Diving in Egypt: Marsa Ghalib

Ras Torombi

Torombi is the name of the local tribe living in the peninsula ('Ras') that can easily be seen from the boat while at the mooring line, located over a reef that almost emerges from the water. It is on this shallowest part of the reef that the dive usually begins, striding in directly from the platform of your Red Sea liveaboard.

The current is usually gentle, allowing you to comfortably swim around in search of the many underwater marvels this Egypt dive site can produce. It is a relatively shallow dive, with a maximum depth of about 18m. You will explore 2 different reefs here, divided by a white sandy bottom with a few hard coral patches. Heading north into the deeper section of the reef, look out for blue-spotted sting rays resting while camouflaged in the sand, with only their eyes and back exposed.

Always keep an eye eastward into the blue water as this is a place where bottlenose dolphins are often seen: amazing marine creatures that might decide to get closer to divers as they are very curious, giving good chances for amazing underwater pictures. Less curious, and therefore more difficult photograph, are the eagle rays that show up here sometimes.

Once you reach the smaller reef, you will be welcomed by boulders which are home to an explosion of colourful pink and yellow soft coral and sponges. This section of reef is surrounded by countless glass fish hovering around and moving to find shelter every time a diver or a predator passes by. Adding to the colour are orange anthias, emperor angelfish and blennies, the most intriguing of which being the chestnut blenny with red lines over its head.

When you reach the end of the reef, at a depth of 14-15m, you can continue your dive westwards, going shallower and towards the tongue of sand with which the peninsula starts and where there is a very shallow lagoon. Following the channel here, you can admire the healthy hard coral with predominant colours of red and yellow. Schools of unicornfish and yellow wrasses are a common sight here, as well as blue triggerfish.

On your safety stop, you have a good chance of sharing the moment not only with other fellow divers, but with hawksbill turtles swimming towards the surface to catch a breath of air, before plummeting again in search of food or a restful spot.

Ras Torombi Reef Basics: Reef dive and dolphins
Depth: 5 - 18m
Visibility: 20 - 35m
Currents: None to moderate
Surface conditions: Usually calm
Water temperature: 23 - 30°C
Experience level: Beginner
Number of dive sites: 1
Diving season: All year round
Distance: 8 km (½ hr) north of Port Ghalib, 70 km (4½ hrs) north northwest of Marsa Alam
Access: Egypt liveaboard

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