The Wreck of the Kormoran

The northern shore of Tiran island became the final resting place of a stricken ship, the Kormoran in August of 1984.  Travelling from Aqaba with a cargo of phosphate, an error in navigation caused it to be dashed against the reef, the phenomenal impact destroying its bow and scattering pieces over a wide area.  Today this little dived wreck is a treasure trove of small life and spectacular hard coral.  The wreck sits at a depth of 12m and a typical dive will begin with an exploration of the ship and then a drift along the incredible reef on which it sits.  Prolific table corals cascade down a slope, piled high one on top of the other in never ending towers.  Look out for grazing turtles which are seen almost every dive, and big schools of goat fish patrolling the reef.  This site can only be visited in extremely calm sea conditions.

Jackson Reef

The most famous of the Tiran Reefs, Jackson has two phenomenal coral gardens on its western and eastern corners.  Prepare to be completely surrounded by clouds of fish as you fly past explosions of colourful coral that cover the reef in a blanket of life.  Sailing along these coral gardens is like dying and going to heaven for divers, a truly exquisite experience.

During the summer months it is possible to dive with schooling hammer head sharks on the northern side of the reef.  In order to find the hammerheads we desend to a depth of 16m and swim out in to the blue until the reef is no longer in sight.  Suspended in this vast blue nothingness we watch and wait (with pulses racing!) until the hammerheads arrive.  Somedays they may never come, somedays 2 or 3 will appear to see what we are, and somedays the entire school of 40 sharks will encircle us, calmly swimming round and round in a never-ending spiral.  Exhilerating and beautiful, getting close to these incredible creatures is a memory you will treasure for life.

Woodhouse Reef

Over two thirds of a mile long, Woodhouse reef is a sensational drift dive.  Sheer reef walls interspersed with steep sandy slopes and a breathtaking canyon are home to a myriad of fish and coral species.  Tuna, batrracuda and trevally often fly by in the blue, and in summer it is an excellent spot to see white tip reef sharks.

Thomas Reef

Thomas reef is considered to be one of the top dive sites of the northern Red Sea.  Its eastern side is an incredible coral garden with some of the largest gorgonian fans you are ever likely to see.  Drift along a magical plateau to the infamous Thomas Canyon… peer over the edge, but no, you're not going in… beginning at 35m the canyon whisks the unwary diver to depths of 80m or more.  Strong currents sweep you around to the northern side where you may be lucky enough to see young sharks in the many caves that dot the reef wall.

Gordon Reef

The most southern of the four reefs, Gordon Reef is easily recognisable by the large wreck sitting on top of its northern edge.  The 'Loulia' ran aground in September 1981.  She remained intact, perched atop the reef for more than 20 years, until another ship ran in to her, breaking her in two.  For the moment she is Sharm's largest pigeon house, but her increasing lean means that one day she will fall and dissappear forever.

Below the surface, a dive on Gordon involves a gentle cruise along a beautiful sandy plateau on the eastern side of the reef.  Here look out for giant moray eels, schools of trigger fish and various species of sting ray.

Early Morning Dives

For those wishing to experience the Red Sea at its absolute best our early morning dives are a must. Reach the dive sites before any other boat and you stand the best chance of encountering some of our larger visitors.  During the summer months we meet at 7am to go out to the Straits of Tiran where schooling hammerheads, tiger sharks, reef sharks, mantas and eagle rays await the lucky diver. 

Duration – 2 to 2.5 hours
Minimum 4 divers required.