Dive Site: St. Johns Reef

About St. Johns Reef

St. John's Reef, an isolated collection of reefs nestled in Egypt's southern Red Sea, offers an untouched diving experience far from crowded northern sites. Located approximately 200 miles south of Marsa Alam and closer to the Sudanese border, this remote destination is exclusively accessible via liveaboard, ensuring pristine conditions and rich marine biodiversity. The topography is diverse, featuring 'gotas' (reef systems breaking the surface) and 'habilis' (submerged reefs with peaks below the surface), along with dramatic drop-offs, caves, caverns, and intricate swim-throughs. The vibrant hard and soft coral gardens are exceptionally healthy, creating a stunning backdrop for abundant marine life. Diving here reveals a spectacular array of creatures. Expect frequent encounters with reef sharks, barracudas, and Napoleon wrasse. Depending on the site and season, divers may spot manta rays, oceanic whitetips, and even hammerhead sharks. Playful dolphin pods are also a common and welcome sight. The area is also home to a wide variety of reef fish, eels, and squid, particularly in the shallower, less current-prone areas, making it a photographer's paradise. The remoteness helps preserve a high concentration of endemic Red Sea species. While general currents are often mild compared to more northern Red Sea locations, some sites like Habili Ali can experience strong currents, making them suitable for advanced divers. Many sites, however, offer more relaxed conditions with average depths around 20-30 meters, accommodating various skill levels. Entry is typically via small tenders from liveaboards. The excellent visibility, often up to 35 meters, and slightly warmer water temperatures contribute to exceptional diving conditions year-round.

Dive site facts: St. Johns Reef

Depth

5–65 m

Typical dive

15–30 m, 50–60 min

Current

Variable, from mild to strong

Visibility

15–40 m

Water temperature

20–30°C

Entry

Zodiac / drift

Level

Advanced Open Water Diver, drift experience recommended

Dive type

Reef, wall, drift, cave, night dive

Night dive

Possible

Region / port

Southern Red Sea, Egypt / Hamata, Port Ghalib

Coordinates

23.5833, 35.8667

Conditions & Currents

Currents at St. Johns Reef can be unpredictable and vary from gentle to strong, particularly around exposed offshore pinnacles and during specific tidal conditions. Divers should be comfortable with drift diving, as many sites are best explored by letting the current carry you along the reefs. Entry is typically by Zodiac, and a negative entry can sometimes be necessary to reach the desired depth quickly before being swept past the site. Surface conditions can also be choppy due to the exposed location, requiring confident boat handling during entries and exits. While visibility is generally excellent, strong currents can occasionally stir up sediment or bring in plankton blooms, temporarily reducing clarity. Divers should always monitor their air consumption closely and plan their dives with the current direction in mind, especially when exploring deeper sections or traversing between r

Marine life & sighting chances

Grey reef shark

common

Hammerhead shark

Summer · occasional

Thresher shark

occasional

Whale shark

Late spring to early summer · rare

Oceanic whitetip shark

occasional

Barracuda

common

Tuna

common

Bumphead parrotfish

Summer · occasional

Moray eel

common

Green turtle

occasional

Bottlenose dolphin

occasional

Nudibranch

common

Lionfish

common

Crocodilefish

occasional

Dive profile & how the dive runs

A typical dive at St. Johns often begins with a Zodiac drop, sometimes requiring a negative entry to quickly descend onto the reef due to currents. For sites like Habili Ali, you would typically descend along the steep wall, following the contours of the submerged reef. Depths can reach 30 meters or more, depending on the desired encounter, with pelagic sightings common in the blue. For sites like Gota Kebir, divers explore plateaus at 15 and 30 meters, often drifting along with the current. St. Johns Caves offers a shallower profile, focusing on intricate tunnels and light effects, remaining mostly above 15 meters. Divers generally follow the reef structure, making a turn when half their air is consumed or based on the dive guide's signal. The safety stop is usually conducted on shallower reef flats or in the blue, depending on conditions, before surfacing for Zodiac pickup. Due to the remote location, precise bottom times and routes are often adapted to current conditions and marine life sightings.

Underwater photography

St. Johns Reef is a paradise for underwater photographers, offering diverse subjects for both wide-angle and macro shots. For stunning reefscapes, expansive coral gardens, and schools of fish, a wide-angle lens is essential. The vibrant colors of both hard and soft corals, combined with excellent visibility, make for dramatic compositions. For capturing the intricate details of nudibranchs, moray eels, and other small critters, a macro lens will be invaluable. The cave systems, particularly at St. Johns Caves (Umm Khararim), provide unique opportunities for creative shots involving light beams and silhouettes; consider bringing an external strobe or video light to illuminate the darker areas without disturbing the delicate ecosystem. Buoyancy control is paramount, especially within confined spaces and around fragile coral formations, to avoid stirring up sand or damaging the reef. Always maintain a respectful distance from marine life and avoid touching or harassing any subjects.

Combine with nearby dive sites

• Habili Ali

  Submerged oval-shaped reef known for pelagic encounters including sharks and manta rays.

• Gota Kebir

  Massive reef with tunnels, caves, and a south plateau attracting jacks and barracuda.

• Shaab Marsa Alam

  Southern Red Sea site often combined with St. Johns itineraries for diverse reef diving.

• Rocky Island

  Remote offshore island renowned for strong currents and big pelagic encounters.

• Zabargad Island

  Features unique topography, a wreck, and vibrant reef life, often part of Southern Red Sea routes.

• Fury Shoals

  Collection of reefs offering varied diving from shallow gardens to deeper walls.

Getting there & logistics

Access to St. Johns Reef is exclusively via liveaboard, typically departing from Port Ghalib or Hamata in the southern Red Sea. International travelers usually fly into Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF) or Hurghada International Airport (HRG), with transfers to the port. Liveaboard trips to St. Johns generally last 7 to 10 days as part of a 'Deep South' itinerary, often combining this site with other remote southern reefs like Rocky Island, Zabargad, and Fury Shoals. This ensures divers experience the best of the Red Sea's pristine, uncrowded dive sites. A minimum of 50 logged dives is often required for these advanced itineraries due to potentially challenging conditions. Park fees are typically included in the liveaboard package.

Safety & environment

Diving at St. Johns Reef, due to its remote location, requires adherence to stringent safety protocols. The nearest recompression chamber is in Marsa Alam, which is several hours away by boat, emphasizing the critical importance of conservative dive planning and strict adherence to no-decompression limits. Divers must carry valid dive insurance that covers emergency medical evacuation and recompression treatments. Site-specific hazards include unpredictable currents, which necessitate excellent buoyancy control and comfort with drift diving. Always follow your dive guide's instructions regarding entry points, routes, and turn times. Maintain situational awareness, especially in areas prone to pelagic activity or within cave systems. Surface support via Zodiac is standard, but communication with the boat is essential for pickups, especially in choppy conditions or after drift dives. Do not exceed your training limits, and always dive within a buddy team.

Who it suits — and who it doesn't

FAQ

St. Johns Reef FAQ

Liveaboards diving St. Johns Reef

These liveaboards may visit St. Johns Reef 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

$172/day

Blue Liveaboard

Egypt

24 guests43 m

$172/day

Odyssey

Egypt

26 guests40 m

$185/day

Discovery I

Egypt

20 guests

$104/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