RD027 REGAL BRO-09 P22-41 AW 6/8/08 11:54 Page 26
RED SEA
REGALDIVE
the div
Safaga / Soma Bay
SOMA BAY
Safaga /
SOMA BAY
Soma Bay
Well known for its
unspoilt dive sites,
superb beaches
and watersports
Safaga offers some exceptional diving and is
still relatively undiscovered, both as a diving
destination and a resort. Tucked in just south of
Hurghada, most diving is conducted by boat to
reach the spectacular offshore reefs and
exciting wall dives of sites like Panorama Reef,
Middle Reef and Abu Kafan.
BEAUTIFUL CORAL GARDENS
The Tobia reefs, or the Seven Pinnacles as they
are often known, are particularly stunning and
boast beautifully coloured corals and a huge
variety of fish, including schooling juvenile
barracuda, stingrays, trigger fish, puffers and
groupers. Shallow coral gardens such as Gamul
Soghira and Gamul Kebira are also superb for
spotting reef fish in kaleidoscope colours.
THE SHEER WALLS OF ABU KAFAN
More breathtaking sites can be reached as you
head further away from the coast. Abu Kafan,
or ‘the deep one’, is probably the most
spectacular dive site in Safaga with stunning
sheer walls plummeting towards the sea floor
hundreds of metres below. Luxuriant soft corals,
gorgonians and black corals abound. This is also
a regular haunt of schooling barracuda, reef
sharks and turtles.
BRAIN CORALS AND GROTTOS
There are huge coral formations at Panorama
Reef, with walls dropping to over 200m and
numerous grottoes and overhangs, with jacks,
barracudas and reef sharks frequently sighted.
Middle Reef is best known for its dramatic hard
coral gardens, including spectacular brain corals,
rated as some of the best in the Red Sea.
SALEM EXPRESS
Wreck enthusiasts are often drawn to Safaga to visit
the Salem Express, an Egyptian passenger ferry
that sank on its return journey from Mecca in 1991.
Over 700 victims perished in one of the greatest
marine tragedies of all time. This is a stunning dive
site, but a dive here is generally considered to be
one for reflection rather than just pleasure.
BREAKER’S HOTEL
Staying in
AVAILABLE
Safaga / Soma Bay
www.regaldive.co.uk
Safaga is growing in popularity as a diving destination, but is already
well established as a location for world-class windsurfing and kitesurfing.
Safaga also offers superb beaches for relaxing and its waters are known
to have a high content of saline, which is said to be beneficial for the skin.
In the old port area, you can still see traditional Egyptian daily life. Safaga is
famous for access to Mons Claudianus, one of the best-preserved Roman
ruins in the desert.
Guests can also partake in camel and jeep safaris, quad biking and excursions
to Luxor and Hurghada.
26 q
www.regaldive.co.uk
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