Daedalus Liveaboard Diving

Daedalus Reef is one of the best dive sites in The Red Sea and Egypt. Its remote location ensures that it remains protected from too many visitors, and attracts lots of marine life of all sizes. Daedalus (also known as Abu Kizan) lies 80km east of Marsa Alam, and in a national marine park. Therefore, the reef is in great condition because inexperienced and day trip divers are unable to visit. It can only be dived by liveaboard cruise, and divers need to be at least Advanced Open Water and able to dive in a current.

The reef sits alone surrounded by deep water. There is plenty to see in the shallows around the reef, but your dive will most likely be dictated by the currents and either drifting along or hiding in wait for something large & special. In the centre of the reef are an artificial island and a lighthouse that you can visit between dives. These were built in the 19th century after ships wrecked there, and to prevent more ships from doing the same. At the south-western end of the 400m. x 100m. island there are two long piers, but only one is used nowadays. Liveaboard safari boats moor up in this area and you can climb onto the pier then walk along it to the lighthouse, which is 30 metres high and worth the effort to climb to see the view. There's a small building for the marine park rangers and/or coastguard and/or navy. These structures were rebuilt nearly 100 years ago.

For the best lighting during your dive, it's ideal to dive the eastern side in the morning and the western side in the late afternoon. However, the entry point and direction of nearly all dives at Daedalus Reef are decided by the currents, which often run north-south. Night dives are not possible here, due to marine park rules which are imposed for safety. Anyone getting taken away here in a current in the dark would possibly never be found again. 

Underwater at Daedalus Reef, the diving is incredible. There is an abundance of hard & soft corals which are healthy and these attract reef species, which in turn attract larger fish. The open-sea location and depth mean that the nutrient-rich currents attract lots of resident marine life, both large and small. This, in turn, attracts predatory pelagics, in particular several species of sharks. Daedalus Reef offers probably the best opportunity in to dive with Hammerhead Sharks in The Red Sea.

Deep down there is a wreck, but this is only really accessible by technical divers. For recreational divers, there's plenty to see down to 30 metres, which is normally the maximum allowed anyway. 

What marine life can you see at Daedalus?

Due to the location out in open sea, Daedalus Reef is teeming with life of all shapes and sizes. Small species of fish and invertebrates spend their whole lives here, and even smaller species (plankton) are brought up from the cooler depths of the surrounding sea in the north & south. In turn, larger pelagic species come to Daedalus to feed on the marine life. These include several species of sharks (such as Hammerheads), plus several other predators that come alone or in groups.

Whale Shark

(Rhincodon typus)

Reef Manta Ray

(Mobula alfredi)

Giant Moray Eel

(Gymnothorax javanicus)

Hammerhead Shark

(Sphyrnidae)

Barracuda

(Sphyraena)

Giant Trevally

(Caranx ignobilis)

Oceanic Whitetip Shark

(Carcharhinus longimanus)

Green Turtle

(Chelonia mydas)

Humphead / Napoleon Wrasse

(Cheilinus undulatus)

Hawksbill Turtle

(Eretmochelys imbricata)

Pharaoh Cuttlefish

(Sepia pharaonis)

Surgeonfish

(Acanthuridae)

You can also see

Scorpionfish

Lynx Nudibranch

Day Octopus

Red Lionfish

Thresher Shark