Two islands off Hurghada ringed by fringing reef and dived at several named sites, including Erg Somaya and the Island Wall, both on the eastern side of Small Giftun. Depths run from 10 metres on the coral shoulders to a vertical drop at 30 metres. The draw is density: more than 196 coral species and over 1,000 fish species have been counted around the group.
Also known as Big Giftun, Small Giftun, Giftun National Park.
Where it is and how deep
27.2170° N, 33.9330° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Boats run out from Hurghada in about 45 minutes and moor at one of the several named sites around the two islands. Erg Somaya, a reef wall on the eastern side of Small Giftun, runs from 10 to 30 metres. The Island Wall on the same eastern edge drops vertically to a maximum of 30 metres, which is as deep as the group gets, while the shallow water close in to the islands is easy enough for new divers.
What the site is known for is density rather than depth. More than 196 coral species and over 1,000 fish species have been counted around Giftun, and the reef reads that way underwater: clownfish in the anemones, angelfish and turtles over the hard coral, and schools of barracuda, snapper and trevally off the edge. On the reef itself, look for octopus, crocodilefish and scorpionfish sitting still against the coral.
Marine life and season
- Sea turtles
- Barracuda
- Trevally & jacks
- Octopus & cuttlefish
- Reef fish swarms
- Pristine corals
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Good | Fair |
Season follows Hurghada & El Gouna: Diving runs all year; the seas settle from March to November and are calmest in summer, while February brings the coolest water.
Photos from Giftun Islands
Maris Teteris · CC BY 3.0
Caprice4540 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Dive videos
Red Sea Scuba Diving at Hurghada Small Giftun Islands · Codbotherer on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is Giftun suitable for beginners?+
Yes. The shallow water close in to the islands is used for new divers and easy dives, while the eastern wall drops to 30 metres for more experienced ones.
Is there a fee to dive the Giftun Islands?+
The islands sit inside a national park declared in 1955, and diving and snorkelling carry a small marine-conservation charge on top of the trip price. It is usually collected in cash on the day.
Sources
- Giftun Islands — Wikipedia
- 10 Best Diving Sites in Hurghada (Technical Analysis) — About Diving
- Best Diving Spots In Hurghada — Chloe's Diving
- Giftun Island National Park — Egyptra
- Orange Bay Hurghada: Tours, Prices & Complete Guide — Egyptra
Photo credits
- Thatched beach umbrellas on white sand facing the turquoise water of Giftun Island by Thajsko, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A shallow coral reef flat meeting turquoise water off Hurghada by Maris Teteris, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
- A white dive boat anchored off a sandy beach with snorkel gear laid out by Caprice4540, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons
More dive sites in Hurghada & El Gouna
A table-coral channel from the lagoon out to a pelagic drop-off
An anemone city where hundreds of anemonefish guard their young
A calm lagoon of pinnacles sheltered when the outer reef is pounded
Pinnacle
Two pinnacles on a 16-metre plateau, with a wall dropping to 60 metres
An 1869 P&O steamer rotted back to her iron ribs at 24 m
One big pinnacle full of glassfish and moray eels
A wall, a 20 m-wide plateau, then a drop-off past 70 m
A minesweeper on her port side, 25 minutes from the marina
Similar dives elsewhere
A resting pod of 60 to 80 spinner dolphins in the lagoon.
Tunnels and fissures cut into an 840 m reef block
Shallow coral gardens and deeper drop-offs, 30 to 45 minutes from the city
Black coral below 20 m on a slope you walk into from the beach