Panorama Reef

Description: Reef
Depth range: 0-40 Meter +
Visibility: 20-40 Meter
Water temperature: 22 ° C – 28 ° C

 

One of the true highlights off Safaga! Panorama is the most northerly site in the off-shore reef chain. This huge seamount rising up to just below the surface from a depth of 400+m offers exhilarating diving for all experience levels. You will find two dive sites on this reef.

The first is the world renowned “South Plateau” with its ever-famous gorgonian chimney and anemone city. Boats moor up on the sheltered south western side of the main reef and here you will make your entry into the water. Depth here on this sheer wall side is 80+m, with its abundance of hard and soft corals patrolling napoleons, marauding jacks and large schools of fusiliers. Making your way onto the plateau you will encounter large groupers, giant morays, blue spotted stingrays and lion fish to name just a few. Moving onto the eastern side of the south plateau situated on the drop-off in 27m of water is a most incredible sight. A large cluster of giant gorgonian fans surround a crack in the reef that drops to well over 50m. These gorgonian fans with their resident long nose hawkfish are intertwined with beautiful soft corals and is a feast for the senses. It is not uncommon to see schools of tuna, large open water rays and reef sharks from this point.

The north plateau with its pristine hard coral garden is an exhilarating drift dive, but can only be undertaken when weather permits. The forests of gorgonian fans, whip, brush and delicate black corals that stretch out along the drop-off in depths ranging from 27-40m are simply breath taking. Large schools of fusiliers, unicorn surgeon fish, tunas and passing turtles can be enjoyed while you are being carried by the normally strong northerly current. Encounters with dolphins are no rarity here.

Panorama with its drop-off is also the ideal location for technical diving and with some stunning landscapes, caves and overhangs in the depth range 65-100m this site will be enjoyed by even the veteran “tekkie”.