Erg Abu Hashish

An isolated coral pinnacle rising from the sandy floor in the Makadi Bay area — a concentrated reef structure with dense glassfish schools, resident groupers and moray eels, and the classic erg character that makes single-pinnacle dives so productive in the central Egyptian Red Sea.

Overview

Erg Abu Hashish is a coral pinnacle (“erg” in the local Red Sea diving vocabulary describes an isolated coral pillar rising from a sandy seabed) located in the Makadi Bay offshore zone at approximately 27.01°N, 33.92°E — about 35 kilometres south of central Hurghada. The pinnacle rises from a sandy floor at around 18–20 metres to a summit at approximately 5 metres, creating a vertical reef structure that concentrates fish life in a way that continuous fringing reefs don’t. The Abu Hashish site name links it to the Abu Hashish bay area — a section of coast known for several quality erg dives in relatively close proximity. The isolated position means the pinnacle receives current from multiple directions, enhancing its productivity.

Site Information

• Location: Makadi Bay offshore zone, ~35 km south of Hurghada, central Egyptian Red Sea
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 20 meters
• Typical Visibility: 15–25 meters
• Current: Mild to moderate; variable around the pinnacle
• Best Time: Year-round; October to May optimal

Marine Life

Glassfish schools are the signature element of the pinnacle structure — they occupy the shadowed sections of the erg in dense silver cascades, attracting hunting groupers and trevally. Moray eels inhabit the base of the pinnacle at 15–20 metres. Lionfish and scorpionfish occupy the overhanging sections of the coral structure. Blue-spotted stingrays rest on the sandy floor around the pinnacle base. Turtles are occasionally seen resting on the summit of the erg. Schools of anthias cover the upper sections of the pinnacle in good ambient light.

Dive Profile

Descend directly to the base of the erg at 18–20 metres and perform a full circumnavigation at depth to observe the moray eels, lionfish, and sandy floor species. Ascend the pinnacle face to 10–12 metres and visit the glassfish sections on the shadowed flanks. The summit at 5 metres is the safety stop zone — the shallowest, best-lit section of the reef with the highest anthias concentration. The full dive circumnavigates the pinnacle at three different depth bands.

Entry and Exit

Day boat from Hurghada or Makadi Bay hotels (45–90 minutes depending on departure point). Giant stride entry close to the pinnacle. SMB deployment before ascending. Tofa Abu Hashish and Erg Abu Hashish are often combined in the same area for a two-dive day.

Tips and Recommendations

• Use a torch to illuminate the glassfish sections — torch-lit schools create more dramatic photography than ambient light alone
• The base of the pinnacle at 15–18 metres is the productive moray-and-scorpionfish zone — spend at least 10 minutes here before ascending
• The sandy floor around the pinnacle base holds goby-shrimp burrow pairs in the calmer sections — look for sentinel gobies hovering 10–20 cm above the sand
• Pair with Tofa Abu Hashish for a two-erg day from the same area

Safety Considerations

Current can wrap around the isolated pinnacle unpredictably — maintain awareness of drift direction. The sandy floor at 20 metres should not be exceeded without careful air management. Scorpionfish and lionfish on the pinnacle are contact hazards — never touch the reef surface. Fire coral on the upper pinnacle structure. Deploy SMB before ascending.

Photography

The glassfish schools in the shaded pinnacle sections are excellent torch-assisted wide-angle subjects — position the torch to backlight the school against the blue water background. Lionfish and scorpionfish portraits in their natural overhanging positions are accessible with a macro lens. The summit of the erg at 5 metres in morning light provides ambient wide-angle reef shots with good natural illumination.

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