Daedalus Reef

Daedalus Reef, also known locally as Abu Kizan, is located in the Egyptian Red Sea, roughly 80 miles east of Port Ghalib. It is a remote, isolated outcrop of coral that sits in the middle of the deep ocean. Because of its remote location, it is only accessible via liveaboard scuba diving boats, keeping it relatively pristine.

The reef is world-renowned among scuba divers for its large pelagic marine life, particularly its frequent congregations of scalloped hammerhead sharks. Divers travel from all over the world to dive the steep walls of Daedalus to spot these sharks cruising in the blue water. The reef is also a vital habitat for rare thresher sharks and oceanic manta rays.

The Egyptian government built a historic lighthouse on Daedalus Reef in 1863 to warn passing cargo ships of the dangerous, shallow coral outcrop. Because the reef sits in the middle of a major shipping channel, it was a massive hazard to vessels traversing the Red Sea. The lighthouse is still maintained today, and there is usually a small crew of keepers stationed on the island.

Diving at Daedalus Reef is considered advanced due to its exposed location in the open ocean, which frequently causes strong, unpredictable currents. The walls of the reef drop off steeply into deep water, making it easy for divers to drift away from the reef if they aren't careful. Because of these challenging conditions, dive operators generally require divers to have significant experience before visiting.