Tiran Island Excursion

Good morning Friendly Fins, as you know in this period we are in the Red Sea, more precisely in Sharm El Sheikh in one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world.

Tiran Island

Right in front of Sharm El Sheikh is the island of Tiran, which has become a marine park and a "must-see" destination for divers and snorkelers.

As soon as you land in Sharm El Sheikh you will already hear about it and they will try to sell you the Friendly Fins excursion in every way!

So let's find out a little more:

This desert island is uninhabited except for a military base, so the real attraction is underwater, in fact slightly southwest of Tiran there are 4 underwater mountains of rare beauty, created entirely of coral, almost emerging from the surface.

Jackson reef, Woodhouse reef, Thomas reef, Gordon reef

These singular names were given by the 4 cartographers who mapped the seabed around Tiran. Therefore each reef bears the name of a cartographer.

Jackson Reef

Jackson reef is the northernmost and is also visible from afar due to the surfacing wreck of the merchant ship Lara, which sank in 1981. Snorkeling is prohibited at this point and diving is also for experienced divers, mostly. It is a fairly vertical reef with a rapid drop in depth. Its external part is subject to very strong currents but is a focal point for spotting hammerhead sharks.

Woodhouse reef

Woodhouse reef is located between Jackson reef and Thomas reef and is the most elongated and narrow conformation of the four. This makes it always very beaten by currents and winds therefore it makes it impossible to have fixed anchors for boats. The dives here are also reserved for expert divers as they are all done in current. The peculiarity of Woodhouse is this canyon parallel to the reef at 30 m depth that flows into a sandy plateau with a wonderful red anemone on the right side.

Thomas reef

Thomas reef is one of the most spectacular and suggestive dives in Tiran, the smallest of the 4 but with a unique biodiversity. Its modest size makes it beautifully exposed to the currents so here too, as in Woodhouse, there are no fixed anchors and snorkeling is not permitted.

The dive can be done by novice and expert divers as long as you follow the guide's briefing to the letter. Its southern part is undoubtedly the most scenic with this plateau of 22-25 m occupied by a huge forest of gorgonians (fan corals) divided into two parallel rows. Their size already suggests the presence of challenging currents. Following the double row of gorgonians, the reef is crossed by these large arches at different depths (too deep for recreational divers!), the famous Thomas arches in fact.

Depending on the current, you can go around it for almost 3/4 of its width encountering caves and canals that overlook a breathtaking blue.

Gordon reef

Relitto Louilla, Gordon Reef, Isola di Tiran

Gordon reef consists of a shallow coral reef and a plateau of sand and coral pinnacles that slopes gently from 2/3 m to 18/20 m, where the step (drop off) that will take us to the depths begins.

It is easy to spot the reef even from afar, because on its outer side, towards the coast so to speak, there is the wreck of a Panamanian cargo ship named Louilla, sunk in 1981, stranded on the reef that still resists and remains outcropping.

This ship was carrying barrels that, during the collision, were scattered all over the eastern side of the reef. Today they are still visible both by diving and snorkeling but difficult to recognize as they are extremely colonized by corals and sponges of all types.

They have become an integral part of the reef.

The gentle conformation allows us to do both snorkeling and diving for all levels, starting from the eastern area formed by a small lagoon in which we find fixed anchorages called shamandura where excursion boats can be moored.

For snorkelers: the lagoon is ideal for those who are snorkeling for the first time: the shallow seabed and the crystal clear water put you at ease, in a moment you will be distracted by the wonderful watercolor of fish and corals that will appear in front of you, let yourself go Friendly Fins and the surprises will not be lacking!

For divers: in addition to the beauty of the reef that slopes leaving room for the blue of the depth, in the southernmost part we find a sandy area at 18 m called "shark pool" where it is possible to spot white-tip sharks while they rest on the coral sand.

Some Friendly tips on Tiran Island...

Friendly Fins a Gordon Reef

Both snorkeling and diving in Tiran require commitment from participants in respecting the rules and above all respect for the delicate environment in which we find ourselves.

Tiran is a place subject to currents, as we have seen before, therefore you cannot snorkel or dive without the supervision of a guide who knows the place and knows how to carry out the activity.

Before entering the water there will be an explanation of what you are going to do and it would be nice if everyone listened to it so everyone knows what to do!

We remind you that the island of Tiran is a marine park, as is Ras Mohammed (which you will surely hear about) and it is forbidden to collect coral and shells, fish and throw anything into the sea that is food or waste.

Why Friendly Fins?

The more we tiptoe past without leaving any traces of our passage, the more this paradise will remain such and we will have truly experienced the essence of this place among the most pristine of the Red Sea.

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