Egypt: Red Sea - Dive Sites - Jackson Reef

Jackson Reef

Diving

Snorkelling

By Boat

By swimming

By Live-aboard

All Divers

5

4

Yes

Yes

Yes

Location:

The northermost of four reefs extending down the center of the Straits of Tiran

Access:

By local or live-aboard boat from Sharm El Sheikh or other ports

Average Depth:

20m (65ft)

Maximum Depth:

40m+ (130ft+)

Average Visibility:

20m (65ft)

Jackson Reef is the most northern reef in the Strait of Tiran. On the northern edge of the reef, the wreck of a grounded freighter stands as a warning to shipping in the buy straits. Most of its hull has been salvaged for scrap, leaving only a skeletal hulk. A fixed mooring exits at the southern end of the reef. Dives begin from this point and proceed generally northward along the east side of the reef.

Current tends to run from the north, and generally picks up strength as you approach the point on the east side. Most divers will want to make this the northern limit of their dive, and turn back to the south here. Strong swimmers with good air consumption and experience in currents can round the point, after which the current slackens, and continue their dive along the reef's north edge. This should only be done by prior arrangement with your dive guide, and great care should be taken, since divers have been swept off the reef here.

The steep-sided walls of Jackson Reef are among the finest in the Sinai region. The current-swept reef is densely grown with a real profusion of hard and soft corals, with special accents provided by luxuriant gorgonian fans, sea whips and black corals, and vivid growths of soft coral.

After sloping down, there is a plateau at about 30 to 60 feet and then the drop-off continues down to 225 feet. There are strong currents that carry divers around the northeast end of the reef. There is a sandy bay that is shallow on the north side. There are many schooling reef fish as well as open ocean fish that you may see if you look around into the blue waters around the reef.

Fish life, not surprisingly, is excellent. The strong current brings plenty of nutrients for reef and schooling fish. Current and profile combine to tempt pelagic fish in from the open water, and large schools of barracuda and jacks are common here, as are larger predators including several species of shark. The smaller reef species on which these pelagic visitors feed are profuse.

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Last Updated: May 29th, 2011