Diving atAnemone City - Ras Mohammed (Egypt)
Anemone City in Ras Mohammed truly lives up to its name, presenting a vibrant underwater metropolis brimming with thousands of Heteractis sea anemones. These swaying hosts shelter a permanent population of Red Sea anemonefish, fiercely territorial and constantly active. Divers navigate through this bustling reef shoulder, situated just north of Shark Reef, where the prolific marine life creates a dynamic, cosmopolitan feel. It’s a site celebrated for its dense concentration of life, offering continuous visual engagement.
Tonight's objective overview for Anemone City - Ras Mohammed shows an air temperature of 23.9°C. The measured surface conditions include wave heights around 0.4m. This environmental data is logged for the close of the day.
Dive Site Coordinates
27.7271, 34.2585
Key Dive Site Facts
Dive Site Overview
Imagine descending into a vibrant underwater cityscape, where every 'building' pulsates with life. Anemone City, an expansive shoulder of reef in Ras Mohammed, offers just such an experience.
This site, typically approached as a drift dive, is a coral garden and reef dive often serving as the initial point for journeys towards Shark Reef. Depths here range from a shallow 5 m (16 ft) plateau, sloping down to 25 m (82 ft) before dropping into deeper waters, making it suitable for Advanced Open Water Divers or equivalent. Its prominent feature, as the name suggests, is the sheer abundance of Heteractis sea anemones, each hosting dozens of territorial Red Sea anemonefish.
Beyond the anemones, divers will encounter impressive table corals and extensive carpets of broccoli coral, creating a rich tapestry of textures and colors. A distinctive, often humorous, element in the shallower sections is the scattered cargo from a British wreck, including several intact toilets lining the seabed—a curious sight for photographers.
While many use Anemone City as a starting point to drift into the open blue towards Shark Reef, the site merits a dedicated exploration for its intricate ecosystem and busy fish traffic. The currents can be considerable, influencing the dive profile and how quickly one transitions towards the next major feature.
Best Time to Dive
Choosing the optimal time for Anemone City often depends on desired conditions and marine activity. Mornings are frequently recommended, as the site truly comes alive with 'rush hour' fish traffic, reflecting its namesake metropolis. Throughout the year, the dive score remains consistently good, indicating favorable conditions generally prevail. Air temperatures vary significantly, ranging from cooler averages of 19-22°C (66-72°F) during January-March to warmer highs of 32-35°C (90-95°F) from June-August, making summer months quite hot on the surface. Wave heights are generally manageable, averaging between 0.65-0.85 m (2-3 ft), though wind speeds, particularly from March-May, can reach up to 28 km/h (17 mph), potentially influencing surface conditions. Rainfall is negligible year-round, with most months reporting trace amounts or none at all, ensuring clear skies. While specific water temperatures aren't consistently reported for this precise location, the Red Sea typically offers warm diving conditions, especially outside of the cooler winter months. Planning a dive during less windy periods may enhance comfort for boat-based entries and exits.
Climate Historical Averages
Monthly records compiled from satellite and marine observation nodes over the last 3 years. Data provided by Open-Meteo and MET Norway.
Dive Experience & Conditions
Navigating Anemone City primarily involves understanding its current dynamics, which can fluctuate in strength and direction. It's classified as a drift dive, and divers might find themselves carried quite swiftly, particularly if the current originates from Shark Reef. Site topography, an underwater terrace on a vertical wall, ranges from a relatively shallow 5 m (16 ft) to deeper sections at 25 m (82 ft), and beyond. An Advanced Open Water Diver certification or equivalent is recommended due to these potentially strong and unpredictable currents. When currents are present, moving slowly near the bottom or reef wall can help manage the drift, requiring careful attention to guide signals. A broad shoulder of reef presents prolific hard and soft corals, with numerous crevices and cornices along the walls that create diverse habitats. Surrounding blue water often holds surprises, with pelagic fish shoaling along the wall and occasional sightings of larger marine life such as turtles or leopard sharks. Visibility typically remains excellent, a hallmark of Red Sea diving.
Dive Difficulty & Safety Guidelines
Diving Anemone City presents specific challenges requiring attentiveness and appropriate preparedness. Currents at this site can reach considerable strength and their directions are often unpredictable, necessitating vigilance and close communication with your dive guide. If encountering a strong current, maintaining proximity to the reef wall or seabed helps conserve energy. Divers should always carry a surface marker buoy (SMB) and know how to deploy it, as being carried away from the reef is a possibility, and boat traffic around the reefs is common. Ascending near the reef wall is advised to minimize exposure to open water vessel screws. Careful depth monitoring is crucial, especially when diving 'in the blue' without direct reef reference, to remain within no-decompression limits. Additionally, be aware of fire coral in shallower areas, particularly if diving in a shorty wetsuit, as contact can cause stinging sensations. An Advanced Open Water Diver certification is recommended to safely manage these conditions.
Recommended Equipment
No verified equipment items yet.
Verified equipment recommendations for this dive site are being reviewed and may be added as additional source checks are completed.
Recommended Dive Suit
Current diving conditions indicate water temperatures around 24°C (75°F) at Anemone City - Ras Mohammed. Surface air temperatures are resting at 24°C (75°F).
Forecasts suggest rising temperatures later this week. A warming trend is expected over the next few days.
In water temperatures like these, 3-5mm wetsuit typically offers sufficient warmth for most recreational dives. Some divers naturally tolerate cooler water better than others.
Conditions last reviewed: 18:00 using the latest environmental data.
Dive Logistics & Preparation
Hyperbaric Chamber
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Entry Requirements
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Currency
EGP
Nearest Airports
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Marine Life at Anemone City - Ras Mohammed
The site truly shines through its marine inhabitants, dominated by literally thousands of Heteractis sea anemones. These anemones host a bustling population of Red Sea anemonefish, which are notably territorial and provide constant activity within the reef. Beyond the central attraction, the coral gardens themselves are home to reef fish typical of the Ras Mohammed area. Divers also have opportunities to spot larger species; leopard sharks and turtles are not uncommon. The surrounding blue water around Anemone City occasionally brings surprising encounters, with reports of pelagic fish, manta rays, eagle rays, and even rare whale or tiger shark sightings, adding an element of unpredictability to each dive.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is Anemone City known for?
It's named for its dense concentrations of Heteractis sea anemones, which host numerous Red Sea anemonefish. It's often bustling with diverse reef fish, creating a vibrant underwater scene.
What is the maximum depth at Anemone City?
The dive site begins around 5 m (16 ft) and slopes down to 25 m (82 ft), before dropping into the deep blue beyond. Recreational dives generally remain within the 30 m (100 ft) range.
Is Anemone City suitable for beginner divers?
Anemone City is classified as an Advanced dive due to potentially strong and unpredictable currents. An Advanced Open Water Diver certification or equivalent is highly recommended.
Are there any unique features at Anemone City?
Yes, in its shallower sections, you can find scattered cargo from a British wreck, including several toilets. This provides a unique and often humorous photographic opportunity.
What kind of marine life can I expect to see?
Besides the prolific anemones and their resident anemonefish, divers can expect various reef fish, table and broccoli corals. There's also a chance to spot turtles, leopard sharks, and occasionally pelagic species like manta or eagle rays in the blue.
How are the currents at Anemone City?
Currents can range from mild to strong and are often unpredictable in direction. It's typically a drift dive, and divers should be prepared to move with the current, or sometimes against it near the reef.
Is Anemone City part of a larger dive?
Anemone City is often used as the starting point for a drift dive that transitions into Shark Reef. However, it also deserves exploration as a standalone dive to fully appreciate its unique ecosystem.
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