About Gota Soraya
Gota Soraya stands out as one of the Red Sea's premier wall dives, located in the southern region near the Sudanese border. This site is celebrated for its spectacular reef formations, offering an immersive experience that highlights the untouched beauty of the deep south. Divers encounter dramatic topography featuring extensive overhangs and numerous cracks within the reef wall. These structural elements create intricate habitats that are teeming with marine life. The maximum depth for diving here typically reaches around 20 meters, making it accessible while still offering rich underwater exploration. The site is vibrant with an abundance of corals, complemented by large schools of glassfish and sweepers that inhabit the cracks and overhangs. Pelagic encounters are a significant draw, with frequent sightings of grey reef sharks, silvertip sharks, and occasional hammerhead sharks, adding an exhilarating dimension to the dive experience. Primarily accessed by boat, Gota Soraya is considered suitable for advanced divers due to potential currents and the nature of wall diving. Visibility is generally excellent, often ranging between 10 to 20 meters, and can sometimes extend up to 30 meters, allowing for clear views of the pristine underwater landscape. Divers usually spend a single dive exploring this rich site.
Highlights
Spectacular reef wallOverhangs and cracksAbundant glassfish schoolsGrey reef sharksSilvertip sharksOccasional hammerhead sightingsVibrant coral gardensNumerous sweepers
Season calendar
Best months to dive here
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Excellent
Good
Mar – May & Sep – Nov (Peak)
Best conditions with 30m+ visibility, comfortable water temps 24–28°C. Hammerhead sharks at Brothers, thresher sharks at Elphinstone.
Jun – Aug & Dec – Feb (Shoulder)
Jun–Aug: hot topside but warm water, good for southern routes. Dec–Feb: cooler water (21–23°C) attracts oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone. Still excellent visibility.
Dive site facts: Gota Soraya
- Depth
- 0–20 m
- Current
- Moderate
- Entry
- Liveaboard only
- Level
- Advanced
- Dive type
- Wall, Wall
- Region / port
- Egypt
- Coordinates
- 23.5133° N, 35.6085° E
Conditions & Currents
Gota Soraya is primarily dived from a liveaboard, making boat access standard. As a wall dive, divers should be prepared for potential currents, particularly in exposed areas, though specific direction and strength can vary. While the site is generally suitable for advanced divers, careful attention to dive planning and entry techniques is advisable, such as drifting with the current, which is often facilitated by inflatable tenders for pickup after the dive. Visibility is usually excellent, ranging from 10 to 30 meters, ensuring clear views of the vibrant marine life. Thermoclines are not typically a significant concern, and boat traffic directly around the site is generally limited to dive vessels.
Why dive Gota Soraya from a liveaboard?
Gota Soraya 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 Gota Soraya on their Egypt itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Gota Soraya
These liveaboards may visit Gota Soraya on selected itineraries, the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.
DUNE Longara
Egypt
30 guests
JP Marine
Egypt
28 guests
Snefro Pearl
Egypt
12 guests
Snefro Love
Egypt
20 guests
Sindalahs
Egypt
26 guests38 m
Hammerhead II
Egypt
20 guests
Blue Liveaboard
Egypt
24 guests43 m
Odyssey
Egypt
26 guests40 m
Discovery I
Egypt
20 guests
SS Serena Dreams
Egypt
18 guests33 m
Blue Pearl
Egypt
20 guests36 m
Alsuraya
Egypt
24 guests37 m
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