Sharm El Sheikh, South Sinai, Egypt

Thomas Reef

Thomas Reef is the smallest and arguably most spectacular of the four Tiran reefs. Its standout feature is 'Thomas Canyon', a deep cleft on the south-eastern wall starting around 30 metres and dropping to over 90 metres, with a vertical chimney that exits at around 50 metres — a celebrated technical and trimix dive. For recreational divers the reef offers a sheer wall coated with gorgonian fans, black coral trees and dense soft corals, with currents that often reverse mid-dive. Hammerhead schools cruise the blue in summer, grey reef and whitetip sharks patrol the wall, and large jacks, dogtooth tuna and Napoleon wrasses are reliable. The reef is small enough to circumnavigate in a single dive when current allows. Visibility 25–35 metres. Mooring buoys only — no anchoring inside the Ras Mohammed and Tiran protected area.