El Makluf - Safaga
El Makluf in Safaga is a gentle drift dive, perfect for newer divers looking for an easy introduction to the Red Sea. The reef slopes down to a sandy bottom at 23 metres. Expect to see some triggerfish, angelfish, and often a few blue-spotted rays resting on the sand. It’s a nice, relaxed second dive of the day.
- Location
- Safaga, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 26.202900, 34.216300
- Maximum Depth
- 23m
- Difficulty
- Beginner
Best Time to Dive in Safaga
The warmest water temperatures in Safaga occur in August, averaging 29.2°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 22.1°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 23.1°C
- February: 22.3°C
- March: 22.1°C
- April: 22.8°C
- May: 25.0°C
- June: 26.5°C
- July: 27.7°C
- August: 29.2°C
- September: 28.6°C
- October: 27.4°C
- November: 26.7°C
- December: 24.9°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Safaga
- Abu Hamra - 21m
- Abu Kafan - 15-40m (wall)
- Abu Kafan North - 25m
- Abu Kafan South - 25m
- Abu Saaf ED - 21m
- Abu Sawatyr - 19m
- Abu Soma Paradise House Reef (reef)
- Aida
- AIDA - 40m (wreck)
- AL KAHFAIN - 50m (wreck)
- Al Kahfain (Wreck) - 22m (wreck)
- Aluminium - 15-30m (wreck)
- Anemone Garden - 22m (reef)
- Aquarium - 19m
- AQUA SAFARI - 34m (wreck)
Nearest Dive Centres to El Makluf
- Aquastars Dive Centre & Dive Safaris - ["PADI"]
- Atlantik Diving Center - ["PADI"]
- Club Ras Soma Diving Center
- Coraya Divers
- Coraya Divers Naga Bay - PADI, SSI, CMAS
- Coraya Divers Red Sea
Marine Life in Safaga
Home to 32 recorded species including 22 reef fish, 5 whales & dolphins, 2 seagrass & algae, 1 sharks & rays, 1 sea cucumbers, 1 hard corals.
Notable Species
- Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) - Whales & Dolphins
- White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
- Slender grouper (Anyperodon leucogrammicus) - Reef Fish
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Desjardin's Sailfin Tang (Zebrasoma velifer) - Reef Fish
- Diagonal Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Dapple coris (Coris variegata) - Reef Fish
- Blue Trim Parrotfish (Scarus ghobban) - Reef Fish
- Brownbanded wrasse (Halichoeres scapularis) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Stethojulis interrupta) - Reef Fish
- Wrasse (Cheilinus trilobatus) - Reef Fish
- Klunzinger's wrasse (Thalassoma rueppellii) - Reef Fish
- Banded thicklip (Hemigymnus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Bottleneck Sea Cucumber (Holothuria (Thymiosycia) impatiens) - Sea Cucumbers
- Dusky Wrasse (Halichoeres marginatus) - Reef Fish
- Crested Sabretooth Blenny (Petroscirtes mitratus) - Reef Fish
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Armed Squirrel-fish (Neoniphon sammara) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for El Makluf
Based on average water temperature of 25.5°C, currents 16 cm/s.
- Shorty or Rashguard - warm 26°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