El Aruk Giftun
Also known as: El Aruk, Erg Giftun
A shallow sandy plateau off Big Giftun studded with dozens of small coral pinnacles — a bright, easy 'coral garden' that's a joy to wander and a favourite for photos.
Photo: Derek Keats (CC BY 2.0) · Wikimedia Commons
- Max depth
- 16 m
- Visibility
- 25 m
- Current
- mild
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Boat time
- 55 min
- Suitable for
- snorkeler, discover, open-water, advanced
Site map
Location
El Aruk is a shallow plateau off Big Giftun scattered with dozens of small coral towers rising from white sand. You drift from pinnacle to pinnacle in bright, shallow water, each one its own little ecosystem of anthias, lionfish and pufferfish. The light and the contrast of coral against sand make it one of the most photogenic easy sites on the map.
Site highlights
- Dozens of small coral pinnacles on white sand
- Shallow, bright and easy to navigate
- Lionfish, pufferfish and reef fish everywhere
- Excellent for photography and check dives
Marine life on this site
Nearby dive sites
Banana Reef
A curved, banana-shaped reef between the two Giftun islands, dressed in soft corals with eagle rays over the sand — a pretty, easygoing mid-depth dive.
Shaab Sabina
A maze-like coral garden between the Giftun islands, all swim-throughs and labyrinthine channels in shallow water — easy to dive, hard to leave, and an easy drift when the current is up.