Sha'ab Sabina

A sheltered shallow reef with a sandy lagoon – this is where most of our try dives and OWD skill sessions happen.

Book a dive here

Depth

4–12 m

Visibility

10–20 m

Current

Very mild, sheltered

Level

Beginner friendly

Boat ride

~40 min by boat

Area

Reefs off Hurghada

Quick answer:Sha'ab Sabina is a sheltered shallow reef between Hurghada and the Giftun Islands, about 40 minutes by boat, with depths of 4–12 m. Its sandy lagoon is ideal for try dives, OWD skill training and snorkeling. Clownfish, butterflyfish and blue-spotted rays live along the reef edge, and a seahorse occasionally turns up in the seagrass.

Dive profile

Sha'ab Sabina

Your level

Reef

4–12 m

Your dive

12 m

Level needed

Never dived before

Sha'ab Sabina is a long, shallow reef between Hurghada and the Giftun Islands, about 40 minutes by boat. Its sandy lagoon is sheltered by the reef from almost every direction, so the water stays calm here even when it is windy elsewhere – no wonder it is our main training site.

The white-sand “classroom” at 4–6 metres is perfect ground for your first breaths underwater and for practising OWD skills: you kneel or hover while life goes on all around you. The reef edge offers clownfish anemones, butterflyfish pairs and coral-crunching parrotfish, with blue-spotted rays resting on the sand.

Take your time scanning the seagrass patches too: with a little luck you may find a seahorse – one of the area's most charming rarities. Shallow, bright and friendly, it is a place where snorkelers and try divers feel just as at home as divers in training.

What makes Sha'ab Sabina special?

The pairing of a sandy “classroom” and a colourful reef edge makes this one of the best places in Hurghada for your first breaths underwater.

Highlights

A sheltered lagoon with almost always calm water
A sandy practice area at 4–6 metres
Clownfish and butterflyfish along the reef edge
With luck, a seahorse in the seagrass

Frequently asked questions

Yes, it is exactly for you: we run most of our try dives here because the lagoon is shallow, sandy and sheltered. Your instructor stays within arm's reach the whole time, and depth increases gradually at your own pace.

Clownfish anemones, butterflyfish pairs and parrotfish along the reef edge, blue-spotted rays on the sand – and on lucky days a seahorse turns up in the seagrass.

Yes, one of the best: the water is shallow and calm and the reef top sits close to the surface, so the non-diving members of your family can enjoy the day too.

The reef ring blocks the swell, so the current is almost always very mild and depths stay at 4–12 metres. This is the site we can happily sail to even on windy days.