Amphoras

Overview

Amphoras is a drift dive site on the Na’ama Bay coastline of Sharm el-Sheikh, named after a 17th-century Turkish cargo vessel that sank here carrying clay amphoras — some reportedly filled with mercury that briefly turned the seabed into a mirror. The mercury and most amphora fragments are long gone, but an anchor and scattered pot shards remain at approximately 22 metres. The site’s underwater topography is a fringing reef wall (around 10 m deep) giving way to a sandy slope dotted with coral pinnacles (ergs) that reach down to 25–30 metres before a drop-off. The pinnacles are colonised by alcyonarian soft corals, particularly dendronephthya, and encrusting hard corals. Amphoras lies southwest of Tower and is typically dived in the afternoon on a northward drift current, making it accessible to all levels of certified diver.

Marine Life

Scorpionfish and stonefish are well camouflaged around the pinnacle bases; nudibranchs appear on encrusting corals. Moray eels inhabit crevices throughout the reef. Eagle rays and hawksbill turtles are occasionally seen along the drop-off. Schools of anthias, butterflyfish, and bannerfish live around the pinnacles, while tuna and barracuda patrol the open water above the drop-off. The amphora remnants and anchor at 22 m provide structure for small reef fish and encrusting life.

Dive Profile

Dives begin from a day boat, dropping onto the reef flat at 6–10 m and drifting northward along the pinnacle field. The productive zone is 12–25 m; the drop-off edge at 25–30 m can be visited briefly. Average depth 15–20 m; duration 45–60 minutes. Visibility 20–30 m. Current direction and speed vary by time of day — afternoon typically has the best drift.

Entry and Exit

Boat dive from Na’ama Bay / Sharm el-Sheikh. Most operators include Amphoras on afternoon multi-site trips, often pairing it with Tower or Paradise reef. Suitable for Open Water certification and above.

Tips and Recommendations

Stay in the pinnacle zone at 12–22 m rather than dropping to the drop-off for the richest marine life. Search each pinnacle base carefully for cryptic species. Carry a torch to look inside crevices for lobsters, moray eels, and cleaner shrimp. Afternoon dives typically run on a reliable northward current.

Safety Considerations

Drift speed varies — always carry and deploy an SMB on ascent. Fire coral (Millepora) is present on the reef wall. Dehydration is a risk on long surface intervals in afternoon sun. Dropping below 30 m on the sandy slope adds little of interest and increases decompression obligation unnecessarily.

Photography

Dendronephthya-clad pinnacles offer excellent wide-angle and mid-range reef shots. The anchor and amphora fragments at 22 m are compelling historical subjects. Patient divers may capture eagle rays against blue water near the drop-off.

Site Information

• Location: Na’ama Bay coastline, Sharm el-Sheikh, Sinai Peninsula
• Entry Type: Shore entry
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 30 m

Sources: Camel Dive Club — Amphoras, Circle Divers — Amphoras, Divescover — Amphoras. Last updated 2026-05-17.