ABOU EL-MAATY - El Gouna

Abou El-Maaty isn't about deep dives or dramatic drop-offs. It’s a shallow wreck, barely reaching 3m, but don’t let that fool you into thinking it's not worth your time. This site is a photographer's dream, especially if you’re into macro and natural light shots. The wreck itself is a small tugboat, completely broken up, with its pieces scattered across a sandy bottom. You’ll find the propeller, engine block, and various hull sections providing perfect homes for a surprising amount of small critters. We love poking around the debris, spotting pipefish tucked into the crevices and the resident moray eel peeking out from under a plate of steel. The light here is incredible, filtering down through the shallow water, painting everything in shades of blue and gold. It’s an ideal spot for extended bottom times, really taking your time to observe the gobies and blennies that have colonised every surface. If you’re a newer diver looking to get comfortable around wrecks, or an experienced pro wanting to perfect your buoyancy and macro skills, Abou El-Maaty is a fantastic choice. Our favourite time to visit is mid-morning, just after the sun has fully risen, when the light is at its most vibrant.

Location
El Gouna, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
28.336145, 33.111970
Type
wreck
Maximum Depth
3m

Wreck History - ABOU EL-MAATY

Vessel Type
unknown
Cause
unknown

The Abou El-Maaty is an intriguing and exceptionally shallow wreck site located in the vibrant Red Sea waters of El Gouna. With its highest point reaching a mere 3 meters from the surface, this wreck is perfect for an easy, relaxed dive and is also accessible to snorkelers and freedivers. Little historical information is available about the vessel or how it sank, but its remains suggest a small local boat. Today, it serves as a fantastic mini-reef, bathed in the bright Egyptian sun. The structure, though small, is teeming with the colorful fish life the Red Sea is famous for. It's an ideal location for a checkout dive, for new divers to comfortably experience their first wreck, or for photographers looking to capture stunning images in brilliant natural light.

Best Time to Dive in El Gouna

The warmest water temperatures in El Gouna occur in August, averaging 28.3°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 20.2°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 20.3°C
  • February: 20.2°C
  • March: 20.8°C
  • April: 22.1°C
  • May: 24.5°C
  • June: 25.8°C
  • July: 27.0°C
  • August: 28.3°C
  • September: 27.3°C
  • October: 26.1°C
  • November: 24.6°C
  • December: 22.2°C

Nearby Dive Sites in El Gouna

Nearest Dive Centres to ABOU EL-MAATY

Marine Life in El Gouna

Home to 64 recorded species including 46 reef fish, 7 whales & dolphins, 4 seagrass & algae, 3 sea cucumbers, 2 sea snails & nudibranchs, 1 sharks & rays.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for ABOU EL-MAATY

Based on average water temperature of 24.1°C, currents 19 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 24°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • 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