About Umm Kharalim
Umm Kharalim, also known as St. John's Caves, is a distinctive dive site nestled within the remote St. John's reef system in the southern Red Sea, close to Egypt's border with Sudan. This area is celebrated for its pristine and varied diving environments, making it a highlight of southern Red Sea itineraries. Umm Kharalim stands out for its unique geological formations and the interplay of natural light, offering an experience distinct from the open reef dives typical of the region. The topography of Umm Kharalim features an intricate network of tunnels and swim-throughs carved into the reef. Divers can navigate these passages, observing rays of sunlight penetrating the overhead coral structures, creating a visually captivating atmosphere. The site is characterized by stunning hard coral formations, contributing to a diverse underwater landscape that invites exploration through its various chambers and openings. While the sources do not explicitly detail specific marine life for Umm Kharalim itself beyond general St. John's descriptions, the broader St. John's area is known for rich marine biodiversity. Divers in this region commonly encounter colorful reef fish, various species of sharks including hammerheads and oceanic whitetips, turtles, stingrays, and moray eels, although these sightings are more general to the St. John's system rather than guaranteed at this specific site. Diving at Umm Kharalim is typically part of a liveaboard itinerary, often conducted on day three of a standard St. John's route. Briefings are provided before each dive to ensure divers are well-prepared for the site's unique features, particularly the navigation through its tunnels. The site's nature, with its enclosed spaces and light effects, makes it an immersive experience for those comfortable with such environments.
Highlights
Light rays through tunnelsUnique coral cave formationsSt. John's reef systemHard coral structuresRemote southern Red Sea diving
Best Season
The optimal period for diving in the St. John's area, including Umm Kharalim, extends from April through November. During these months, the weather is warm and dry, and the water clarity is typically excellent, providing ideal conditions for exploring the site's intricate formations and light effects.
Dive site facts: Umm Kharalim
- Current
- Strong
- Entry
- Liveaboard only
- Level
- Advanced
- Dive type
- Cave & cavern, Cave & cavern
- Region / port
- Egypt
- Coordinates
- 26.9767° N, 34.4032° E
Conditions & Currents
Strong currents are common; drift-diving experience and an SMB or reef hook are recommended. It is usually briefed as a dive for advanced divers. The site is reached by liveaboard, so entries are run from the tender or straight off the back deck. Because the flow can pick up quickly, drift profiles, a surface marker buoy and a tight group are standard practice here, and the crew's briefing always overrides any general description.
Why dive Umm Kharalim from a liveaboard?
Umm Kharalim 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 Umm Kharalim on their Egypt itineraries.
Liveaboards diving Umm Kharalim
These liveaboards may visit Umm Kharalim 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
$173/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
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