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Location - Abu Kafan is a long thin strip of reef 90 minutes to 2 hours outside Safaga. Its name roughly translated mean 'The Deep One." When you dive it, you'll see why. Its walls plunge vertically from the surface past the 100m mark. |
| To the north, a plateau stretches seawards with two prominent coral blocks down the middle. At the south is a large and colourful erg which joins the main reef at approximately 18m. Beyond it the reef stretches interminably southwards at 30m.Sea Conditions - Like all the outer reefs at Safaga the journey out can be a little lumpy, but once you arrive the boat is well protected. The current comes from the northwest and runs at anything from mild to pumping. Dive Plan - If you get the chance drift dive the north plateau and east wall. Most locals race it even higher than Panorama north plateau (beware of an east to west cross-current). If the weather prevents that then it's still worth getting wet for the south end of the reef. Dive from the moorings, past the southern erg and, if current allows, up the east wall and then back. Marine Life - The walls are smothered with soft corals, black corals and gorgonians. Turtles are common and grey reefs and silvertips are occasionally seen. On the north plateau, look out for big tuna (1-1.5m long). There are several large barracuda resident and, at certain times of year, schools in the hundreds appear. Hammerheads cruise by in late summer. Strangest of all is a school of glasseyes numbering over one hundred. They hover over the plateau, unlike most anywhere else (they are usually solitary), and if a big predator happens by they rush to the wall for protection. |
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