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Hurghada, El Gouna & the Gubal wrecksIntermediatereef

Banana Reef

Also known as Banana Reef Hurghada; Sha'ab Banana

Crescent-shaped (banana-shaped) reef enclosing a coral garden and two pinnacles, off the north-west of Big Giftun

No detailed dive map yet

A close-up reef map of Banana Reef will appear here when available.

Crescent-shaped (banana-shaped) reef enclosing a coral garden and two pinnacles, off the north-west of Big Giftun. Anemone city at the south-east corner. A reliable ray and turtle site. Depth 14–22 m; day boat; Strong enough that the site is normally dived as a drift current. Giftun Islands National Park / Red Sea Islands Protected Area; HEPCA-maintained mooring buoys, anchoring prohibited

Highlights

  • Crescent-shaped (banana-shaped) reef enclosing a coral garden and two pinnacles, off the north-west of Big Giftun
  • Anemone city at the south-east corner
  • A reliable ray and turtle site

Marine life

  • eagle rays
  • feather-tail rays
  • turtles
  • anemonefish (an 'anemone city' at the south-east corner)
  • jackfish
  • barracuda
  • groupers
  • lionfish
  • silversides
  • glassfish

Good to know

Best season
Year-round. Water 22-29 C; calmest seas and best visibility March-November, with the coolest water and strongest northerlies December-February.
Protected status
Giftun Islands National Park / Red Sea Islands Protected Area; HEPCA-maintained mooring buoys, anchoring prohibited
Fees
Marine park / national park conservation fee collected by the government through dive centres (amount varies by operator). HEPCA records that the 2005 unified marine-park fee (12 LE/visitor/trip, 100 LE/boat/trip) ceased to be collected after January 2011 except at Samadai.

Dive centres in Hurghada

Centres that run Banana Reef and the reefs around it.

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