Zreab Soraya

Zreab Soraya (also spelled Zerib Soraya, Zerib Soraya, or Zerib Kebir in related sites) is the house reef in front of the Utopia Beach Club / Pensee resort complex, located south of El Quseir on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast. The site is accessible as a shore dive through a tunnel over the reef top, and is notable for its combination of an inner shallow snorkelling area and a deeper outer reef with soft corals, anemone gardens, and a regular roster of marine life including Napoleon wrasse, sand eels, and dolphins.

Overview

The reef at Zreab Soraya forms a protected inner lagoon that is ideal for snorkelling, training dives, and night dives, while the outer southern reef drops to approximately 30 metres and features soft coral formations and a beautiful coral garden. Entry and exit are via a gap in the reef top, providing a controlled and convenient access point that also protects the deeper reef from heavy anchor damage.

The site lies in the El Quseir area of the southern Red Sea (approximately 26.030°N, 34.324°E), a region known for healthy reefs and marine life that is less disturbed than the busier northern resorts around Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Sand eels are frequently seen on sandy patches adjacent to the reef. Napoleon (humphead) wrasse appear with regularity, and dolphins occasionally swim into the protected bay. Moray eels inhabit the reef structure, and a particularly beautiful anemone garden is a feature of the shallower inner reef.

Dive Profile

• Depth range: 1–30 m (inner reef/lagoon for snorkelling and training; outer reef to 30 m)
• Entry: Shore dive through a gap/tunnel in the reef top
• Currents: Protected inner section: calm; outer reef may have mild drift
• Visibility: 15–25 m
• Night diving: The inner reef is excellent for night dives

Marine Life

Napoleon (humphead) wrasse, sand eels, dolphins (occasional), moray eels, anemones with clownfish (notable anemone garden on inner reef), blue-spotted stingrays, parrotfish, anthias, butterflyfish, and assorted soft coral reef fish. Turtles are occasional visitors.

Photography

The anemone garden in the shallows provides excellent close-focus wide-angle photography. Sand eels in columns on the sandy bottom are a distinctive macro subject. The outer reef soft corals make attractive wide-angle subjects in clear water.

Site Information

• Location: South of El Quseir, southern Red Sea (Utopia Beach Club / Pensee resort)
• Entry Type: Shore entry
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 30 metres

Sources: ScubaGo — Zerib Soraya, Wonderful Dive — El Quseir Reef Sites. Last updated 2026-05-17.