Safaga · Egypt · Reef · Wall · Drift
Panorama Reef
An anemone garden of 40-plus anemonefish above a 35 m plateau
Area photo: Thomei08 · CC BY-SA 3.0
Panorama Reef is a free-standing reef about an hour offshore from Safaga, with a shallow top running from 2 to 18 metres. The plateau on its southern side steps down to 35 metres, where eagle rays are commonly spotted, and beyond it the outer faces drop sheer past 100 metres. Jacks, barracuda and reef sharks visit the edges.
Where it is and how deep
26.7510° N, 34.0793° EPublished position for this site.
The dive
Boat entry only, and the dive starts on the reef top. The shallows run from 2 to 18 metres and carry an anemone garden that extends from the surface down to 15 metres, with more than 40 anemonefish working it, so it is worth a slow pass before you drop deeper. The reef is dived as a drift, so which way you work it depends on how the current is running when you get in.
The southern plateau is the deep leg and the one to time carefully: it descends to 35 metres, and eagle rays are commonly spotted along it. Past its edge the outer face falls sheer beyond 100 metres, so keep the reef on one shoulder and an eye on the computer before working back up onto the coral shallows for the safety stop. A family of napoleon wrasse is frequently sighted on the reef, and jacks, barracuda and reef sharks visit the edges.
Marine life and season
- Eagle rays
- Napoleon wrasse
- Reef sharks
- Barracuda
- Trevally & jacks
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
Season follows Safaga: Apr–Jun and Sep–Nov are the most comfortable windows; in every month the wind decides whether the offshore reefs can be reached.
Know before you go
- Beyond the plateau edge the outer face drops sheer past 100 metres with nothing to stop a descent, so set a hard depth limit before you leave the reef top.
- The reef stands alone offshore and is dived as a drift; check which way the current is running before you get in and plan the profile around it.
Dive videos
Scuba diving at PANORAMA REEF, Safaga, Red Sea, Egypt - Summer 2009 · JeromeSmeets on YouTube
Panorama Reef | Plateau · BSchaga on YouTube
Questions divers ask
How deep is Panorama Reef?+
The reef top runs from 2 to 18 metres and the plateau on the southern side steps down to 35 metres. Below the plateau edge the outer faces continue sheer past 100 metres, well beyond diveable depth.
What can you see at Panorama Reef?+
Eagle rays are commonly spotted along the southern plateau, a family of napoleon wrasse is frequently sighted on the reef, and jacks, barracuda and reef sharks visit the area. The anemone garden in the shallows holds more than 40 anemonefish.
Sources
- Panorama Reef dive site — PADI
- Panorama Reef, Safaga — divessi.com
- Panorama reef - Tauchsafari Agypten — Blue Planet Liveaboards
- Safaga Diving - Egypt, Red Sea — Regal Diving
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Pinnacle
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