Safaga, Red Sea, Egypt

Panorama Reef

Panorama Reef is a long submerged reef southeast of Safaga, oriented north–south, dropping past 60 metres on both walls and offering one of the most reliable big-fish dives on the central Red Sea coast. The reef name reflects the panoramic underwater views from the upper plateau at 8–15 metres, where the wall plunges into deep blue. Pelagic encounters are excellent: schooling hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) on the northern point in summer, grey reef sharks year-round, oceanic whitetips in autumn, and large tuna, barracuda walls and trevally. The walls are coated with gorgonian fans, soft coral curtains and black coral. Hard coral cover on the plateau is dense. The dive is run as a drift along one of the walls, with strong and unpredictable currents. Advanced divers only. Visibility 30 metres. Day-boat from Safaga, also on Red Sea liveaboard itineraries.