Daharat Abida

Daharat Abida (also spelled Dahrat Abid) is the southernmost reef in the Sudanese Red Sea — a 400-metre bird island 220km south of Port Sudan and roughly 30km from the Eritrean border, visited only by the small number of liveaboards that run Sudan’s Deep South route.

Overview

Dahrat Abid is identifiable by three wrecks lying on its northwest side: a former sailing boat to the south, an unidentified motor ship in the middle, and a rescue boat to the north. The island itself is populated only by birds. Divers are typically dropped over the south plateau, which slopes gently from about 22m down to 40m at its southern edge; a separate plateau at the northeast end starts around 4m and descends to 14m. The site’s remoteness — only a handful of operators reach this far south — means comparatively undisturbed marine life. Confirmed sharks include whitetip, silvertip, and scalloped hammerhead, the latter sometimes seen schooling in open water off the wall. A previous version of this description claimed abundant silky sharks specifically at this site; no source found during research confirms that claim for Dahrat Abid, so it has been removed rather than repeated.

Site Information

• Location: Southernmost Sudanese Red Sea, 220km south of Port Sudan, ~30km from the Eritrean border
• Entry Type: Boat dive
• Site Type: Wall dive
• Difficulty Level: Expert
• Maximum Depth: 40 meters

Marine Life

Confirmed species at this site: whitetip reef sharks, silvertip sharks, and scalloped hammerhead sharks. No source confirms silky sharks, manta rays, or the specific fish counts claimed in a prior version of this page at this exact site, so those claims have been removed here.

Dive Profile

Divers are typically dropped over the south plateau (22-40m) or the shallower northeast plateau (4-14m), depending on conditions and itinerary. Current management is critical on the south plateau; abort if currents exceed safe limits. Time at depth on the south plateau is limited by nitrogen narcosis risk below 30m — plan conservative bottom times. Multiple safety stops are recommended. Experience with current diving and deep profiles is essential for the south plateau dive.

Entry and Exit

Access only via specialized deep south liveaboard expeditions. Very few operators run this route. Entry and exit are coordinated with the liveaboard crew and depend on sea conditions. Descents typically follow wall structures in strong current. High-visibility surface marker buoys are mandatory. The remote location means rescue is severely limited—only dive if you are confident in your conditioning and judgment.

Requirements & Tips

• Advanced or Expert certifications required: Minimum Rescue Diver, strong current experience, comfortable with 25-35m depths
• Exposure suit: Full 3-5mm wetsuit or lightweight drysuit (water temps 24-27°C, but current strip heat)
• Redundant equipment: Two regulators, dive computer, depth gauge, backup light
• Physical fitness: Excellent cardiovascular fitness required for strong currents and depth
• Book only with experienced operators: Absolute Divers, Red Sea Diving Safari, or other deep-south specialists
• Photo opportunities exceptional but current can challenge camera handling

Safety Considerations—Critical

This is remote-area diving with minimal emergency support. Do not attempt unless:

• You have 100+ logged dives in current
• You are comfortable at depths below 30m
• You have current/drift diving specialty training
• You have decompression dive experience
• Your physical health is excellent
• You understand the extreme remoteness may limit rescue options

Abort immediately if nitrogen narcosis, current, or any anomaly appears. Always dive with a very experienced buddy. Maintain conservative air reserves. Strong currents, deep nitrogen narcosis, and polar remoteness make this world-class diving for the truly experienced only.

Sources: Diving in Sudan - dive-the-world.com, Sudan Deep South - Seawolf Safari, Dahrat Abid - Red Sea Diving Safari. Last updated 2026-07-03.