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.

At the western end 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. At the opposite end, Lonely Mushroom is a single circular tower prized for close-up work on nudibranchs and colourful shrimp.

The Alternatives occupies an unusual niche: the site divers visit when weather blocks Ras Mohammed and Tiran, yet one that rewards attention on its own terms. 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. The site sits outside Ras Mohammed NP, which means snorkellers and discovery divers converge here when the park is closed to entry-level groups. 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. An SMB is useful if surfacing away from the boat.