Skip to content
OpenWaterAtlas
Scuba divers explore a colorful school of oblique-banded sweetlips in West Papua.
📷 Tom Fisk · Pexels

Dorfa El Fanus West

3.9 — based on 18 community signals
4.3 12 species 32 contributors

Dorfa El Fanus West is a year-round Red Sea dive site in Egypt with healthy coral and diverse marine life.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
PhotoFriendlyFamily-friendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Best months
Year-round

Top operators here

See all operators ↓

Map

This spot Operators POIs Airport Nearby spots
Dorfa El Fanus West location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
10 kn
Wave
0.46 m
Water
28.2°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NW (33%)
Now: W (280°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.48m

Next: Low at 07:00 (-0.17m)

+0.3 m0 m-0.2 m
▼ 07:00 · -0.17m ▲ 13:00 · +0.02m ▼ 19:00 · -0.09m ▲ 01:00 · +0.03m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV6.95 · high Air PM2.55 · good 06:31 18:44
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 15.9 0.74 7 0mm
09-20 15.3 0.9 7 0mm
09-21 15.2 0.9 7 0mm
09-22 16.2 0.78 7 0mm
09-23 14.7 0.78 7 0mm
09-24 13.6 0.84 7 0mm
09-25 15.6 1.12 7 0mm

About this spot

Dorfa El Fanus West sits in Egypt's Red Sea, a destination known for rich reef ecosystems and consistent diving conditions. The site shows no signs of coral stress, indicating a healthy reef environment where corals thrive. With 12 documented species observations and community video content, the site offers reliable diving with notable marine encounters. The reef structure here supports varied marine life typical of the Red Sea. Divers can expect the characteristics that make Egyptian Red Sea diving popular: clear water, accessible reef features, and good biodiversity. The area is not within a protected marine area, meaning standard Red Sea diving regulations apply. Access follows typical Red Sea dive boat protocols from the nearest shore operations. Visibility and water temperatures vary seasonally across the Red Sea, so dive operators can provide specific conditions for your planned visit. The year-round status means you can dive here during any season, though specific months may offer different visibility and comfort levels. Before booking, confirm current conditions, depth specifics, and any boat operator requirements with local dive centers. Community footage and species records suggest the site delivers solid Red Sea reef diving with good marine activity.

📖 Guide: Diving in Egypt: 258 Sites From Wrecks to Hammerheads

Best months

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec

Dive types

ReefBoat

Trip essentials

Everything you need before you pack — checklist, sun, logistics.

Trip checklist

  • 🛂 Visa-free or visa-on-arrival
  • 📜 C-card + dive insurance (DAN)
  • 📔 Dive logbook
  • 🧴 Reef-safe sunscreen SPF 50+
  • 🔌 Plug type C/F · 220V adapter
  • 💊 Seasickness meds + ear drops
  • 📱 Offline maps + emergency contact

Quick facts

  • 🌓 Moon First quarter · 47%
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 3931km · ~904kg · €16

From your departure country

United States
Origin score: 59/100
  • Visa: Visa on arrival · 30 days max
  • Flight: 8h · direct
  • Jet-lag: 7h east · 5 days recovery

FAQ

When is the best time to dive Dorfa El Fanus West?

The site is diveable year-round. Specific months may offer different visibility and water temperature conditions. Check with local Red Sea dive operators for seasonal details and your preferred conditions.

What depth and skill level is Dorfa El Fanus West?

Exact depth and difficulty ratings are not currently documented for this site. Contact a local Egyptian Red Sea dive operator for specific depth profile and recommendation on required experience level.

What marine life can I see here?

Dorfa El Fanus West has 12 recorded species observations. The reef shows healthy coral with no bleaching stress. Expect typical Red Sea marine life including reef fish and reef-associated species. Video documentation is available from the community.

Do I need permits or special access?

Dorfa El Fanus West is not within a marine protected area. Standard Red Sea diving regulations apply. Confirm entry requirements with your dive operator, as local rules and boat access procedures vary.

Operators near this spot

Dive centres, kite & surf schools within 10 km, sourced from OpenStreetMap.

Blue Water Dive Resort

4.1 km
4.8 (303 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified Booked 38+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 8:00 – 10:00 AM, 3:00 – 6:30 PM

Diving Club Golden Dolphin

7.8 km
4.7 (158 reviews) open now
Dive centre
Verified Speaks 🇬🇧 🇷🇺 Booked 38+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Golden Dolphin Diving Centre

7.8 km
4.7 (158 reviews) open now
Dive centre
Verified Booked 42+ times this month
Hours: Friday: 7:00 AM – 9:00 PM

Redsea-Divers Annette und Robbi Tauchbasis

4.1 km
Dive centre

Subex Hurghada

6.1 km
4.7 (19 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified
Hours: Friday: 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM

Subex Hurghada Club House

6.1 km
4.7 (19 reviews) closed
Dive centre
Verified
Hours: Friday: 7:30 AM – 1:00 PM, 3:00 – 6:00 PM

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Dolphins at Dorfa el Fanus (Hurghada, Egypt)

rsplaul

insta360 x5 8k 360° Diving Dorfa El Fanus Dolphin Playground Hurghada | Red Sea

Rixxel

El Kefain & Shaab Sheer West, Safaga, Egypt, 10.02.2026, Dive #74 & 75

Tomek Diving
wind peaks Jun-Aug-Sep, calmest Jan-Nov-Dec, dry Jan-Dec.

5-year monthly climate

60 samples
0 5 10 15 20 25 JFMAMJJASOND
p25–p75 range Median Wind (kn) Air (°C)
Visibility (month-by-month)
Best: May (100/100) Worst: Feb (0/100) Now: Sep (58/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

Nearby spots

Diving
🇪🇬 Egypt

Fanous East

Fanous East is a year-round dive destination in Egypt with documented marine species and stable coral health.

Jan·Feb·Mar+
Shaab Pinky Egypt Diving
🇪🇬 Egypt

Shaab Pinky

Shaab Pinky is a year-round Egyptian reef offering consistent diving with healthy coral and reliable marine life encounters.

Intermediate Jan·Feb·Mar+
Blue Water House Reef Egypt Diving
🇪🇬 Egypt

Blue Water House Reef

Blue Water House Reef offers year-round diving off Egypt's Red Sea coast with healthy coral and consistent marine life encounters.

Beginner 25m Jan·Feb·Mar+

Similar spots

Same activity, shared marine species or similar profile.

Shaab Nenad Egypt Diving
🇪🇬 Egypt

Shaab Nenad

Shaab Nenad is a Red Sea reef in Egypt with year-round diving and healthy coral. Known for diverse marine life and reef structure.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+
Banana Reef Egypt Diving
🇪🇬 Egypt

Banana Reef

Banana Reef is a year-round Egyptian dive destination known for healthy coral and abundant marine life.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+
Shaab Sabrina Egypt Diving
🇪🇬 Egypt

Shaab Sabrina

Shaab Sabrina is a year-round Red Sea reef system in Egypt offering consistent diving with healthy coral and abundant marine life.

Beginner Jan·Feb·Mar+
Diving
🇪🇬 Egypt

Abu Nugar

Abu Nugar offers year-round Red Sea diving with 12 recorded species and minimal coral stress. A reliable Egyptian destination for reef exploration.

Beginner

Suggest an operator

Know a great dive shop, kite school, or local guide at this spot? Tell us — we'll review and add it.

Up to 500 characters
Plan
View →