Hamata, Red Sea, Egypt

Habili Ali

Habili Ali is a submerged pinnacle reef in the St John's reef system, the southernmost group of reefs in the Egyptian Red Sea, accessed only by liveaboard from Hamata or Port Ghalib. The reef rises from a sandy plain at 50 metres to a top at 5 metres and is celebrated as one of the best big-pelagic dives in southern Egypt. Schooling hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) gather on the eastern wall in summer, and grey reef sharks, silvertip and oceanic whitetip sharks are regular. The walls are coated with red and orange gorgonian fans, dense soft coral curtains and black coral; large tuna and barracuda schools patrol the corners. Currents are strong and reverse during the dive, demanding experience and a surface marker buoy. The dive is run as a circumnavigation when current allows, or as a drift along one of the walls. Visibility 30–40 metres. Inside the Elba protected area.