Near Garden

Near Garden is the innermost and most accessible of the three sequential garden reef sites within Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai, Egypt — Near Garden, Middle Garden, and Far Garden. Positioned at approximately 27.91°N, 34.35°E, it sits closest to the boat anchorage area in the sheltered bay, making it the natural starting point for a garden reef dive circuit and often the choice for the end-of-day shallow dive.

Overview

Near Garden features a classic coral garden formation: a spread of individual and clustered coral heads — table corals, branching staghorn formations, and bulbous brain corals — arranged across a sandy seafloor in the 5-20 meter depth range. The national park context maintains excellent coral health and a fish community density that reflects decades of legal protection from fishing and development. Near Garden’s proximity to the anchorage point means it receives somewhat more diver traffic than the further-out garden sites, but the Ras Mohammed marine reserve status ensures the reef remains in strong condition.

Site Information

• Location: Ras Mohammed National Park, Sinai, Egypt
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 20 meters
• Typical Visibility: 15-30 meters (50-100 feet)
• Current: Generally mild in the sheltered bay area
• Best Time: September to May

Marine Life

Near Garden’s easy access and clear water make it one of the most frequented sites in the national park, and the resident fish have become relatively accustomed to divers — creating opportunities for close-range observations. humphead wrasse are regular visitors to the Near Garden area, circling the larger coral formations. Giant moray eels occupy crevices at multiple locations throughout the site. Clouds of anthias in orange and yellow hover above table corals in every direction, and butterflyfish patrol the coral heads in pairs. Lionfish are abundant in shaded overhangs. Garden eel colonies extend across sandy channels between coral formations. Sea turtles rest on the sand between dives and are often encountered early in the morning before boat traffic increases.

Dive Profile

Begin from the boat anchor or mooring point and explore outward through the coral formations. The garden layout rewards a slow, non-linear approach — work between coral heads at whatever depth they present, descending to 15-20 meters in the deeper channels before ascending to shallower formations. Near Garden can be combined sequentially with Middle Garden and Far Garden as an extended circuit, using the additional sites as air allows. As the first and last garden in the sequence, Near Garden makes an excellent safety stop site — hover in the coral at 3-5 meters for a natural and enjoyable end to the dive.

Entry and Exit

Day boats from Sharm el-Sheikh (approximately 30-45 minutes) anchor within the Ras Mohammed bay. Entry via giant stride. The protected bay location makes entry and exit comfortable in most weather conditions. Park entry fee applies. Deploy SMB before ascending.

Tips and Recommendations

• Arrive at the garden sites before 9am when conditions are calmest and fish most active
• Near Garden works particularly well as a second or final dive of the day after the more physically demanding outer park sites
• The sandy channels between coral formations are excellent for marine life observation — look for garden eel colonies, stingrays, and flatfish
• Following the progression from Near to Middle to Far Garden on a single dive gives a clear sense of how coral formations change with distance from the anchorage

Safety Considerations

The sheltered bay conditions at Near Garden make this one of the most forgiving dive sites in the Ras Mohammed system, but standard precautions apply. Fire coral is abundant on hard coral formations — proper buoyancy is essential. Urchins concentrate on the sandy margin near coral base. The national park rules prohibit any interaction with marine life or removal of any material. Always complete a safety stop and use an SMB.

Photography

Near Garden is excellent for reef fish portraiture and coral garden wide-angle work. The anthias clouds above table corals are one of the Red Sea’s most photographed subjects — a wide-angle lens looking upward through a table coral with the fish cloud above and blue water behind creates a classic image. Garden eel colonies in the sand channels require a patient approach and macro lens for detailed shots. Turtle encounters in the early morning offer wide-angle natural-light opportunities.

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