Pinky Wall

Pinky Wall is a wall dive site located in the Strait of Tiran, the narrow passage between the Sinai Peninsula and Saudi Arabia at the northern entrance to the Red Sea. It forms part of the renowned Tiran Island reef system — one of the most dramatic diving locations in Egypt, regularly visited by liveaboards and day boats from Sharm el-Sheikh.

Overview

Pinky Wall takes its name from its position on the reef and is characterized by a vertical and near-vertical wall face covered in an abundance of pink and red soft coral growths that give it a distinctive colorful appearance. The wall drops sharply from a shallow reef plateau at around 3-5 meters, with the prime zone for coral growth and fish life between 8-20 meters. The Strait of Tiran experiences strong, sometimes powerful currents driven by tidal exchange between the Red Sea and Gulf of Aqaba, which feed the extraordinary productivity of the reef ecosystem. Visibility is typically excellent at 25-35 meters.

Site Information

• Location: Red Sea, Egypt (Tiran Island, Strait of Tiran, north of Sharm el-Sheikh)
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Wall dive
• Difficulty Level: Advanced
• Maximum Depth: 20 meters
• Typical Visibility: 25-35 meters (80-115 feet)
• Current: Moderate to strong; tidal-driven, direction variable
• Best Time: September to May

Marine Life

The current-swept wall is blanketed in soft coral outgrowths in shades of pink, red, and orange, swarmed by dense clouds of anthias. Gorgonian sea fans extend from crevices, and whip corals trail in the current. Moray eels and lionfish occupy sheltered positions throughout the wall. Schooling barracuda and jack are regular midwater sightings. Hammerhead sharks are spotted here during morning winter dives, typically as silhouettes in the blue water beyond the wall. Turtles and humphead wrasse round out the large animal roster.

Dive Profile

Drift dives are the standard approach at Tiran, and Pinky Wall is typically run as a current-assisted drift. Descend directly to the wall face and maintain your position between 10-20 meters while drifting with the current along the wall. Keep close to the wall to shelter from the strongest current and use the time to examine the soft coral detail and search crevices. When the guide signals, ascend to the reef top and conduct your safety stop as the boat follows overhead.

Entry and Exit

Day boats from Sharm el-Sheikh and liveaboards from the Sinai coast access the Tiran reefs. Drift dive procedures apply — entry is sequential and exit is typically into the current-shadow behind the reef. Deploy your SMB before the safety stop so the tender can track your position.

Tips and Recommendations

• Always check current conditions before descending — the Strait of Tiran can run very fast
• Maintain close proximity to the wall to shelter in its current shadow when needed
• A reef hook is a worthwhile piece of kit for hovering in one spot to watch for hammerheads
• Plan your dive to end shallower, not deeper — current drift can carry you along quickly

Safety Considerations

Strong tidal currents in the Strait of Tiran are the primary hazard. Never fight a strong current — work in the wall’s lee or signal to abort. Depth management is critical on a wall that continues beyond recreational limits. Pelagic sharks are sometimes encountered in the open water off the wall — maintain calm behavior. Always carry a fully inflated SMB ready for immediate deployment.

Photography

Pinky Wall is one of the Red Sea’s best soft coral photography sites. Wide-angle shots looking up the wall from 15 meters with pink coral in the foreground and sunlit blue water above are spectacular. The anthias-dense midwater above the wall creates colorful schooling fish images. Early morning dives with angled sunlight hitting the coral produce the most vibrant color. A strobe is essential for bringing out the true colors of the soft corals at depth.

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