Sharm El Sheikh · Egypt · Reef · Drift
Ras Ghamila
Feathertail stingrays, barracuda and grouper over a broad plateau
Area photo: patano · CC BY-SA 3.0
Ras Ghamila is a cape north of Sharm El Sheikh that separates a wide, shallow sandy lagoon from the open sea. Its layout is simple, a shallow fringing reef above a broad plateau, and it makes an easy-going drift that suits divers of any level as well as snorkellers.
Also known as Ras Gamila.
Where it is and how deep
27.9799° N, 34.4370° EApproximate position — the dashed circle shows where the site lies; your operator's briefing has the mooring.
The dive
The drift runs over the plateau that spreads out from the fringing reef, between 14 and 26 m, and is not a demanding one. Big table corals, gorgonians and pinnacles stand on the sandy bottom, and the open ground is where to watch for feathertail stingrays, barracuda and grouper.
Marine life and season
- Stingrays
- Barracuda
- Groupers
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fair | Fair | Good | Good | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Prime | Good | Fair |
Season follows Sharm El Sheikh: Hammerhead sightings at Tiran peak June–September; winter winds can make Tiran crossings choppier.
Dive videos
Red Sea Shore Dive - The best house reef in Sharm el Sheikh, Red Sea, Egypt - Ras Ghamila! 🤿🪸 · Aquarius Diving Club Red Sea on YouTube
Questions divers ask
Is Ras Ghamila suitable for snorkellers?+
Yes. The shallow fringing reef suits snorkellers, while divers drift over the plateau below it at 14 to 26 m.
Sources
- Sharm diving sites — Emperor Divers
- Sharm El Sheikh dive sites — Dive The World
- Ras Ghamila — ScubaGo
More dive sites in Sharm El Sheikh
Reef
Anemones holding a permanent population of anemonefish
Reef
The freighter Loullia aground on the reef since 1981
Reef
Two enormous caves filled with shoaling glassfish
Scalloped hammerheads off the back of the reef in late summer
A 1984 freighter broken up in 10 to 12 m of water
Lagoon
Shallow hard coral lagoon on the west side of Tiran Island
Wreck
A 175 m bulk carrier aground off Nabq since 1996
Coral blocks from 2 to 40 m on a sea-grass bottom
Similar dives elsewhere
A gigantic green lettuce coral almost right under the boat
A mushroom-shaped reef with a labyrinth of caves along its south side
An anemone garden of 40-plus anemonefish above a 35 m plateau
An anemone city where hundreds of anemonefish guard their young