Colona Divers
PADI 5 Star IDC in Hurghada tracing to a 1977 Red Sea liveaboard, with daily boat dives, a house reef to 30+ m, and liveaboard safaris.
PADI5 services3 languages
Erg Sabina
Also known as: Egr Sabrina, Erg Sabena, Erg Sabine
Small coral erg rising from a 10-12 m sand floor in the Giftun Strait, with a second glassfish erg 50 m north and crocodilefish on the sand between.
Last updated October 2026
The dive
A small coral erg rises from a flat sand floor at 10-12 m, and the mooring sits on its south side. The north face is where operators send divers to spend the time, since the erg is best on that side; big brain corals stand beside it and schooling fish hover there facing the current. From the main erg the route runs about 50 m north over open sand to a second, smaller erg full of soft coral and glassfish, with table corals and coral blocks to glance under on the way out and back. Crocodilefish sit on the sandy bottom between the two.
What makes it special
Glassfish carry this dive. Schools of them move around both ergs while jackfish, lionfish and groupers work the edges, and the pair of ergs on open sand gives the scene room that a single coral head would not. The sand corridor rewards slow swimming: the camouflaged residents and the coral blocks only show themselves to a diver who keeps low and looks underneath.
Know before you go
Current decides the character of the dive. When the strait runs, expect the glassfish to hang facing the flow over the erg; stay by the coral, keep the group close, and send up a marker buoy rather than leaving the structure for the open sand.
Why Dive Erg Sabina
What makes this dive site stand out.
- Two ergs on open sand
A main erg plus a smaller one about 50 m north, with table corals and coral blocks between
- Glassfish and their hunters
Glassfish schools draw jackfish, lionfish and groupers to the edges
- Crocodilefish on the sand
Camouflaged on the sandy bottom around the ergs
- Shallow profile
Sand floor at 10-12 m with the erg rising from it
- Strait current
The Giftun Strait bottleneck can bring strong current, and reports differ
Depth & Profile
10m
Min depth
12m
Max depth
10–12m
Typical range
PinnacleReefSandCoral
Location
27.2165°N, 33.9545°E
Conditions & difficulty
Temperature
up to 30°C
Visibility
10–25m
Current
Variable
Best season
Diveable year-round
EasyMin cert: Open Water
Open Water, following the shallow depth and operator grades of beginner, easy or suited to most levels; one operator's own level field reads Intermediate. Current in the strait is the reason to listen to the briefing.
Summary
Easy in calm water; strong current in the strait bottleneck makes it a hold-position dive.
Safety considerations
What can go wrong here, and what divers do about it. Conditions change - take the briefing from the operator on the day.
- Current: The Giftun Strait bottleneck can bring strong current, though another guide lists limited or noneAsk the crew about current before entering, hold position by the coral if it runs, and carry a surface marker buoy
Marine Life
GlassfishGrouperEpinephelus spp.CrocodilefishPapilloculiceps longicepsCommon lionfishPterois milesHumphead wrasseCheilinus undulatus· Rare, SeasonalOcellated eagle rayAetobatus ocellatus· Rare, SeasonalGreen sea turtleChelonia mydas· Rare, Seasonal
Dive Centers
View allBook a guided dive at this site.
Rules and permits
- Conduct: no touching, no feeding, no taking anything.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does strong current at Erg Sabina change who should dive it?▾
It can. One operator says the strait's bottleneck shape can cause strong currents, while another guide lists the current as limited or none, so the site reads as calm on some days and demanding on others. A newly certified diver is well placed on a calm day. When the strait runs, the schooling fish hover facing the water and the dive turns into holding position by the coral, which suits a diver with some current experience or a guide who briefs the plan. The crew's read of the water on the day settles it.
Why does one operator list Erg Sabina as Intermediate?▾
That operator's level field says Intermediate, while the same page says the site suits most levels of diver. Two other pages grade it beginner and a dive guide grades it easy for all levels. The sand floor sits at 10-12 m, so depth alone does not raise the bar; current is the stated reason to take care.
DIVECODEX LOG
Every dive has a story. Share yours.
Log your dives - notes, photos, conditions and the marine life you saw - and share them as one public diver profile. What you share helps the next diver, too.
Log every detail
Depth, duration, conditions, gear, buddy, notes — all in one place. Import from Suunto and other dive computers.
Track marine life
Record species sightings on each dive. Build a personal catalogue of everything you've seen underwater.
Your public dive profile
Share your dive history, stats, and experiences with a profile page you control. Show the world where you've been.