Abu Dabbab 4

The dive

This record is very probably the same reef as our entry 'Abu Dabab IV', imported from a different source. The names match, both are the fourth of the numbered Abu Dabbab reefs off Marsa Alam, and the two coordinate sets sit about two kilometres apart on the same offshore stretch - the kind of spread you get when two catalogues place the same reef from different sketches, not the kind you get from two distinct sites. We keep the facts identical rather than inventing a second reef.

Abu Dabbab IV is the fourth of the numbered offshore reefs that Marsa Alam dive centres run as speedboat day trips, and the least visited of the group - which is the main reason it gets recommended. Coral cover is described as richer than the neighbouring reefs and visibility generally better.

The dive works a large coral garden between roughly 12 and 22 m, scattered with pinnacles and coral tables, within an overall depth range of about 3 to 25 m. Operators rate it easy to medium with low to medium current and open it to all certification levels.

Our OBIS records for this position are dense and are the standard northern Red Sea reef assemblage, essentially the same list as the adjacent reefs: sohal surgeonfish, bluespotted ribbontail ray, sailfin tang, masked butterflyfish, common lionfish, coral hind, royal angelfish, giant moray and titan triggerfish. Dive-centre accounts add crocodilefish, turtles, tuna and barracuda. The dugongs the Abu Dabbab name is famous for are in Marsa Abu Dabab bay, not here.

• Large coral garden between about 12 and 22 m with pinnacles and coral tables
• The quietest of the numbered Abu Dabbab reefs
• Easy profile with low to medium current
• Almost certainly the same reef as our 'Abu Dabab IV' record

Conditions

Large coral garden at roughly 12-22 m with pinnacles and coral tables, within an overall 3-25 m range. The operating dive centre rates the site easy to medium with low to medium current. Visibility is described as generally very good but no figure is published, so none is recorded.

On current: Rated low to medium by the operating dive centre. Visibility is described as generally very good and better than the neighbouring reefs, but no figure is published, so none is recorded.

Dives & underwater footage