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📷 Noz Urbina · Pexels

Rocky South

3.6 — based on 20 community signals
4.1 12 species 15 contributors

Rocky South offers year-round diving off Egypt's Red Sea coast with healthy coral and diverse marine life.

⭐ Best for beginners.

updated 4 months ago
Difficulty
Beginner
Visibility
25 m
Water temp
21–28°C
Shore entryFamily-friendlyBeginnerPhotoFriendly

At a glance

Activity
dive
Difficulty
beginner
Visibility
25 m
Water temp
21–28 °C
Best months
Year-round

Map

This spot Airport Nearby spots
Rocky South 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 (21–28°C)

About this spot

Rocky South sits along Egypt's Red Sea and delivers consistent diving conditions throughout the year. The site features healthy coral ecosystems showing no bleaching stress, making it a solid choice for divers seeking vibrant reef environments. Local observations document 12 distinct species at the site, giving you a sense of what to expect underwater. The spot draws divers seeking accessible Red Sea exploration without the crowding of more famous breaks. Water clarity and marine activity remain stable across seasons, so you can plan a trip based on your schedule rather than hunting narrow weather windows. Community video documentation shows real conditions from recent visits—worth watching before you commit. Rocky South sits outside marine protection zones, meaning standard access applies. Nearby support infrastructure serves the broader Red Sea diving community, though you'll want to confirm current operator availability and boat logistics before arrival. The site rewards divers comfortable with self-reliant planning.

📖 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

Reef

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

When is the best time to dive Rocky South?

Rocky South offers year-round diving conditions. Unlike many Red Sea spots, you're not locked to narrow seasonal windows. Water temperature and visibility remain consistent, so choose dates based on your schedule and travel plans.

What's the difficulty level and depth range?

Current data doesn't specify exact depth or difficulty rating. Check with local operators before booking to confirm whether the site suits your certification level and depth comfort.

What marine life will I see?

12 species observations are documented at Rocky South, and coral shows no bleaching stress—a healthy sign. Community videos provide visual confirmation of what divers encounter. Watch available footage to see species and conditions firsthand.

How do I access Rocky South and are permits needed?

Rocky South sits outside marine protected areas, so standard Red Sea diving access rules apply. Confirm current permit requirements and boat availability with local operators. The site is accessible year-round, but logistics vary by season.

Recently spotted by divers

iNaturalist →

See this spot in action

YouTube videos — click to play.

Red Sea Diving - Rocky, Zabargad, Daedelus

Camille Rebours - scubachingon
💬 3 top comments
  • Awesome !

    @clementk8139 · 👍 2
  • Oh my word! Simply incredible...per usual!

    @user-zr2lg8tl9h · 👍 2
  • Fantastic! Will be there in five weeks, can't wait :)

    @catherineolivia1 · 👍 1

Deep South Red Sea Liveaboard | Ultimate Dive Safari w\@AggressorAdventures

Scuba Diver Magazine
💬 3 top comments
  • Great video....please please please can you do a video on The Azores??

    @Cappaghgrove · 👍 0
  • #askmark would it be possible to review the light AL1300 NP GS BIGBLUE with green laser? Thanks for all your content, big fan.

    @sebastienschaer8111 · 👍 0
  • Mark, huge fan of your content. You provide a very important and valuable service to the diving community. Thank you! But this feels like you're simply reading Aggressor marketing copy without any first-hand experience or objective evaluation. I am very interested based on your video, but Aggressor's safety record in the Red Sea and elsewhere is deeply concerning. Despite having a "campaign lin

    @geopatriot · 👍 4

Diving Egypt’s Deep South | St. John’s, Sataya, Zabargad, Rocky Island, Elphinstone | Liveaboard

Fabio
💬 2 top comments
  • Une véritable masterclass, tu t'es surpassé. J'en ai presque les larmes aux yeux 🥹🥲

    @mrkeinzi · 👍 1
  • great video man, great colours, angles, sharks...dolphins...manta... fantastic, hope my trip will be similar

    @vojkanskee · 👍 1
wind peaks Feb-Sep-Mar, calmest Aug-Nov-Jul, dry Jan-Dec, water 21-28°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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