Hamata & Wadi Lahami, the area around Wadi Lahmy Azur Housereef

Hamata & Wadi Lahami · Egypt · Reef

Wadi Lahmy Azur Housereef

An anemone city at 12 m, on a reef that runs down to 40 m

Area photo: Derek Keats · CC BY 2.0

The house reef at Wadi Lahmy Azur is the resort dive base's own shore dive, rated by the operator as fitting all levels. The north end has coral blocks standing beside the main reef, covered in small marine life; the south end holds an anemone city with a maximum depth of 12 m. Across the whole site the depth runs from 12 m to 40 m.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Wadi Lahmy Azur Housereef: typical dive 12–40 m (40–130 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit12 m40 mtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 50 m (164 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

24.2376° N, 35.4162° EPublished position for this site.

The dive

The reef divides into a north and a south dive. Going north, the interest sits beside the main reef rather than on it: coral blocks standing clear of the wall, covered in small marine life, which makes for a slow dive with your mask close to the coral. Turtles, blue-spotted stingrays, octopus, pufferfish, lionfish, scorpionfish and sea cucumbers all turn up along this stretch.

South is the anemone city, a field of anemones whose deepest part is at 12 m - shallow enough for a long dive and the obvious choice for an afternoon or a second dive of the day. The site as a whole runs from 12 m to 40 m, so the depth you take is a choice rather than a given: the named features sit shallow, and there is no need to follow the reef down to its limit.

Marine life and season

  • Sea turtles
  • Stingrays
  • Octopus & cuttlefish
Month-by-month season rating for Wadi Lahmy Azur Housereef
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
FairFairGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimePrimePrimePrimeGoodFair

Season follows Hamata & Wadi Lahami: May to October is the calm window, with much less wind; diving runs all year, but sea state is wind-driven and can reroute a day.

Know before you go

  • The reef runs down to 40 m while the features worth diving sit at 12 m or shallower: set your depth on the way in rather than following the slope down.

Sources

  1. Wadi Lahmy Azur, Housereef - Scubago — Scubago
  2. Hamata - Wikivoyage (German) — Wikivoyage

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