Abu Dabbab - Deep South
Abu Dabbab, just a few kilometres off the coast between Port Ghalib and Marsa Alam, is a collection of six distinct reefs. The name translates to "Father's Stepping Stones," a nice touch for a site that doesn’t quite hit the same dramatic depths as some of its neighbours. You won't cover all six in one dive, and frankly, you don't need to. Our pick is generally the two most eastern reefs, Ithnain and Thalata, especially if you’re looking for a relaxed dive. We’ve had some fantastic encounters here with green turtles grazing on the seagrass, and dugongs aren't uncommon, particularly in the shallower areas. It's a forgiving spot, great for extended bottom times and getting some good photographs, even if the reef itself isn't the most colourful in the Red Sea.
- Location
- Deep South, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 25.300000, 34.780000
Best Time to Dive in Deep South
The warmest water temperatures in Deep South occur in January, averaging 22.7°C. The coolest conditions are in December at 22.7°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 22.7°C (air: 19.1°C)
- February: 22.7°C (air: 19.5°C)
- March: 22.7°C (air: 22.3°C)
- April: 22.7°C (air: 26.3°C)
- May: 22.7°C (air: 29.7°C)
- June: 22.7°C (air: 32.9°C)
- July: 22.7°C (air: 33.7°C)
- August: 22.7°C (air: 34.1°C)
- September: 22.7°C (air: 32.6°C)
- October: 22.7°C (air: 28.5°C)
- November: 22.7°C (air: 24.5°C)
- December: 22.7°C (air: 21.4°C)
Nearby Dive Sites in Deep South
- Abu Dabab Garden - 18m (reef)
- Abu Dabab II - 16m (reef)
- Abu Dabab III - 17m (reef)
- Abu Dabab IV - 19m
- Abu Dabab South - 16m (reef)
- Abu Dabab V - 17m
- Abu Dabab VI - 19m (reef)
- Abu Dabour - 22m (reef)
- Abu Nawas Garden - 20m (reef)
- Abu Saile - 23m (reef)
- Coral Garden Ghalib - 18m (reef)
- Elphinstone Reef - 29m (reef)
- Elphinstone South - 29m
- El Wezer - 21m (reef)
- Fayrouz House Reef South - 19m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Abu Dabbab
Marine Life in Deep South
Home to 63 recorded species including 30 reef fish, 10 seagrass & algae, 8 whales & dolphins, 6 hard corals, 4 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 sharks & rays.
Notable Species
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) - Whales & Dolphins
- thalassia (Thalassia hemprichii) - Seagrass & Algae
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- seagrass (Halophila ovalis) - Seagrass & Algae
- cymodocea (Cymodocea rotundata) - Seagrass & Algae
- halodule (Halodule uninervis) - Seagrass & Algae
- Species code: Hp (Halodule pinifolia) - Seagrass & Algae
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Paddle Grass (Halophila decipiens) - Seagrass & Algae
- Black rock pipefish (Phoxocampus belcheri) - Reef Fish
- Brown Frillfin (Bathygobius fuscus) - Reef Fish
- Branched sandpaper coral (Psammocora contigua) - Hard Corals
- Duncker's pipefish (Halicampus dunckeri) - Reef Fish
- Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Indian Scad (Decapterus russelli) - Reef Fish
- False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) - Whales & Dolphins
- Small giant clam (Tridacna maxima) - Clams & Mussels
Recommended Packing List for Abu Dabbab
Based on average water temperature of 22.7°C.
- Wetsuit (3-5mm) - comfortable for 23°C water
- Mask - essential for every dive
- Fins
- BCD - buoyancy compensator
- Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
- Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
- Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
- Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
- Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories