Halg Salmaan
25.5005°N 34.6692°E · reef
Halg Salmaan is a protected reef inlet in the Marsa Alam area, accessible from Port Ghalib by boat. The name refers to a crack in the fringing reef that does not reach the shore, forming a V-shaped channel with walls on both the north and south sides. It is described by Emperor Divers as one of several distinct dive zones accessible from Port Ghalib and frequently dived as a second dive following Marsa Mubarak.
Overview
The site features two distinct sub-sites — Halg Maksour and Halg Hadana — separated by a lagoon that regularly attracts pods of spinner dolphins. “Maksour” means “broken” in Arabic, describing the cracked reef wall filled with crevices and channels; “Hadana” means “breeding ground,” reflecting the pinnacles that shelter juvenile fish. Together they form a complementary dive that suits all levels, with easy conditions and interesting topography.
Marine Life
- Spinner dolphins frequently seen in the lagoon between the two sub-sites
- Scorpionfish and moray eels in reef structure
- Large black and twin-spotted snappers sheltering around Halg Hadana pinnacles
- Giant table corals and fire coral formations in shallow zones
- Whitetip reef sharks, turtles, and napoleon wrasse reported by divers
- Dugongs occasionally observed in the broader area
Dive Profile
Boat dive; typically a day trip from Port Ghalib. Depth 5–35 m (sandy bottom at 36 m). Very low current; rated easy for all experience levels. North reef offers more shelter; south reef best in calm conditions. Visibility 20–30 m.
Tips
- Watch the lagoon between sub-sites for spinner dolphins before and after the dive
- Maksour’s deep ravine and giant pinnacle are the structural highlights
- Hadana’s pinnacle marks the start of a small lagoon: check for juvenile fish in the shelter
Site Information
- Location: Port Ghalib / Marsa Alam area, southern Red Sea
- Entry Type: Boat dive
- Site Type: Reef
- Maximum Depth: 35 meters
- Difficulty: All levels (easy conditions)
Sources: Seahorse Diving Club – Halg Salmaan, Divers-Guide – Halg Salmaan, Emperor Divers – Port Ghalib. Last updated 2026-05-17.
Sea-surface temperature and wave height from Open-Meteo Marine (ERA5 reanalysis, monthly averages).
5 verified species observations (3 species) logged within ~11 km of this site between 1999 and 2006, from the Ocean Biodiversity Information System.
- Tursiops aduncus · Indian ocean bottlenose dolphin
- Stenella longirostris · Spinner dolphin
- Haliotis pustulata
Scientific survey records skew toward sampled taxa (molluscs, corals) and do not reflect what you are guaranteed to see on a dive.
Source: OBIS (obis.org), aggregated Darwin Core occurrence records.
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