Marsa Alam & Port Ghalib · Egypt · Reef · Lagoon
Gota Hossam
A horseshoe of reef enclosing a pool of coral gardens
Area photo: David Sanford · CC BY-SA 3.0
Gota Hossam is a horseshoe-shaped reef, and the shape is where the name comes from: two reefs run together to enclose an area that dives like a pool, with several coral gardens inside it. The whole site bottoms out at 18 m, so depth never gets in the way of a long and unhurried dive.
Where it is and how deep
25.3487° N, 34.7753° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
Two reefs run together here in a horseshoe, closing off an area that dives like a pool, and that geometry is the whole character of the site. Inside the horseshoe you have reef on either side to navigate by, so you can spend the dive looking rather than working out where you are. The maximum depth anywhere on the site is 18 m, which puts a long, relaxed bottom time within reach of most divers.
The floor of the enclosed area holds several coral gardens, and the sensible plan is to work between them rather than swim laps of the perimeter. Drop in, pick a garden, and move slowly from one to the next with the reef walls on either side as a reference. Because you never have far to go to reach the shallows, this is a good site for a long safety stop over the coral, and a good one for anyone still getting their buoyancy settled after a break from diving.
Marine life and season
The sources we used don't single out particular species here.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime |
Season follows Marsa Alam & Port Ghalib: Diving runs all year; early autumn has the warmest sea without the August crowds.
Sources
- Gota Hossam — Scubago
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