RAS EL DISHA

Location - About 90 minutes south from Hurghada, on the coast, is a wide bay with an island at its centre (Abu Haschish). It is defined to the north by a headland called Ras Disha. There is a plateau of shallow sand and past the beacon, to the north is a drop-off. Three ergs lie to the south. They are probably the nicest diving.

Sea Conditions - The dive site is well sheltered from waves and current which come predominantly from the north.

Dive Plan - Forget the main reef. It is largely dead. The best route to take is around the ergs. They rise up from a sandy seabed at l0-12m. The most northerly has a large cavern thick with glass fish.

Marine Life - On the ergs, the usual hunters of glassfish - jacks, lionfish and redmouth groupers. This place also has the richest sand-dwelling fauna around-crocodilefish, flatfish, stonenfish, spiny devilish, bluespotted rays and sea moths come as standard. On the wall to the north, a grey reef shark is rumoured to hang out, and on the sandy plateau and between the ergs schools of juvenile barracuda.