Shaab Tiffany

Shaab Tiffany is a coral reef in the northern Egyptian Red Sea near Hurghada, a day-accessible site with a protected lagoon-style structure, coral gardens, and calm conditions suited to beginner-to-intermediate divers on day-trip circuits.

Overview

Shaab Tiffany sits north of Hurghada at approximately 27.15°N, placing it firmly within the northern Egyptian Red Sea’s day-accessible reef belt. The reef has a distinctive character — the inner section of the horseshoe or partial-lagoon structure is sheltered from prevailing northerly winds, making it a reliable spot for comfortable diving even when conditions elsewhere are choppy. The outer reef edge offers a more typical sloping reef with better coral and fish diversity. The site is regularly visited by day boats from Hurghada and Soma Bay, and is particularly well-suited to newer divers building open-water experience on boat dives. Water temperatures follow the northern pattern: 21–23°C in winter, rising to 28–30°C in summer.

Site Information

• Location: Northern Red Sea, Egypt (near Hurghada, lat 27.15°N)
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 20 meters
• Typical Visibility: 20-25 meters (65-80 feet)
• Current: Light inside lagoon; moderate on outer edge
• Best Time: October to May

Marine Life

The sheltered inner sections of Shaab Tiffany support good populations of reef fish that adapt well to regular diver presence — butterflyfish, angelfish, and parrotfish are conspicuous on the coral platform. The outer edge produces more interesting encounters: moray eels in crevices, lionfish perching on coral heads, and the occasional humphead wrasse cruising the deeper sections. Green turtles appear on the reef plateau, and blue-spotted stingrays are found on sandy patches between the coral formations.

Dive Profile

Most dives begin at the outer reef edge, descending from the shallow platform at 5–8 metres to the sloping reef bottom at 18–20 metres. The calm inner section provides an excellent end-of-dive option for extending shallow time while maintaining a comfortable reserve. Navigation is straightforward, following the reef edge around the sheltered face. The calm conditions on the inner side make this suitable as a boat-dive skills location for open-water course dives.

Entry and Exit

Access is by day boat from Hurghada or Soma Bay. Entry by giant stride or back roll. The calm inner section provides easy re-entry conditions. Deploy SMB at 5 metres and coordinate with the boat crew for pickup. Multiple boats may be moored at this site simultaneously during peak season.

Tips and Recommendations

• Ideal for a second or third dive when tired or after a more demanding site earlier in the day
• The inner lagoon section is suitable for night diving with a Hurghada-based operator
• Check the outer edge coral formations first — they support significantly better fish diversity than the inner slope
• During winter when northerly winds are strong, this site’s sheltered character is particularly valuable

Safety Considerations

The inner reef is generally very calm and poses minimal hazard. The outer reef edge can develop current at tidal changes — brief your guide before entry. Multiple boats at the mooring create a busy surface environment; always deploy an SMB before ascending and confirm clear water above before surfacing. Fire coral is present on the platform.

Photography

Shaab Tiffany’s calm inner section provides stable conditions for close-focus photography. The platform top in 5–8 metres receives good natural light during midday, making it productive for reef fish portraits and coral macro work. Night diving here offers cuttlefish and octopus photography opportunities.

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