Gordon Reef

Gordon Reef sits in the Strait of Tiran, off Sharm El Sheikh at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba, part of the group of reefs there alongside Jackson, Woodhouse and Thomas. The reef is marked by the wreck of the Loullia, a freighter that ran aground on its shallow plateau and is still visible above the surface as a navigational landmark. Divers typically drop along the sloping reef wall into the strait to a maximum depth of around 30 metres, over a reef bottom with great visibility, on a dive rated intermediate. The site is known for strong currents driven by the tidal flow between the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba, and divers have also reported downward currents, fire coral, shipping traffic, and a particularly strong current at the southwest corner. Eagle rays and parrotfish are common here, and divers have also reported angelfish, bannerfish, garden eels, grouper, hammerhead sharks, leopard sharks, manta rays, moray eels, Napoleon wrasse, octopus, turtles, snapper, surgeonfish, and tuna. Because of the currents, Gordon Reef is generally considered better suited to those with some drift diving experience.

Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.

• Manta rayManta rayReported here · unconfirmed
• Leopard / zebra sharkLeopard / zebra sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• SnapperSnapperReported here · unconfirmed
• ParrotfishParrotfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
• AngelfishAngelfishReported here · unconfirmed
• Hammerhead sharkHammerhead sharkReported here · unconfirmed
• SurgeonfishSurgeonfishReported here · unconfirmed
• BannerfishBannerfishReported here · unconfirmed
• GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
• Sea turtleSea turtleReported here · unconfirmed
• Moray eelMoray eelReported here · unconfirmed
• Indian Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidusReported here · unconfirmed
• Freckled HawkfishParacirrhites forsteriReported here · unconfirmed
• Bluespotted Fantail RayTaeniura lymmaReported here · unconfirmed
• Slingjaw WrasseEpibulus insidiatorReported here · unconfirmed
• Red Sea BannerfishHeniochus intermediusReported here · unconfirmed
• Klunzinger's WrasseThalassoma rueppelliiReported here · unconfirmed
• Indian LionfishPterois milesReported here · unconfirmed
• Red Sea AnemonefishAmphiprion bicinctusReported here · unconfirmed
• Sohal SurgeonfishAcanthurus sohalReported here · unconfirmed
• Garden eelGarden eelReported here · unconfirmed
• Eagle rayEagle rayConfirmed present · 6 independent sources
• Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseReported here · unconfirmed
• TunaTunaReported here · unconfirmed
• OctopusOctopusReported here · unconfirmed
• Indo-Pacific Sergeant MajorAbudefduf vaigiensisObserved near here · iNaturalist