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Marsa Alam, Fury Shoals & the Deep SouthBeginnerisland

Wadi el Gemal Island

Also known as Jazirat Wadi Jimal; Wadi Gimal Island; Gezirat Wadi el Gemal

Largest island of the Wadi el Gemal group

No detailed dive map yet

A close-up reef map of Wadi el Gemal Island will appear here when available.

Largest island of the Wadi el Gemal group. Surrounding shallow seagrass and reef flats. Landing is restricted to protect nesting seabirds. Day boat. Within Wadi el Gemal - Hamata National Park, declared 2003, covering roughly 7,450 km2 of desert, coast and sea including the Qulaan/Hamata island group, Wadi el Gemal Island and Sataya.

Highlights

  • Largest island of the Wadi el Gemal group
  • surrounding shallow seagrass and reef flats
  • Landing is restricted to protect nesting seabirds

Marine life

  • seabird colonies (the island is an important breeding site)
  • seagrass beds
  • green turtle
  • dugong (occasional)

Good to know

Protected status
Within Wadi el Gemal - Hamata National Park, declared 2003, covering roughly 7,450 km2 of desert, coast and sea including the Qulaan/Hamata island group, Wadi el Gemal Island and Sataya. Managed by the EEAA Red Sea Protectorates; a published Management Plan for Wadi El-Gemal-Hamata exists (PDF hosted by abughosoun.org).
Fees
Red Sea marine park / environmental fees have been levied intermittently; HEPCA records that as of January 2011 'no fees collection at all except the entrance fees to Samadai reef'. Day-boat operators commonly bundle a marine-park charge into the trip price.

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