Erg Somaya

Erg Somaya is a reef wall dive in the Red Sea, located east of Small Giftun Island and just north of Gorgonia Garden, approximately 75 minutes by boat from Hurghada, Egypt. The site takes its name from the erg — a pinnacle or mushroom-shaped coral head — that rises to within 5 metres of the surface and sits on a sloping sandy bottom, with the erg itself spanning between 5 and 9 metres depth. A vertical wall extends from the reef and opens onto a shelf, which then transitions into a second wall decorated with coral formations, one of which resembles a pyramid. The northern part of the shelf is intersected by towering coral columns carpeted in gorgonians and deeply coloured soft corals. A chimney sits at the northeast corner of the shelf, entering at 30 metres and exiting at 22 metres, and a cave carpeted in gorgonians and soft corals is also found here. Maximum depth reaches 29 metres, with visibility typically between 20 and 25 metres.

Marine life at Erg Somaya includes barracuda, snapper, jackfish, and tuna in open water, while the chimney is densely filled with glassfish and the coral towers attract large swarms of silversides and anthias. Butterflyfish are present in numerous species. The erg itself is covered in invertebrates. Spanish dancers are most likely to be encountered in the afternoon.

Entry is by boat, with the option to dive from the mooring or as a drift dive; both approaches offer equivalent coverage of the site. The erg makes a natural safety stop on ascent. Currents can be strong and good buoyancy control is required. The site is slightly exposed to weather. Some experience is recommended for the deeper sections, and the site is classified as technical difficulty.