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Yanbu & the Seven Reefs · Saudi Arabia · Pinnacle · Wall · Pelagic & blue water

Mansi Reef (Marker 42)

A lone coral column where hammerheads patrol the open water

Mansi, whose Arabic name means the forgotten, is an isolated madreporic column 13 km south of Marker 39, the last of the Seven Sisters, its walls covered in gorgonians. Standing alone in open water, it catches the currents that bring schooling pelagics, and hammerheads are an almost constant presence.

Also known as Mansi, Marker 41, Marker 42.

Where it is and how deep

Depth profile of Mansi Reef (Marker 42): typical dive 10–35 m (33–115 ft), deepest point 80 m (262 ft) 18 m · Open Water30 m · Advanced40 m · Recreational limit10 m35 m80 m maxtypical dive
Depths on a shared scale to 90 m (295 ft); dashed lines mark common certification limits.

No published position for this site — the map shows Yanbu & the Seven Reefs and its other sites; operators know the mooring.

The dive

The dive follows the walls between 10 and 35 m, while the column itself rests on a seabed at 80 m before the slope drops into deeper water. Early in the dive the open sea is worth watching: the reef's exposed position draws currents, and with them trevally, tuna, barracuda, grey sharks and above all hammerheads, which are an almost constant presence.

Marine life and season

  • Hammerheads
  • Trevally & jacks
  • Tuna
  • Barracuda
  • Reef sharks
Month-by-month season rating for Mansi Reef (Marker 42)
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
GoodGoodGoodGoodGoodPrimePrimePrimeGoodGoodGoodGood

Season follows Yanbu & the Seven Reefs: Liveaboards run the Seven Reefs as a summer itinerary; day boats from Yanbu run year-round.

Know before you go

  • Its isolated position leaves the reef exposed to currents, and the wall drops well past recreational depth to a seabed at 80 m.

Sources

  1. Seven Sisters and Five Corals — Ocean Breeze Liveaboards

More dive sites in Yanbu & the Seven Reefs

Reef

Abu Galawa

Hammerheads and silkies in the blue off the southern slope

12–40 madvanced

Wall

Marker 32

Shallow cracks on one side, a descent past 60 m on the other

3–40 m · max 60 madvanced

Reef

Sharm Yanbu

A small wreck in calm, shallow water north of Yanbu

to 12 mbeginner

Similar dives elsewhere

Pinnacle

Angarosh Reef

Sudanese Red Sea · Sudan

Mother of Sharks: hammerheads and tigers on a lone pinnacle

10–40 m · max 45 madvanced

Pinnacle

Habili Ali

St John's Reefs · Egypt

Grey reefs and hammerheads off an exposed pinnacle

10–40 m · max 60 madvanced

Pinnacle

Darwin's Arch

Galápagos · Ecuador

Hold position at 18–24 m while hammerhead schools pass the plateau

18–24 madvanced

Pinnacle

Habili Gafaar

St John's Reefs · Egypt

A ledge at 20–35 m circling a current-swept habili

20–35 m · max 100 madvanced