Gota Abu Ramada

A shallow oval reef with a sandy bottom and schools of butterflyfish – perfect for training, second and night dives.

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Depth

4–14 m

Visibility

15–25 m

Current

Usually mild

Level

Beginner friendly

Boat ride

~55 min by boat

Area

Giftun National Park

Quick answer:Gota Abu Ramada is a shallow oval reef about 55 minutes by boat from Hurghada with depths of 4–14 m – ideal for beginners and try divers. It is famous for its schools of masked butterflyfish, blue-spotted rays and calm sandy bottom. It ranks among the best sites for training and second dives as well as night dives.

Dive profile

Gota Abu Ramada

Your level

Reef

4–14 m

Your dive

14 m

Level needed

Never dived before

Gota Abu Ramada is a free-standing oval reef patch next to Abu Ramada island, roughly 55 minutes by boat from Hurghada. “Gota” means small reef – and that is exactly what it is: a compact, shallow coral world between 4 and 14 metres with a sandy bottom and almost always calm water.

What made it famous are the butterflyfish: pairs and small schools of masked butterflyfish hover above the coral heads everywhere, parrotfish crunch the coral beside them, blue-spotted rays rest on the sand and clownfish families live in the anemones. Shallow, bright and colourful – like diving inside a postcard.

Long, comfortable dive times make it a perfect training or second dive, and after sunset the reef shows a completely different face: on a night dive you can watch hunting rays and parrotfish sleeping among the coral branches in the beam of your torch. Even as a beginner you will feel completely at ease here.

What makes Gota Abu Ramada special?

Few places show you this many butterflyfish at once – and after sunset it turns into one of Hurghada's best night dive sites.

Highlights

Masked butterflyfish in pairs and schools
Blue-spotted rays on the sandy bottom
Shallow calm water and long dive times
One of Hurghada's best night dive sites

Frequently asked questions

Yes, very much so: with depths of 4–14 metres, a sandy bottom and mild currents, it is one of our favourite sites for try dives and course dives.

Its trademark is the abundance of masked butterflyfish, joined by blue-spotted rays on the sand, clownfish anemones, parrotfish and table corals. At night you can watch hunting rays and sleeping fish.

Yes, Gota Abu Ramada is one of our main night dive sites: shallow, sheltered and easy to navigate, while its marine life transforms completely after sunset. Night dives are arranged in advance.

Yes: in places the reef top sits barely 1–2 metres below the surface and the water is almost always calm, so snorkelers get a great view of the butterflyfish and corals.