace.
How deep is El Fanous, and what currents should you expect?
At El Fanous, diving depths range from 5 to 27 meters. The western channel slopes from about 6 meters to 14 meters before reaching a 9-meter lagoon floor. Currents are generally mild, and the western lagoon is particularly sheltered, supporting a comfortable, leisurely drift.
What can you see while diving El Fanous?
At El Fanous, you can explore walls, pinnacles, coral gardens, table corals, and varied hard and soft corals. Expect dense fish schools, triggerfish, turtles, and two soft-coral-covered pinnacles. Bottlenose and common dolphins are frequent visitors, while fissures create striking light effects.
