Diving Abu Maa - Dahab

[Red Sea Shadow]

A few weeks ago, I dove a new site in Dahab. I asked the divers who dove this site with me to make dive reports then to compile all in one but unfortunately no one participated so here's what I remember from this dive:

Site Name: Abu Maa (Father of Water)
Location: Around 500 meters north of the Canyon dive site.
Average Depth: 20 meters (66 feet).
Maximum Depth: 35 meters (115 feet).
Average Visibility: 20 meters (66 feet).

Although there's no entry sign, the entry point could be easily located. It is just infront of some old bricks, as if it was a well! I think that's what gives the site its name. This extensive site features an inshore reeftop dropping to 5 - 6 meters (16 - 20 feet). Swimming straight out from here with 45 degrees to the north, a coral table crossed our way to the site's main coral pinnacles. There's a plenty of scope for exploration among these scattered coral blocks.

On our way back, we saw a net covering a big area descending from the surface. Corals throughout the site are good but not extraordinary. The major thing to notice is the dense existense of gradient color Acropora. You can even spot some Acropra on the shore before entering the water! Fish life is sparse, with the existence of unicorns, lionfish, and groupers. At the exit we saw a baby
stonefish.

An alternative dive that I'll be trying on my next trip to Dahab is to drift from Abu Maa to the Canyon.

[Druid]

It sounds like a dive I have done called "Rick's Reef". Entry is just north of the Bedouin cafes at the Canyon. Both times I dived it as a drift dive and we exited at the Canyon as there was quite a strong current running north to south. Maximum depth was 19m, and the longer of the two dives was 51 mins. The advantage of doing the dive this way is that you get to do your safety stop on the pinnacle outside the lagoon, which has absolutely loads to look at - a 3 minute stop is not enough!

[Red Sea Shadow]

What you're talking about is the drift to the Canyon. However, Abu Maa is not Rick's reef. Abu Maa is mainly the coral pinnacles you'll find after swimming straight out with 45 degrees to the north. Same entry point but different directions

[DeepDark]

Sounds interesting. I can't find it in my guide.

[Red Sea Shadow]

Sounds interesting. I can't find it in my guide.

Here's the site map.