Erg Abu Ramada

Location - On the southeast side of Abu Ramada (60-90 minutes out of Hurghada) is a wide sandy shelf stretching eastwards. Just before it drops off, three large ergs rise up from the seabed (18m) to just beneath the surface. They lie in a line, the biggest to the south and the smallest to the north.

Sea Conditions - Much of the time, this site is too rough to dive as it is very exposed. Spared the ravages of divers, it has retained its untouched beauty. All previous adjectives to describe current fail here. To say it rips is an understatement most of the time. And yet occasionally it is as calm and placid a place as you could ever want to dive.

Dive Plan - Don't waste your time going to the drop-off (30m to the east). There are better places for that. Your air is more wisely used circling the three ergs at ascending depths. Visit the small eaves on the east side of the largest erg and north side of the middle one. The north sides have a particularly healthy growth of purple soft corals (due to the prevailing current) and the shallows are also very prolific. This is amust for photographers.

Marine Life - It would be easier to list what you don't see than what you do, but most obvious are morays, napoleons, tuna, barracuda, unicorn schools, groupers and a cloud of millions of tiny anthias.