Gordon Reef

A rusting cargo hull sits above the reef's northern edge. Below it, Gordon Reef unfolds eastward as a sandy plateau dotted with hard and soft coral pinnacles. Most dives begin at fixed moorings on the sheltered eastern side, where divers descend onto the plateau at 10-15m.

Head north along the reef shoulder and the landscape shifts. Midway, clusters of metal drums sit on the seabed, remnants from maritime operations around the Loullia. These drums function as an artificial reef in miniature. Octopus wedge into the hollow interiors. Peppered morays and gold-edged morays thread through gaps between the drums. A torch helps.

South from the moorings, the terrain dips into the amphitheater. This sand-filled depression is the site's centrepiece. Whitetip reef sharks lie motionless on the white sand, sometimes two or three at once. The encounter feels unhurried. No chasing into blue water, no racing current. Just sharks on sand at 20m.

Gordon Reef does not compete with its Tiran neighbours on spectacle. Jackson has the fastest drift. Thomas has the longest wall. Gordon has something the others lack: a reliable, calm shark encounter that does not require advanced skills or deep dives.

The amphitheater sets it apart. Where most Red Sea shark sightings involve scanning blue water and hoping, Gordon's whitetip reef sharks stay put. They rest on the sand and tolerate divers at close range. A liveaboard trip report from September 2024 placed Gordon's scenery alongside Shark and Yolanda reefs. The metal drum reef adds a second layer. Octopus and moray eels concentrate here in a way that the clean coral walls of other Tiran reefs do not replicate.

Currents at the southwestern corner near the beacon can be strong. If you drift past this point, getting back to the boat becomes difficult. Stay close to the reef wall and follow your guide's briefing.

The plateau is easy to navigate with a guide but disorienting solo. Sand and pinnacles look alike. A compass and buddy contact are essential. Nitrox is worth having for the deeper amphitheater and wall sections. SMB deployment is standard practice for drift dives and ascents on Tiran reefs.