Alharyah reef encircles a small, submerged island with a sloped wall and a series of overhangs, creating a memorable dive.

The coral garden along the southeastern side is a riot of colour and action, with varied reef fish that dart between long strands of whip coral stretching out for plankton. Coral heads jut out from the sandy seabed; expect to see abundant fire coral, bulbous mounds of brain coral, purple tube sponges and table coral, with graceful eagle rays soaring along in your peripheral vision. All along the wall, divers will encounter huge numbers of anthias, clownfish in anemones, and motionless groupers resting beneath the overhangs.

The site is frequented by both coral hind groupers and brown spotted groupers. However, don’t expect too much action from these Red Sea fish on a morning dive; they are nocturnal and tend to become active as soon as the sun sets.

As with most sites in this region, bluespotted ribbontail rays, unperturbed by visitors, hang out on the sandy bottom, while the moray eel is sure to make an appearance. 

To spot a moray eel, pay close attention to the crevices amongst the reef and rocks, as this creature has a tendency to hide. Divers can also sight parrotfish scraping and pulverising the coral rock and blackspotted sweetlips swimming in the area.

This site features two routes to choose from, each starting at opposite ends. Whichever one you opt for, there’s plenty to see and enjoy.

Moray eels have a fascinating anatomy. They rhythmically open and close their mouths to pass water over their gills to access oxygen, and they have two sets of jaws. The first has sharp teeth, while the second set shoots forward, pulling prey into the eel’s throat.