About El Fanadir North
El Fanadir North is a prominent reef system in the Red Sea, situated roughly 4 kilometers offshore from Hurghada. This extensive reef stretches for 3 kilometers and serves as a natural barrier, featuring a distinct wall along its northeast flank. Its diverse topography, encompassing both shallow and deep sections, makes it a significant site for marine biodiversity in the region. Divers typically access the site by boat, exploring a broad sandy plateau that leads to the main wall. This wall starts at approximately 18 meters and descends beyond 30 meters, eventually dropping off to depths exceeding 70 meters. Between the wall and the deeper drop-off, a sandy bottom is dotted with coral patches. The reef also boasts a large pinnacle, adding further structural interest. For those new to diving, a shallow, sandy lagoon on the southeast side offers an ideal entry point. Marine life at El Fanadir North is rich and varied, with frequent sightings of reef residents. You can expect to encounter boxfish, pufferfish, scorpionfish, lionfish, trumpetfish, anthias, and unicornfish, alongside anemones and bluespotted stingrays. While dangerous species like lionfish and stonefish are present, the site offers exceptional aquatic variety year-round. Given its structure, El Fanadir North is primarily a boat-access wall dive, often experienced as a drift. It is well-suited for confident divers who appreciate diverse structure and marine life, though shallow areas accommodate beginners. Good buoyancy control is essential to avoid contact with the reef and manage venomous species.
Highlights
3-kilometer reef wallSandy plateauLarge coral pinnacleDeep drop-off (70m+)Abundant reef fish schoolsBluespotted stingraysShallow sandy lagoonNorth-east wall corals
Best Season
Diving at El Fanadir North is possible year-round. The area generally experiences light currents and flat calm surge, contributing to consistent and favorable diving conditions throughout the seasons, with visibility averaging around 28 meters.
Dive site facts: El Fanadir North
- Depth
- 12–70 m
- Current
- Moderate
- Entry
- Liveaboard or dayboat
- Level
- Advanced
- Dive type
- Reef, Drift, Reef, Wall
- Region / port
- Egypt
- Coordinates
- 27.3061° N, 33.8969° E
Conditions & Currents
Currents at El Fanadir North are generally light, making it suitable for a variety of divers. The site is predominantly a drift dive, often along a wall, requiring boat access and planned entry/exit points from the vessel. Divers should maintain good buoyancy control, especially on the wall, and avoid exceeding planned depths, as the drop-off extends beyond 70 meters. While surge is typically flat calm, visibility averages a clear 28 meters, providing excellent viewing conditions. The presence of venomous species like lionfish and stonefish underscores the importance of careful reef contact and buoyancy.
Why dive El Fanadir North from a liveaboard?
El Fanadir North is one of Egypt's signature dive sites. A liveaboard sleeps you on the water and puts you in the water for three to four guided dives per day, including dawn and night dives that day-boat operators rarely offer. You skip the daily commute back to port and reach quieter, less-crowded sites in the same region on a single trip.
Below are the liveaboards that include El Fanadir North on their Egypt itineraries.
Liveaboards diving El Fanadir North
These liveaboards may visit El Fanadir North on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
DUNE Longara
Egypt
30 guests
$150/day
JP Marine
Egypt
28 guests
$109/day
Snefro Pearl
Egypt
12 guests
$150/day
Snefro Love
Egypt
20 guests
$154/day
Sindalahs
Egypt
26 guests38 m
$155/day
Hammerhead II
Egypt
20 guests
$173/day
Blue Liveaboard
Egypt
24 guests43 m
$196/day
Odyssey
Egypt
26 guests40 m
$186/day
Discovery I
Egypt
20 guests
$119/day
Star Jet
Egypt
28 guests35 m
$145/day
SS Serena Dreams
Egypt
18 guests33 m
$181/day
Amelie
Egypt
12 guests23 m
$115/day
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© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
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- Theme
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Little Brother
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- Theme
- Reef / Wall
© Esri — Maxar, Earthstar, GIS
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- Liveaboard or dayboat
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- 10–16 m
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Alexandria
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- Current
- Moderate
- Access
- Liveaboard or dayboat
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- 5–8 m
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