DIVE SITE SMALL GIFTUN

Dive Site: Small Giftun

Close to Hurghada, this drift dive is a chance to see ambush predators on the reef and pelagic species in the blue

Words Jo Mattock

Small Giftun Island, also called Giftun Soraya, is less than an hour from Hurghada. The dive is a drift at the southern end of the island – it starts opposite a police station on the island.

When you drop in from the boat, you’ll be drifting (to a greater or lesser extent depending on the current) along a wall with the reef on your right hand side. You can pick your depth, though it is worth heading down to 30m in order to see a spectacular display of gorgonian corals. Look carefully among their branches and you may spot one of the shy longnose hawkfish. It’s also worth keeping an eye on the blue open water – tuna and trevallies may be passing by, and in the early morning, you might be lucky enough to spot a shark.

Around 15 minutes into the dive (depending on how fast you’re swimming or the current is running), you start to ascend. The reef levels out to a large sandy plateau that lies between 15m and 25m.

This coral garden has more life than the wall and generally less current. Look out for blue spotted stingrays in the sand between the coral heads, turtles and lots of giant morays. If you look carefully you can spot some of the species that camoflage themselves, such as scorpionfish, stonefish or crocodilefish or critters including nudibranchs and flat worms. At this point in the dive, it pays to take your time and take a good look around.