Our first site in Umluj is found in the deep blue of Sha’ab Payoud. Suited for freedivers and advanced divers, this dive explores the depths of more than 30m and features a mild current. This wall dive features numerous fissures, which offer shelter to a number of small creatures in the sea. Although none of the fissures are large enough to swim into, you can peer into the crevices to see what may be hiding inside.

As you swim down the subtle slope of a reef wall dominated by soft and hard coral formations, divers will eventually reach a sandy platform at 15m. Peering into the abyss, there is a drop-off wall descending more than 30m which is abundantly covered in gigantic, thriving fan coral. Due to the current, which brings ample food supplies along with it, the numerous fan coral gardens are able to flourish.

An impeccable visibility of 25–30m ensures divers will have no challenges in spotting aquatic life swimming between the coral. Jackfish, characterised by their deeply forked tail and silvery sheen, are a common sight in these waters. Floating alongside the jackfish, shoals of anthias, lionfish, vividly marked moray eels and Red Sea anemonefish can also be spotted.

The stony Porites coral is easily identified thanks to a finger-like structure. This coral can easily be found throughout the Red Sea, often reaching 4m or more!