 The
Straits of Tiran
This
dive location can be found in the middle of the Gulf of Aqaba
approximately one and a half hours by boat from Naama Bay.
Only accessible by boat it is still well preserved compared
to some of the local dive sites on the coastline. Unpredictable
currents around the reefs and steep drop offs require good
diving skills. Guests diving with us will never be diving
this spot on their first dive day.
Four coral reefs lined up in a row are visible on the surface,
actually the top of a huge coral reef back growing out of
the depth.
These reefs, named after British cartographers (Gordon, Woodhouse,
Thomas, Jackson), are world famous for its extraordinary diversity
of corals. Sights of sharks, turtles and other big fish are
possible.
Wreck remains on the outside reefs stand as a warning to shipp
in the narrow straits. |
|
Gordon
Reef
The most southerly reef of the four has a different
topography from the others. This site has both a shallow
plateau area and drop offs, and can be done as a mooring
or a drift dive. On the northern edge of the reef is the
remains of the wreck Lovilla which has been on top of the
reef for a long time. It only remains there by habit as
most of the hull has corroded away (everybody is waiting
for it to go down so we can dive the wreck).
The current on the south edge of Gordon is rarely strong
but be aware for it as it can cut across the plateau.
The boats moor up on the southern plateau in about 8m of
water. The dives are usually conducted from the mooring
and heading in a easterly direction to the drop off which
starts at about 16m (worth keeping an eye out into the blue
here!).
From the drop off heading North following the edge is a
small garden eel area along with coral encrusted drums.
At the turn round point of the dive plan you ascend to about
8m and follow the reef back to the boat on the plateau area.
If this is done as a drift dive the boat drops you at the
mooring and will pick up on the northern edge. This follows
the same area as a mooring dive but then continues along
the drop off which turns more into a plateau as it reaches
the corner. This is a regular for the sharks and can be
a very high speed drift.
|
|
Thomas
Reef
This
is the smallest reef in the Straits, but also one of the
most popular. The dive is governed by the weather conditions
as the western side is often impossible to pick divers up
from. The dive is done as a drift dive with potentially
strong currents on the southern and northern ends of the
reef. The ends are vertical walls with a large plateau at
about 25m on the south eastern side.
This plateau
often has sleeping sharks on the sand patches and the coral
has a fence of Gorgonia fans at the end. After the Gorgonia
fans the reef returns to a wall before coming to the corner
of the reef, watch the currents. If conditions allow it
is possible to go round to the other side of the reef, which
is a wall disappearing into the deep. |
|
Woodhouse
Reef
This
is the longest reef of the four in the Straits of Tiran
and is dived as a drift dive usually from South to North.
Jumping at the southern part of the reef is a wall
to about 30m. It is worth looking on to the sand patches
below to try and spot sleeping sharks. The coral covers
all the way from the surface down the wall which becomes
more of a slope as the dive progresses. Half way through
the dive there is a canyon going along the reef at about
25m which spreads out into a coral garden with sand alleys.
This is usually where the current starts to pick up.
If the conditions on the west side of the reef are rough
the dive has to be ended at the end of the coral garden,
which is usually reached after about 50 minutes.
If weather
conditions allow it is sometimes possible to continue the
dive beyond this point. Where the reef leaves the surface
and funnels down towards Jackson Reef. This area is referred
to as the washing machine due to the very strong currents
going in all directions. |
|
Jackson
Reef
This
is the most northerly reef in the Straits of Tiran. The
dives are usually conducted from the moorings on the south
side which is sheltered from the main swell and currents.
The boats moor up in a lull spot of the current where the
wall is around 40m.
After descending down the wall to your planned depth
the dive is to the south western corner, keeping the reef
on the right. Towards the corner the reef levels out to
a gentle slope from about 6m with the corals in this area
being some of the best in the area. It is around here that
the current can pick up and be very strong. Care is required
as you have to be able to get back to the boat.
On the way back, which is done in shallow water, there are
many inlets into the reef which are full of soft corals,
making an excellent place to conduct the safety stop.
This site can also be done as a drift dive heading from
the mooring towards the East with the reef on the left where
it is mostly wall diving with excellent corals. This can
get to be a high speed drift at times and care must be taken
if the surface conditions are rough as the boat will have
difficulty doing the pick ups. |
|
|
|
