| Depth: |
3-80m |
| Cruising time: |
75min |
This huge mushroom shaped reef offers not only calm moorings in all weather, but various diving possibilities. The name originates from this being the middle site in the off-shore reef chain. Again this reef rises up out of the deep to within half a metre of the surface.
The eastern coral garden is ideally suited for drift dives (weather permitting) where one of the Red Sea's most amazing hard coral garden can be found. This enormous coral growth begins directly below the surface and gradually descends towards the drop-off which is located in the 24-29m range. Along the edge of the drop-off you will find an abundance of fan and brush corals, before making your way back up into the shallower parts to return to the boat. In the 12-18m depth range you will find pristine salad, brain, and stag horn coral growth and clouds of anthias. Turning back into a westerly direction will bring you past ancient and massive mushroom corals and you will be able to complete your safety stop in the labyrinth known as the "Swiss Cheese" - a network of tunnels, caves and swim throughs that is a play ground for divers.
The western side of this reef again offers excellent drift diving conditions. With a very narrow plateau dropping diagonally from 7m down to the drop-off in max. 27m, you will be carried over a forest of soft and fire corals. Regular sightings of tuna, jacks, schooling unicorns, turtles and the occasional reef shark make this a firm favourite. To the south of the moorings stands a solitary "erg" (block), dropping from just below the surface to a depth of 24m, and situated directly next to the southern drop-off. It is also a worthwhile dive due to the lunar landscape and regular sightings of tuna, barracuda and eagle rays.
Due to the calm waters found at Middle Reef this site is also ideally suited for snorkellers to explore the wonderous colours found in the shallows with its perfuse amount of schooling goat fish and resident swarm of doctor fish, giant morays and blue spotted sting rays. |
