Reef

Um El Sid

Dahab, South Sinai, Egypt

Suitable for beginners
Best for advanced divers
Great for macro photography

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Type

Reef

Max depth

35 m

Level

Advanced

Depth15m average over the plateau; the large gorgonian stands at about 35m

LocationSouth Dahab, reached from shore or by boat.

ConditionsShore or boat entry, good visibility, and open to any level as long as the deep gorgonian is left out of the plan.

Overview

Um El Sid runs a sandy slope out to a coral plateau, and its one landmark is deep: a large gorgonian standing at about 35 m, far enough down that it needs a guide who knows where it is and a plan that accounts for the depth. The shallower ground is a garden eel colony on the sand and a coral garden above it, both of which are the dive for anyone not going after the gorgonian.

Dive plan

The slope leads down across the eel colony to the coral garden and then out onto the plateau. The gorgonian at 35 m sets the deep limit and is best taken first, with the shallow ground worked on the way back. Approaching the eel colony is the same problem as at Eel Garden: a level, unhurried approach or nothing to look at.

What to see

Garden eels stand out of the sand on the slope. Blue-spotted rays lie on the flats, eagle rays cross the plateau edge, and anthias work above the coral. Nudibranchs on the plateau are what most of the photographers here are after.