Volkert Dive Center, Paradise Divers Safaga
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16 km away as the crow flies
Safaga · Egypt · Red Sea
Middle Reef, Sharm El Sheikh: Navigating 'Swiss Cheese' Corals
Descend into the intricate labyrinth of hard coral formations that define Middle Reef, a truly distinctive dive experience in Sharm El Sheikh.
What makes this site special
- Explore a broad and extensive reef system.
- Navigate the unique 'Swiss cheese' hard coral maze.
- Experience a destination known for its coral landscape.
- Opportunity for engaging drift dives on the outer reef.
- Accessible to divers of all certification levels.
Middle Reef about the site
Middle Reef in Sharm El Sheikh presents itself as a broad, encompassing reef system. Unlike sites known for dense schools of pelagic fish, this location distinguishes itself through its intricate and expansive coral architecture. As you descend, the reef's distinctive topography immediately becomes apparent, promising an immersive exploration of its formations.
The southern-eastern flank of Middle Reef reveals one of its most compelling features: an area aptly nicknamed 'Swiss cheese'. Here, the hard coral structures are riddled with myriad holes, tunnels, and swim-throughs, creating a complex, three-dimensional maze. Navigating through these formations feels like an exploration of a natural underwater labyrinth, providing endless opportunities for discovery and close-up observation of the coral ecosystem.
While Middle Reef is celebrated for its remarkable coral landscape, the focus here is less on a massive profusion of marine animals and more on the intimate aesthetics of the reef itself. The beauty lies in the detailed intricacies of the hard corals, their varied colours and structures forming a vibrant underwater garden. This emphasis on the coral scenery makes for a different, yet equally rewarding, dive experience, where the reef is the star.
Beyond the 'Swiss cheese' section, the outer perimeter of Middle Reef offers conditions highly conducive to drift diving. For those who appreciate the sensation of gliding along with the current, surveying the broader expanse of the reef, this presents an engaging option. The contours of the reef guide your passage, revealing new perspectives and scale as you drift effortlessly by.
This dive site is often included in extensive liveaboard itineraries, specifically within the 'Safaga, Brothers & Elphinstone' route, underscoring its value as a significant stop for divers exploring the deeper and more remote sections of the Red Sea. Its inclusion among such renowned sites speaks volumes about its unique character and the quality of the dive experience it offers, setting it apart from more common shoreline dives.
Diving Middle Reef: the marine life you’ll meet
Diving conditions
Middle Reef is accessible to divers of all levels. While specific depth ranges are not universally defined for this site, its nature as a broad reef system allows for varied profiles suitable for different experience levels. Current conditions are not explicitly detailed for Middle Reef, but the regional context suggests that unpredictable and strong currents can be encountered, particularly on offshore reefs and during drift dives.
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Board a liveaboard from Safaga
1 liveaboard departs from Safaga another way to explore the region, over several days at sea.
Frequently asked questions about Middle Reef
What certification level do you need for Middle Reef?
Middle Reef is accessible to divers of all certification levels. You can approach its broad reef system with a profile suited to your experience, while its varied formations offer exploration across the reef. The site description emphasizes coral architecture rather than a requirement for advanced training.
How deep can you dive at Middle Reef?
Middle Reef has no universally defined depth range. Its broad reef system allows varied profiles suited to different experience levels, so your dive depth can depend on the route and profile selected. The site is described through its expansive coral formations rather than a fixed depth.
What currents should you expect at Middle Reef?
At Middle Reef, current conditions can be unpredictable, with strong currents possible on offshore reefs and during drift dives. The outer perimeter offers conditions conducive to drift diving, allowing you to glide along with the current while following the reef’s contours and viewing its wider expanse.
What will you see when diving Middle Reef?
Middle Reef features an extensive hard coral landscape, including the southern-eastern “Swiss cheese” area filled with holes, tunnels, and swim-throughs. You can explore a three-dimensional coral maze with varied colours and structures. The site focuses on intimate reef scenery rather than dense schools of pelagic fish.
