Abu Nugar - Hurghada
Abu Nugar is one of those sites we always come back to in Hurghada, especially when we want to get away from the bigger boats. It’s got this really relaxed vibe, not too deep, so we often spend more time just observing the smaller stuff. We’ve had some fantastic luck here with the African eel blenny, tucked away in the sand patches, and the Chestnut blennies are always putting on a show, bobbing their heads out of tiny holes. The reef itself isn't a dramatic wall, more a gentle slope with scattered coral heads, which is exactly what makes it great for spotting the Camouflage grouper blending in perfectly, or the sneaky wrasse darting around. Our favourite part has to be looking for the Bluestripe pipefish – they’re masters of disguise, so take it slow. If you’re into macro and don’t mind a leisurely dive, you’ll love it here. It's a proper chill-out dive, perfect for photographers or anyone wanting to escape the rush.
- Location
- Hurghada, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 27.345710, 33.839490
- Type
- reef
- Maximum Depth
- 5-20m
Marine Protected Area: شعاب البحر الأحمر
Best Time to Dive in Hurghada
The warmest water temperatures in Hurghada occur in August, averaging 28.9°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 22.0°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 23.1°C
- February: 22.3°C
- March: 22.0°C
- April: 22.8°C
- May: 24.9°C
- June: 26.2°C
- July: 27.5°C
- August: 28.9°C
- September: 28.1°C
- October: 27.3°C
- November: 26.6°C
- December: 24.8°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Hurghada
- Abu Hashish Drift - 15-30m (drift)
- Abu Hashish Lagoon - 5-15m (reef)
- Abu Ramada Cave - 10-20m (cave)
- Abu Ramada - Ost - 10-25m (reef)
- Abu Ramada Plateau - 15-30m (reef)
- Abu Ramada South - 10-25m (reef)
- Abu Salama - 5-20m (reef)
- Aquarium - 8-20m (reef)
- Aquarius Diving Club - 5-15m (reef)
- Aquarius Diving Club - 5-15m (reef)
- Balena - 15-30m (wreck)
- Banana Reef (reef)
- Ben El Gebel - 10-25m (channel)
- Blue Water Dive Resort - 5-20m (reef)
- Blue Water House Reef (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Abu Nugar
Marine Life in Hurghada
Home to 47 recorded species including 33 reef fish, 7 whales & dolphins, 4 seagrass & algae, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea cucumbers, 1 hard corals.
Notable Species
- Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Indian Scad (Decapterus russelli) - Reef Fish
- Rock Cod (Epinephelus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) - Reef Fish
- False killer whale (Pseudorca crassidens) - Whales & Dolphins
- Tail-spot Squirrelfish (Sargocentron caudimaculatum) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Stethojulis interrupta) - Reef Fish
- Desjardin's Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer) - Reef Fish
- Dapple coris (Coris variegata) - Reef Fish
- Diagonal Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Species code: Hs (Halophila stipulacea) - Seagrass & Algae
- Crested Sabretooth Blenny (Petroscirtes mitratus) - Reef Fish
- Blue Trim Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Abu Nugar
Based on average water temperature of 25.4°C, currents 20 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 25°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