Shaab el Erg - El Gouna

Shaab el Erg, nicknamed ‘Dolphin House,’ is a horseshoe-shaped reef. It’s a shallow spot, maxing out at 13m, which makes it an easy dive for beginners or those getting back into the swing of things. You’ll usually find bottlenose dolphins here, particularly in the mornings, sometimes in large pods. The coral isn't the most spectacular in the Red Sea, but the chance of an open-water dolphin encounter makes it popular.

Location
El Gouna, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
27.536300, 33.797600
Type
reef
Maximum Depth
13m
Difficulty
Beginner

Marine Protected Area: شعاب البحر الأحمر

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 Shaab el Erg

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 Shaab el Erg

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