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Careless Reef

Also known as Carless Reef; Karless Reef

Two large pinnacles rising from a plateau at 12-17 m, surrounded by coral garden and dropping into the blue

No detailed dive map yet

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

Two large pinnacles rising from a plateau at 12-17 m, surrounded by coral garden and dropping into the blue. Famous moray eel population. Magnificent gorgonian fans on the deeper faces. Depth 12–40 m; day boat; Strong and unpredictable - the reef stands isolated in open water and the current can reverse. Drift technique and a good boat crew are essential. current. Egyptian Red Sea marine protected area; HEPCA-maintained mooring buoys, anchoring prohibited

Highlights

  • Two large pinnacles rising from a plateau at 12-17 m, surrounded by coral garden and dropping into the blue
  • Famous moray eel population
  • Magnificent gorgonian fans on the deeper faces
  • the reef has recovered well from a crown-of-thorns outbreak
  • About 1 hour by liveaboard or 2 hours by day boat from Hurghada - conditions frequently cancel the trip

Marine life

  • giant moray eels (the site's signature - historically hand-fed and unusually approachable)
  • white-tip reef sharks
  • tuna
  • jacks
  • barracuda
  • orange fairy basslets/anthias
  • gorgonian sea fans over 2 m across
  • hammerheads very occasionally
  • dolphins

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
Egyptian Red Sea marine protected area; HEPCA-maintained mooring buoys, anchoring prohibited
Fees
No separate site fee published; environmental tax historically 3.5 LE/diver/day (Red Sea Governorate, 2001), collection suspended after January 2011 per HEPCA.

Dive centres in Hurghada

Centres that run Careless Reef and the reefs around it.

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