Shabrur Um Gamar

Overview

Shabrur Umm Gamar is the submerged sister of the island of Umm Gamar — a coral-blanketed underwater mountain that never quite breaks the surface, betrayed only by a line of breaking waves. Rich in soft coral, cut with crevices and caves, and frequented by grey reef sharks along its eastern wall, it is one of the more atmospheric and rewarding offshore reefs in the Hurghada area, and a genuine big-fish site when the current is running.

The Dive

The reef extends roughly 200m and is a site of two halves. The western side carries a plateau that begins around 14m and slopes down to about 30m before the structure falls away on the east into a steep wall. That wall drops well past recreational limits, so the diving is run on the upper face and the plateau, typically between about 14m and 30m. On the plateau, three small coral pinnacles rise from the sand and swarm with glassfish, and the surrounding coral hides moray eels, butterflyfish, bannerfish and turtles. The east and west flanks make excellent drift dives when the current pushes through. There are also several small wrecks of Egyptian boats here — one sits at around 20m and is within reach of recreational divers, while two more lie below 70m and belong to technical divers only. Conditions can change quickly, and the site is only accessible in genuinely good weather.

Marine Life

This is one of the best places near Hurghada to encounter grey reef sharks, especially later in the day when they patrol the wall more actively. Large free-swimming morays cruise the plateau, schools of goatfish and snapper browse the coral heads, and jacks and barracuda work the reef edge. In the blue off the wall, tuna and other pelagics pass through on the nutrient-rich current that feeds the whole site.

Good to Know

Best dived in calm conditions from spring through autumn, with visibility frequently excellent at 20-30m. The exposed offshore position means trips only run in good weather, and the deeper wall and potential for current make Advanced Open Water certification and solid buoyancy the realistic baseline. Reached by boat from Hurghada, it is well worth saving for a settled day when the sharks are out and the viz is wide open.