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A scuba diver silhouetted against the deep blue ocean, exploring coral reefs in the Maldives.
📷 Charlotte Youlten · Pexels

Rocky East

3.5 — based on 16 community signals
4.1 12 species 15 contributors

Rocky East is a year-round Egyptian dive site with healthy coral and diverse marine life. Accessible and suitable for varied experience levels.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Water temp
20–28°C
PhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Water temp
20–28 °C
Best months
Year-round

Map

This spot Airport Nearby spots
Rocky East location map © Google · Map data © Google, contributors
Open in Google Maps

Conditions today

Conditions

Open-Meteo
Wind
17.1 kn
Wave
1.04 m
Water
30.7°C
N E S W
Wind direction (7d)
Primary: NNW (80%)
Now: NNW (340°)
Tide (7 days)
range: 0.36m

Next: Low at 06:00 (-0.08m)

+0.3 m0 m-0.1 m
▼ 06:00 · -0.08m ▲ 13:00 · +0.05m ▼ 19:00 · -0.02m ▲ 01:00 · +0.09m
Sat 19Sun 20Mon 21Tue 22Wed 23Thu 24Fri 25
UV7.4 · high Air PM2.527 · moderate 06:22 18:34
Day Wind Wave UV Rain
09-19 19.9 1.26 7 0mm
09-20 22.6 1.44 7 0mm
09-21 20.1 1.4 7 0mm
09-22 19 1.02 7 0mm
09-23 16.2 1.16 7 0mm
09-24 17.7 1.32 7 0mm
09-25 19.2 1.58 7 0mm
🌡 Water temp: Normal for Sep (20–28°C)

About this spot

Rocky East, located off the Egyptian coast, offers year-round diving opportunities in an area with minimal coral stress. The site supports a healthy reef ecosystem, making it a reliable choice for divers planning trips outside typical seasonal windows. With 12 documented species observations and community video coverage, the site has established a solid reputation among local and visiting divers. The underwater landscape at Rocky East attracts marine life across multiple depth zones, though exact specifications remain variable. Visibility and water conditions are typical for Egyptian dive sites, supporting both reef exploration and open-water swimming. The site is not within a marine protected area, which simplifies access logistics for visiting operators and independent divers. Community footage and species data suggest a well-documented dive site with moderate foot traffic. The presence of user-generated videos indicates the spot works for divers seeking to review conditions beforehand. Local knowledge from the diving community is readily available through multiple sources, helping newer visitors prepare appropriately. Rocky East fits into broader Egyptian diving circuits and can be combined with other regional sites for multi-day trips.

📖 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
  • 🤿 Pack: 3/2 mm shorty
  • 📜 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%
  • 🤿 Wetsuit 3/2 mm shorty
  • GPS
Sustainability disclosures
🌍 CO2 footprint LHR ↔ 4403km · ~1013kg · €18

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

Can I dive Rocky East year-round?

Yes. Rocky East is accessible throughout the year, making it a flexible choice for divers unable to travel during peak seasons. Water conditions remain suitable across all months.

What marine life will I see?

Rocky East supports diverse reef species. The site has 12 documented species observations in community records. Typical Egyptian reef inhabitants are present, though specific species lists vary by dive.

Do I need special permits to dive here?

Rocky East is not within a marine protected area, so standard Egyptian diving permits and regulations apply. Confirm current requirements with local operators before your trip.

Is the coral healthy?

The site shows no coral stress indicators. The reef ecosystem is in good condition, supporting healthy marine growth and stable underwater habitat.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Diving the Elphinstone Reef - Southern Red Sea, Egypt

Claudio Cocorocchia

Egypt Diving - Shag Rock - Kingston Wreck - 2022-10-16 #47

Filipe Resao
💬 1 top comments
  • Isto não é UB40 🤔

    @luisribeiro4267 · 👍 0

Diving in the Red Sea - Brothers', Daedalus, Elphinstone (Sept. 2020)

cqmnky
💬 3 top comments
  • Bro was chased by a turtle :D

    @alexandrkuril7143 · 👍 2
  • I'm going to be there in 3 weeks. I can't wait and your video is ramping my excitement up to ridiculous levels.

    @alisonanthony1228 · 👍 1
  • Nice video! Going there in May 2022

    @megabain · 👍 2
wind peaks Feb-Sep-Mar, calmest Aug-Nov-Jul, dry Jan-Dec, water 20-28°C.

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: Aug (100/100) Worst: Jan (0/100) Now: Sep (100/100) NOAA MODIS Aqua · 5y mean

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