Just about as far south as you can go in Egyptian waters, the St John’s Reef is a chain of amazing-to-explore dive sites that are among the best the Red Sea has to offer.
There is a variety to the diving with drop-offs and tunnels. The marine life is exceptional – with a strong chance of dolphins and pelagics joining you – while the colours of the soft corals are amongst the best in the Red Sea and the dramatic hard-coral formations are breathtaking.
As all the sites are close to each other, you can easily travel between them on our South & St John’s or Southern Solitude trips with liveaboard adventures the most practical way of getting there. The place will undoubtedly be somewhere that leaves a profound impression on you.
Because there is such diversity to the diving here, it is almost impossible to pick a favourite site. However, one that stands out for many is St John’s Caves.
It’s famous for incredible underwater topography – featuring a maze of shallow caves, swim-throughs, and coral-covered tunnels – and is a pure gift to the photographers among you who can make use of the natural light that filters through the openings to create an ethereal atmosphere.
The caves are relatively shallow, ranging from five to 20 metres, making it suitable for divers of all experience levels. However, good buoyancy control is essential and visitors should be cautious not to stir up sediment or damage delicate coral structures.
And, because you are not too deep, this is a blessing for photographers who have plenty of ambient light for perfect wide-angle images without the need for excessive artificial lighting.
Macro photographers will also find plenty to love as colourful nudibranchs, shrimp, and tiny reef creatures – such as the elusive ghost pipefish – hide among the corals and rocks, offering detailed, close-up opportunities.
Which brings us to the marine life. St John’s Caves is not all about the phenomenal topography and the reef systems here are teeming with species of all sizes making it a spotter’s paradise.
You’ll find schools of anthias, butterflyfish, bannerfish, and angelfish darting through the coral gardens. Parrotfish and surgeonfish graze along the reef, while wrasses and groupers patrol the deeper ledges. Moray eels often peek out from crevices, and blue-spotted stingrays are frequently seen gliding along the sandy patches.
On the larger side, divers may encounter barracuda, trevallies, and even giant Napoleon wrasse cruising by. In the blue water just off the reef, there’s the chance to spot grey reef sharks, white-tip reef sharks, and even hammerheads if you’re lucky – especially during early morning dives.
Its diversity makes St John’s Caves a site appealing to both thrill-seekers and those who love slow, detailed exploration. With vibrant coral gardens, curious reef fish, incredible surroundings and visits from pelagics, there’s such a range of subjects, textures, colours, and compositions it will always be one of the Red Sea’s most photogenic underwater spots.
More than that, it’s pretty amazing for exploring, full stop!
If you would like to find out more about diving the amazing St John’s Caves, visit our Egypt itinerary pages or contact [email protected] to ask any questions.
These images were taken on a recent South & St John’s trip from Emperor Elite. They have been reproduced here by kind permission of guest Michal Machalski, to whom we are very grateful.
