Dive Site

Umm Hal Hal

Overview

The dive site Umm Hal Hal is located about 400 m southeast of Middle Reef. Two Ergs (coral blocks) stand at the edge of a plateau. They rise up to 3 m below the water surface and therefore offer no protection from wind and waves. This is where the name comes from - Hal Hal means "troubled sea".

Description

On the inside (west) the plateau is 16 meters deep, while on the outside it drops to 22 - 24 meters. About 80 m further east, a steep wall begins at 30 m, interrupted by overhangs. Hal-Hal is also known as Shaab Quais (Beautiful Reef).
If you are lucky enough to make a dive here, you will be rewarded with a colorful, lively reef.
It seems as if the fish never sleep - they move continuously in the struggle between eating and being eaten. Since the dive site is quite small, you can circle the ergs several times at different depths.
If you dive to the wall and look for big fish, you should be good with your air consumption and have a good sense of direction.
The reef is impressive with its soft corals and sea fans and with a few isolated table corals.
As for the fish life, here you will find the usual reef fish, but these in masses. Leopard groupers, turtles, mullets, script filefish and longnose doctorfish to name a few.

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