Laguna Reef - Sharm el-Sheikh
Cheeca Rocks is one of our go-to shallow dives in the Upper Keys, particularly when the wind picks up. It’s not deep, around 6 to 7 metres, making it an ideal second dive or a relaxed long bottom time. We love drifting over the low-lying coral heads here, especially when the light hits just right and illuminates the crevices where you’ll often spot a Belted Cardinalfish or a shy Banded Blenny peeking out. The real draw for us is the sheer number of juvenile fish. You’ll see swarms of Grunts and Spot Snappers darting between the coral, and Angelfish are almost always present, often in pairs. Keep an eye on the sandy patches too; we’ve found Lizardfish buried there, and if you’re lucky, a Permit might cruise past. It’s a great site for newer divers or photographers looking to capture vibrant reef life without battling strong currents or deep depths. We often pair it with a deeper wreck nearby for a varied day out.
- Location
- Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
- Coordinates
- 27.997450, 34.483963
- Type
- reef
Marine Protected Area: محمية رأس محمد
Best Time to Dive in Sharm el-Sheikh
The warmest water temperatures in Sharm el-Sheikh occur in August, averaging 29.9°C. The coolest conditions are in March at 22.5°C.
Monthly Water Temperatures
- January: 23.6°C
- February: 22.8°C
- March: 22.5°C
- April: 23.3°C
- May: 25.6°C
- June: 26.9°C
- July: 28.4°C
- August: 29.9°C
- September: 28.6°C
- October: 27.8°C
- November: 27.1°C
- December: 25.3°C
Nearby Dive Sites in Sharm el-Sheikh
- Amphoras - 20m
- Anemone City (reef)
- AYIA VARVARA - 5m (wreck)
- Barge de Gubal (wreck)
- Beacon Rock
- Black Pearl - Red Sea
- Bluff Point
- Camel Dive Club & Hotel
- CSCL HAMBURG - 0m (wreck)
- Diving Centre - 5-15m (reef)
- Dunraven (wreck)
- DUNRAVEN - 30m (wreck)
- Dunraven Wreck (wreck)
- EMPEROR FRASER - 30m (wreck)
- Far Garden - 10-25m (reef)
Nearest Dive Centres to Laguna Reef
Marine Life in Sharm el-Sheikh
Home to 13 recorded species including 6 whales & dolphins, 5 reef fish, 1 sharks & rays, 1 crabs & lobsters.
Notable Species
- Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphin (Tursiops aduncus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Grey Dolphin (Grampus griseus) - Whales & Dolphins
- Bridled Dolphin (Stenella attenuata) - Whales & Dolphins
- Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) - Sharks & Rays
- Cowfish (Tursiops truncatus) - Whales & Dolphins
- White Dolphin (Sousa chinensis) - Whales & Dolphins
- Blacktail Butterflyfish (Chaetodon austriacus) - Reef Fish
- Long-beaked Dolphin (Stenella longirostris) - Whales & Dolphins
- Rock Cod (Epinephelus fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Indian Scad (Decapterus russelli) - Reef Fish
- Banded Cleaner Shrimp (Stenopus hispidus) - Crabs & Lobsters
- Diagonal Butterflyfish (Chaetodon fasciatus) - Reef Fish
- Bullethead Parrotfish (Chlorurus sordidus) - Reef Fish
Recommended Packing List for Laguna Reef
Based on average water temperature of 26.0°C, currents 10 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