Small Crack

A zodiac drops you on the outer wall of Sha'ab Mahmoud. Below, the reef falls to a sandy floor at around 20m, where gorgonians and large table corals spread across the slope. Coral pinnacles dot the outer reef, and this is where leopard sharks and turtles are most likely. The ebbing tide does the work, carrying you south along the wall toward the passage.

The crack itself is the transition. Reef walls close in on both sides in a channel averaging two to three metres deep, with fire coral lining the passage near the mouth. Current accelerates here. Then the reef opens again into a calm lagoon where the liveaboard sits at anchor. The whole sequence takes about an hour.

Tidal passages through barrier reefs are uncommon among Sharm's dive sites. Twice daily, the tide empties and fills the inner lagoon, pushing water through the narrow crack with enough force to sustain dense soft coral growth and concentrated marine life. This is not a standard wall or wreck dive.

After dark, the site changes character entirely. Resident flashlight fish appear in the passage, and the tidal flow amplifies nocturnal activity through the channel. Night dives here are considered distinct enough to warrant the trip even for divers who have covered Sharm's main after-dark spots. Calm weather is required, and the guide makes the call.

Small Crack is a liveaboard site. It appears on Wrecks and Reef or Classic North itineraries operating from Sharm or Hurghada, typically sandwiched between Dunraven and the Thistlegorm as a reef palate-cleanser between wreck dives. Day boats can reach it on extended trips but this is not routine.

Current is the variable that matters. Ebbing tide creates a comfortable drift back to the boat. Flooding tide pushes outward into open sea and can become dangerous. Guides time entries for ebb conditions. A zodiac is essential for all dives here, and an SMB is standard liveaboard kit.