The Alternatives

Boats moor in a lagoon at the centre of several submerged islands arranged in a ring. From there, divers swim pinnacle to pinnacle, each flat-topped erg hosting its own community of reef fish and invertebrates. The best circuits run toward the third and fourth ergs from the east, where nutrient-carrying currents sweep through. Sandy "wadis" and amphitheatres separate the pinnacles, and the landward side stays shallow at 10-15 m.

In the north-western part sits Stingray Station, a large quadrangular outcrop where the shelf drops quickly to around 25 m. Following the drop-off edge here puts divers in blue-water territory. Lonely Mushroom is a single circular tower prized for close-up work on nudibranchs and colourful shrimp. Despite its small size, it can be tricky to locate underwater; ask your guide to confirm its position before you descend.

A ring of flat-topped coral pinnacles gives the site its local name, Saba Erg (Seven Pinnacles), and its two standout features. Stingray Station delivers reliable bluespotted stingray encounters that few other Sharm sites replicate. Lonely Mushroom offers dedicated macro photography in a compact area.

Night diving here is the real draw for repeat visitors. The pinnacle structure acts as a concentrator. Thousands of glassfish hang in torch beams, trevallies streak through hunting, and morays swim openly between ergs. A 2013 night dive documented a Spanish dancer sighting. Strong currents can complicate the return swim to the boat, so careful planning matters.

Day-boat traffic is heavy. One liveaboard group counted over 50 boats moored within sight during a single morning, many carrying snorkellers and discovery divers. Diving early, late, or from a liveaboard after the day boats leave transforms the experience.

For night dives, swim toward pinnacles, not into the channels between them. Those channels lead to open ocean. Currents around the ergs can build after dark, and the swim back to the mooring line may require heading into the current. Egypt's CDWS rules cap the dive at 30 m, typically limit it to 60 minutes, forbid decompression diving, and require a 3-minute safety stop at 5 m with a buddy at all times. An SMB is useful if surfacing away from the boat.