Coral pillars with a freckled hawkfish at Torfa El Shahed lagoon, Red Sea
Hurghada lagoon beginner

Torfa El Shahed

Also known as: Torfat El Shahed

A shallow lagoon and pinnacle field near Banana Reef, soft-coral pillars rising into easy water with turtles, rays and anemone gardens — gentle, colourful and forgiving.

Photo: Derek Keats (CC BY 2.0) · Wikimedia Commons

Max depth
14 m
Visibility
22 m
Current
mild
Difficulty
beginner
Boat time
55 min
Suitable for
snorkeler, discover, open-water, advanced
Plan the dive

Site map

Torfa El Shahed dive site map with depths and routes
Where it is

Location

Torfa El Shahed is a shallow lagoon near Banana Reef dotted with soft-coral pillars. The water is shallow and usually calm, the pillars are easy to circle, and there is plenty to find — turtles resting on the sand, blue-spotted stingrays, and anemones full of clownfish. It is a gentle, colourful site that works for snorkellers and new divers as well as anyone after a relaxed second dive.

What you'll see

Site highlights

  • Soft-coral pillars in a shallow lagoon
  • Resident turtles and stingrays
  • Anemone gardens with clownfish
  • Calm and forgiving for new divers