Maxwell s Reef

Maxwell’s Reef is an offshore coral reef dive site in the northern Gulf of Aqaba near Taba, Sinai, Egypt (lat 29.40, lng 34.83). It is listed among the dive sites accessible from Taba-area dive operators, lying approximately 500 m off the coast in front of the Ras Amira dive area.

Overview

Maxwell’s Reef resembles an underwater island — a submerged reef structure with a minimum depth of approximately 12 m and a maximum of around 45 m. The site is included in regular day-trip dive excursions from Taba. As a reef in the Gulf of Aqaba, it benefits from the excellent water clarity characteristic of the area — visibility regularly exceeds 20 m. The Gulf of Aqaba’s cooler waters and high salt content support exceptional coral growth and fish diversity.

Marine Life

The Gulf of Aqaba supports over 450 fish species and more than 127 coral formation types. Dive sites in the Taba/Gulf of Aqaba region typically feature octopuses, groupers, lionfish, moray eels, schooling barracuda, turtles, and various reef fish. No site-specific species list was found for Maxwell’s Reef in available sources.

Dive Profile

Minimum depth approximately 12 m, maximum approximately 45 m. Reef structure. Gulf of Aqaba conditions are typically calm with excellent visibility. Accessible from shore and by boat from Taba.

Site Information

• Location: Gulf of Aqaba, near Taba, northern Sinai, Egypt
• Entry Type: Shore entry
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 25 meters (site extends to ~45 m)

Additional Resources

• Last Updated: 2026-05-17

Sources: Red Sea Diving – Maxwell. Specific marine life list not found in available sources. Last updated 2026-05-17.