Big Giftun
Conditions
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Marine forecast via Copernicus Marine. Score is a rule-based guide from swell/wind vs. the site's exposure — always dive your own assessment.
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About this site
Big Giftun is an island site in the Hurghada area of the Red Sea, best known through the dive site El Aruk Giftun — also called El Aruk or Erg Giftun — located on a shallow plateau just off the island. The terrain is a sandy bottom studded with dozens of small coral pinnacles (ergs) rising from white sand, forming a bright, open coral garden that is straightforward to navigate.
The maximum depth is around 15–16 m, keeping the dive shallow and well-lit throughout. The sand between the pinnacles reflects strong light from above, and each coral tower acts as its own self-contained reef structure. Visibility reaches 25 m, and current is mild to light, making this a comfortable site for extended exploration.
Marine life centres on the coral pinnacles, where lyretail anthias (Pseudanthias squamipinnis), Red Sea bannerfish (Heniochus intermedius), common lionfish (Pterois miles), and pufferfish are regularly seen. The site is rated as productive year-round with no specific seasonal peak noted for any species. The contrast of coral against white sand and good ambient light makes it a popular choice for underwater photography.
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Access is by boat, with a transit time of approximately 55 minutes from Hurghada. The site suits snorkellers, Discover Scuba divers, Open Water graduates, and more experienced divers alike, and is often used as a check dive. Water temperature ranges between 21 °C and 29 °C depending on season.
Marine life here
Confirmed by our research team, reported by independent divers, or observed nearby via iNaturalist — each entry is labelled with its source.
GrouperGrouperReported here · unconfirmed
Giant MorayGymnothorax javanicusReported here · unconfirmed
Red Sea AnemonefishAmphiprion bicinctusReported here · unconfirmed
Bluespotted Fantail RayTaeniura lymmaReported here · unconfirmed
Indian LionfishPterois milesReported here · unconfirmed
Masked ButterflyfishChaetodon semilarvatusReported here · unconfirmed
Arabian Picasso TriggerfishRhinecanthus assasiReported here · unconfirmed
Indian Bullethead ParrotfishChlorurus sordidusReported here · unconfirmed
Klunzinger's WrasseThalassoma rueppelliiReported here · unconfirmed
Red Sea BannerfishHeniochus intermediusReported here · unconfirmed
Napoleon (humphead) wrasseNapoleon (humphead) wrasseReported here · unconfirmed
ClownfishClownfishReported here · unconfirmed
BannerfishBannerfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
ScorpionfishScorpionfishConfirmed present · 2 independent sources
LionfishLionfishReported here · unconfirmed
PufferfishPufferfishReported here · unconfirmed
StonefishStonefishReported here · unconfirmed
OctopusOctopusReported here · unconfirmed
FrogfishFrogfishReported here · unconfirmed
Eagle rayEagle rayReported here · unconfirmed
Sohal SurgeonfishAcanthurus sohalObserved near here · iNaturalist
Durable tips from divers — access, hazards, marine life, facilities. For day-of conditions, use the report tool in the conditions card above.
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