Sha'am Mahmoud Dive Site Descriptions

Small Crack:
At the north end of Sha`ab Mahmoud the large shallow lagoon empties into the sea via two main channels, the Big Crack (fossma kebir), and the Small Crack (fossma soghir). The latter makes the better diving. Here the outer reef wall is breached by two sandy gullies with strong currents and abundant fish life. The current through the Small Crack follows that on the outer reef wall. Thus if the current is heading north on the wall the current will be running from the lagoon into the sea. Likewise if the current outside is heading south, as it usually does, you will be able to drift back into the lagoon, from the outside. This is the preferable dive option. A zodiac is almost essential here. After checking the current, jump in on the outside about 100 m north of the crack. Make your way back along the sloping wall. There are many large gorgonians and a red anemone in a bay just before the crack. The channel is at 5 m to 6 m so remain shallow around 10 m, to be sure of finding it, if the current allows, you may take a fast drift back inside. The northern channel is lined with fire corals. The southern one is the more colourful of the two. Your boat should be moored in the lagoon. Either swim back from here or get the zodiac to collect you. On the outside wall look out for turtles. There are occasional white-tips and leopard sharks resting beneath the numerous table corals. In the summer, barracuda, jackfish, snapper and bream school in the mouth of the channel. In August to September keep a wary eye out for titan triggerfish.

Lonely Mushroom:
Fifteen minutes to the north west of the Alternatives and Stingray Station is an outlying satellite reef known as "The Lonely Mushroom". It is a small site in itself and the best dive circles it several times at increasingly shallow depth. You can also explore on the surrounding plateau. The dive is mainly of interest to photographers and offers good opportunities for macro photography.

Stingray Station:
At the north western extremity of the Alternatives is a large irregular shaped reef known as "Stingray Station". It is positioned close to deep water although immediately around it is a plateau of sand and coral outcrops at less than 15 m. Like the Alternatives, the conditions here are highly influenced by both weather and current. It is best to turn up first and check the visibility before making the decision to dive. Stingrays are most commonly seen here in the months of March and April. All year round, it is also the haunt of a number of leopard sharks. But forget the big stuff Stingray Station is best dived for the small stuff. Many different species of nudibranch roam the sea floor and the shallow water of the reef top. The best dive starts in the deeper water to the west of the reef then circles the reef occasionally venturing out onto the plateau. At the end of the dive take your time around 3 m where the reef is most colourful.

The Alternatives:
Thirty minutes to the north/west of Ras Mohammed a broad expanse of shallow water extends seawards. At the outer edge of this area, a chain of flat topped reefs or "ergs", touch the surface. They are known by local fishermen as the "saba erg" or seven pinnacles. More commonly they are known as the Alternatives. The best dive is around the third or fourth pinnacle, counting from the east, direction Ras Mohammed. The diving here is varied. In calm conditions with the current from the north, clear water sweeps through the Alternatives. The colours are bright and vivid and the corals pristine. In rough conditions or with current from the south, sand-laden lagoon water can reduce the visibility to nil. The area is known for its fish life. Potato groupers live here, alongside numerous malabar and coral groupers. The deeper water outside is home to a number of leopard sharks. The reefs themselves are particularly stunning in the very shallow water and make superb night diving.