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Daedalus Reef

Also known as Abu el-Kizan; Abu al-Kizan; Abu Kizan; Daedalus; Deadalus Reef

Isolated oval reef platform about 1,075 x 300 m rising from roughly 550 m of water, with sheer walls all round

No detailed dive map yet

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

Isolated oval reef platform about 1,075 x 300 m rising from roughly 550 m of water, with sheer walls all round. 'Anemone City' on the eastern side - an anemone carpet about 15 m across. A stone lighthouse (built 1863, rebuilt 1931 by Barbier, Benard et Turenne), 9.1 m, black and white bands, three white flashes every 12 s, 15 nm range, run by the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety. Depth 5–40 m; liveaboard only; Can be strong and unpredictable, particularly at the northern tip current; visibility 30 m. Egyptian offshore marine protectorate ('Far Islands' group with the Brothers).

Highlights

  • Isolated oval reef platform about 1,075 x 300 m rising from roughly 550 m of water, with sheer walls all round
  • 'Anemone City' on the eastern side - an anemone carpet about 15 m across
  • A stone lighthouse (built 1863, rebuilt 1931 by Barbier, Benard et Turenne), 9.1 m, black and white bands, three white flashes every 12 s, 15 nm range, run by the Egyptian Authority for Maritime Safety
  • Hammerhead diving is done off the north plateau in the blue

Marine life

  • scalloped hammerhead - large summer schools off the north point, the reef's signature encounter
  • pelagic thresher shark
  • grey reef shark
  • silvertip shark
  • oceanic whitetip
  • whale shark
  • manta ray - notably April-May
  • hawksbill and green turtles
  • humphead (Napoleon) wrasse
  • eight shark species recorded in total

Good to know

Best season
Hammerhead schools in summer (roughly June-September); thresher sharks autumn and winter; manta rays April-May
Protected status
Egyptian offshore marine protectorate ('Far Islands' group with the Brothers). Access is restricted to permitted liveaboards; the islands themselves are off-limits to landing and the sites were closed for periods in the 2000s and again at Zabargad after coral and seabird damage. Rangers and a permit system apply, and boats must use fixed moorings.
Fees
HEPCA's fee schedule for the 'Far Islands' (Brothers, Rocky, Zabargad): 'minimum $35 total for Brothers Islands ($5/day for 7-day minimum); up to $60 for 12-day safaris'; Egyptian rate 5 LE/day. Normally included in the liveaboard price as a marine-park permit.

More sites in Marsa Alam, Fury Shoals & the Deep South

Abu Bassala

Sickle-shaped reef with coral columns, gullies and cracks running down to a sandy bottom at 15-20 m

Abu Dabbab I

Coral garden with pinnacles and a cave

Abu Dabbab II

Caves and swim-throughs

Abu Dabbab III

Hard-coral reef with a cave crossing and a coral garden

Helwa Ya Baladi

Dalida