Safaga, Red Sea, Egypt

Abu Kafan

Abu Kafan is a long needle-shaped submerged reef offshore from Safaga, oriented north–south and 600 metres long, with sheer walls dropping past 60 metres on both sides. The reef is among the most pelagic-rich dives on the Safaga coast, with schooling hammerheads on the northern tip in summer, grey reef and whitetip reef sharks year-round, and seasonal oceanic whitetip and silky shark sightings. Tuna, jacks, barracuda walls, batfish and Napoleon wrasses patrol the upper reef. The walls are decorated with dense soft coral and gorgonian growth, and the upper plateau hosts excellent hard coral cover. Currents along the long reef can be strong and unpredictable, often reversing during the dive; the long shape requires careful pickup. Advanced divers only. Visibility 30 metres. Day-boat from Safaga, also on liveaboard itineraries.