Dive Site: Daedalus Reef

About Daedalus Reef

Daedalus Reef, known locally as Abu Kizan, is a remote outpost in the Red Sea, located about 80 km offshore from Marsa Alam. Its isolated position means it is exclusively accessed by liveaboard, ensuring its marine park status preserves its pristine condition and vibrant reefs. The reef itself is less than a kilometer wide and features a lighthouse at its center, constructed on a small man-made island, which also serves as a mooring point for liveaboards. The topography consists of a large, shallow reef that drops sharply on all sides. These steep walls are thickly covered with lush coral growth, including extensive fans and soft corals. The western wall, in particular, offers diverse marine life with large porites hard coral formations and crevices harboring moray eels. A notable highlight is 'Anemone City,' a section of the reef completely blanketed in anemones and their resident Red Sea anemonefish and dottybacks. Cleaning stations are also numerous, with wrasse attending to various fish species. While strong currents often run from north to south, especially at the northern point where they split, these challenging conditions are precisely what attract abundant pelagic species. Hammerhead sharks are a frequent sight, particularly in summer, alongside silky sharks, manta rays, trevally, and tuna. Thresher sharks can sometimes be spotted in the south, and even whale sharks may pass through during summer months. Given the strong currents and exposed nature of the site, Daedalus is best suited for experienced, advanced divers.

Dive site facts: Daedalus Reef

Depth

5–40 m

Typical dive

45–50 min

Current

Medium to strong, often unpredictable

Visibility

25–40 m

Water temperature

22–30 °C

Entry

Zodiac / RIB / negative entry

Level

Advanced (AOWD minimum, 50+ logged dives)

Dive type

Wall, drift, pelagic, coral reef

Night dive

Not permitted

Region / port

Southern Red Sea / Marsa Alam

Coordinates

24°55'52.2"N 35°52'13.4"E

Conditions & Currents

Daedalus Reef experiences medium to strong currents due to its isolated, open-ocean location, which can be unpredictable, particularly at the northern tip. Currents typically flow north to south along both walls, often building to strong drift conditions, and split at the northern point. Entry points are generally chosen based on current direction, with RIBs or tenders often used to position divers for drift dives. Night dives are strictly prohibited by marine park rules due to the risk posed by strong, unpredictable currents. Visibility is consistently excellent, ranging from 25 to 40 meters, and water temperatures vary seasonally from 22°C to 30°C.

Marine life & sighting chances

Scalloped hammerhead shark

May–September · common

Oceanic whitetip shark

October–December · common

Grey reef shark

common

Thresher shark

occasional

Silky shark

occasional

Giant trevally

common

Barracuda schools

common

Napoleon wrasse

common

Anemonefish

common

Eagle ray

occasional

Manta ray

rare

Sea turtle

occasional

Moray eel

common

Soft coral fans

common

Dive profile & how the dive runs

Dives at Daedalus typically begin with a Zodiac or RIB transfer to an entry point determined by current direction. For the renowned northern tip, divers descend to 40 meters to search for schooling hammerheads in the blue, holding position against the current before drifting east along the wall. The dive progresses with the wall on the right, exploring crevices and coral formations. On the western side, particularly at 'Anemone City,' dives often start in shallow water, proceeding along the reef with the wall to the right, focusing on the upper 15 meters to admire the extensive anemone colonies. Most dives are drift dives, with divers collected by the tender at the end. Safety stops are generally conducted in the shallower sections of the reef or in the blue before ascent, depending on the drift.

Underwater photography

Daedalus Reef offers diverse photographic opportunities, from wide-angle pelagic shots to macro details. For schooling hammerheads and oceanic whitetips, a wide-angle lens is essential, requiring careful positioning and excellent buoyancy in strong currents. Consider a faster shutter speed to capture swift-moving subjects. For the vibrant coral walls and the 'Anemone City' on the western side, a wide-angle or macro lens can be effective, depending on whether you're capturing the expansive coral gardens or intricate anemonefish. Strobes are recommended for bringing out the true colors of the corals and marine life, especially at depth. Maintain impeccable buoyancy to avoid damaging the pristine corals and to manage unpredictable currents, which is crucial for sharp images.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Brothers Islands

  Often combined in 'BDE' liveaboard itineraries

• Elphinstone Reef

  A frequent companion on Southern Red Sea liveaboard trips

• Fury Shoals

  Included in liveaboard routes from Marsa Alam

• St. Johns Reef

  Part of longer Deep South liveaboard itineraries

• Zabargad Island

  Occasionally featured on extended southern routes

• Rocky Island

  Sometimes paired with Daedalus on Deep South excursions

Getting there & logistics

Diving Daedalus Reef is exclusively via liveaboard safari. Trips typically depart from Port Ghalib, Hurghada, or Marsa Alam, with Port Ghalib being a common starting point for southern itineraries. The nearest international airport is Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF), with connections often made through Cairo International Airport (CAI) or European hubs. Most liveaboard trips to Daedalus are 7 nights, often as part of the popular 'Brothers, Daedalus, Elphinstone' (BDE) itinerary, or longer Deep South routes. Marine park fees are usually included in the liveaboard package. Due to its remote nature, it is not accessible for day trips, ensuring pristine dive conditions.

Safety & environment

Safety at Daedalus Reef is paramount due to its remote, exposed location and strong, unpredictable currents. Divers must be Advanced Open Water certified with at least 50 logged dives and proficient in drift diving techniques and SMB deployment. Night dives are strictly forbidden. The nearest recompression chamber is located in Marsa Alam, emphasizing the importance of adhering to dive profiles and safety protocols. Divers must carry personal dive insurance covering emergency medical evacuation and recompression. Liveaboard crews are highly experienced, but individual responsibility for safety briefings, equipment checks, and buddy procedures is crucial. Always follow the dive guide's instructions and conserve air for safety stops and potential extended surface intervals.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

Daedalus Reef FAQ

Liveaboards diving Daedalus Reef

These liveaboards may visit Daedalus Reef on selected itineraries — the exact dive sites depend on departure, weather and conditions.

DUNE Longara

Egypt

30 guests

$155/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

$173/day

Odyssey

Egypt

26 guests40 m

$185/day

Discovery I

Egypt

20 guests

$97/day

Star Jet

Egypt

28 guests35 m

$145/day

SS Serena Dreams

Egypt

18 guests33 m

$159/day

Amelie

Egypt

12 guests23 m

$115/day