Torfa El Shahed sits in the captain's longer northern rotation, 65 minutes from the marina between Carless Reef and Umm Gamar. The reef has a sloping wall on the northeast face that drops from 12 m to 30 m, with consistent mild current and the kind of pelagic chances that come with deeper water. Less famous than its neighbours so noticeably quieter on the boat count. Advanced Open Water recommended.
- Depth
- 12-30 m
- Visibility
- 20–28 m
- Season
- Apr - Nov
- Boat ride
- 65 min
- Difficulty
- Advanced
Topography and dive profile
Long sloping reef wall running roughly north-south. The northeast face is the diving side · drops from a plateau at 12 m down a sloping wall to 30 m at the sand. Mild current usually runs north-to-south along the wall · we drift with it. The wall is densely covered with red and purple soft coral above 18 m, gorgonians from 18-25 m, and gravel-and-sand below. Eagle rays cruise the deeper sections in twos and threes (autumn/winter best). Occasional white-tip reef shark on the deeper wall sections.
What you'll see
- ◇Eagle rays
- ◇Tuna in the blue
- ◇Big napoleon
- ◇Soft coral on the wall
- ◇Reef sharks (rare)
Who it suits
PADI Advanced Open Water recommended. Open Water divers stay above 18 m on the upper plateau and skip the wall section · the sloping profile makes the depth easy to manage but the dive is best below 18 m where the soft coral and pelagic chances are.
When the captain runs this site
Part of the captain's northern long-day rotation (Carless Reef + Umm Gamar + Torfa El Shahed area). Standard 2-tank day rate plus €10 long-transit supplement when the captain commits to the northern run.