Cement Reef

A distinctive reef landmark in the southern Saudi Red Sea known by its unusual name — a structure with a hard, compressed coral facade and an exposed position that drives dense fish aggregations and occasional pelagic encounters in one of the least-dived sections of the Red Sea.

Overview

Cement Reef sits at approximately 22.39°N, 38.85°E in the southern Saudi Red Sea — a remote position in an area with very limited dive tourism infrastructure. The name describes either the hard, dense coral crust characteristic of this particular reef’s surface structure or may derive from industrial activity in the region. The reef is accessed from liveaboard operations or specialist regional dive operators and lies in a section of the Red Sea that sees very little diving pressure. The reef structure at this latitude benefits from the warm, clear water characteristic of the central Red Sea and the open-ocean influence that drives productivity. Fish biomass is high due to the near-pristine environment.

Site Information

• Location: Southern Saudi Red Sea (~22.39°N, 38.85°E)
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 20 meters
• Typical Visibility: 20–30 meters
• Current: Variable; moderate is typical
• Best Time: October to May

Marine Life

The site’s undisturbed character means fish populations are dense by Red Sea standards. Schooling barracuda and jacks patrol the reef edges. Grey reef sharks are present on the outer reef slope. Groupers occupy the coral structure in unusually high numbers — a consequence of limited fishing pressure in this area. The hard coral coverage is characteristic of sites in this latitude range: dense table corals and brain corals with abundant soft coral growth in deeper sections. Turtles are frequently encountered. Moray eels inhabit the reef crevices throughout.

Dive Profile

Descend on the sheltered face and work around to the exposed side at 12–18 metres, observing current strength and direction. The main reef structure is explored at 10–18 metres with the sandy bottom transition at 18–20 metres providing additional habitat variety. Return to the sheltered face for the safety stop at 5 metres over the upper reef.

Entry and Exit

Boat access from liveaboard or regional operator. Entry by giant stride. SMB deployment before ascending. The remote location requires self-sufficient diving — carry all necessary equipment and safety gear.

Tips and Recommendations

• Approach the outer reef edge at depth for the best shark and pelagic activity
• The dense grouper populations on this reef are unusual and reward slow, non-threatening movement near the coral structure
• Combine with Al Fahal reef sites on the same itinerary for comprehensive coverage of this area

Safety Considerations

Remote location with limited emergency response infrastructure. Dive conservatively and within limits. Deploy SMB before ascending. Assess current conditions before every entry. Fire coral, lionfish, and urchins are present throughout.

Photography

The undisturbed fish populations and clean water of Cement Reef create ideal conditions for ambient reef photography. Dense grouper aggregations and schooling barracuda are the primary subjects. The hard coral structure suits close-focus wide-angle work in good natural light.

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