Blue Water House Reef

Blue Water House Reef is a coral reef dive site in the Hurghada area of the Egyptian Red Sea, serving as the dedicated house reef for the Blue Water dive facility. House reefs of this type are valued for their accessibility, flexibility, and the fact that regular diver presence means the marine life has become accustomed to humans.

Overview

The Blue Water House Reef occupies a section of the fringing reef characteristic of the Hurghada coastline — shallow and sheltered inshore, with a sloping reef face descending to sand at around 18–20 meters. The reef is in good condition with a mix of hard and soft coral colonies, and regular diver traffic has not diminished the fish life, which remains abundant due to the stable, undisturbed nature of a dedicated house reef. Boat mooring is available on site. Visibility is typically 15–25 meters; water temperatures range 22–29°C.

Site Information

• Location: Red Sea, Egypt
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 20 meters
• Typical Visibility: 15–25 meters (50–82 feet)
• Current: Very light
• Best Time: Year-round

Marine Life

Fish life is dense and approachable. Resident humphead wrasse have been observed at this site over many years. Moray eels occupy familiar crevices and can be predictably located by experienced dive guides. Turtles, bannerfish, parrotfish, and a variety of wrasse species form the core of the reef community. The sandy base holds garden eels and blue-spotted rays. Scorpionfish are camouflaged on the reef — watch where you place your hands.

Dive Profile

The house reef format allows flexible dive planning. Typically divers descend to the sandy base at 18–20 meters, explore the reef slope in both directions, then ascend through the coral gardens to the shallow crest for a relaxed safety stop. The familiarity of regular dive guides with this specific reef means sightings are maximised.

Entry and Exit

Boat dive from the associated dive facility. The operator manages all logistics. Entry by giant stride or back roll, exit via the boat ladder or platform.

Tips and Recommendations

• Ask your dive guide about the resident marine life — they know where the animals live
• Multiple dives on the house reef reward familiarity and deeper fish interaction
• Night dives on familiar house reefs are particularly productive
• A good site for skills practice and certification dives in open water conditions
• Respect the site — it is maintained specifically for repeated use

Safety Considerations

Conditions are generally benign. The main hazards are fire coral, sea urchins, and scorpionfish — all requiring buoyancy awareness. Surface current and boat traffic in the area require SMB deployment on ascent.

Photography

House reefs reward patient photography. Returning to the same reef means building familiarity with specific subjects — resident eels, the local humphead wrasse, and predictable macro finds. Natural light is good on the shallow reef crest.

Sources: Divezone - Red Sea, Dive the World - Egypt Red Sea, Red Sea Scuba Diving, PADI - Diving in Egypt. Last updated 2026-04-04.