Reef

Shaab Petra

Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt

Shaab Petra is two ergs standing on sand at 8 m southeast of Hurghada, and the best of the site is not on them. A small coral boulder sits east of the ergs, riddled with large…

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Type

Reef

Max depth

8 m

Level

All levels

Depth8m on the sand around the ergs

LocationAbout 45 minutes southeast of Hurghada.

ConditionsUsually calm, with a weak current from the northwest or northeast. In winter and spring that current can pick up.

Overview

Shaab Petra is two ergs standing on sand at 8 m southeast of Hurghada, and the best of the site is not on them. A small coral boulder sits east of the ergs, riddled with large openings, and it holds more life than the two ergs put together.

Dive plan

The dive that works here circles the eastern erg and then the coral boulder beside it, with most of the time given to the boulder. The main ergs are worth a pass on the way back.

What to see

The openings in the coral boulder hold glassfish and snappers, with butterflyfish and small goatfish working over the top of it. The main ergs have their own holes, occupied by groupers, soldierfish, cardinalfish, glassfish and snappers. Zebra sharks have been recorded here more than once, which is not a common entry for the Hurghada reefs.