Snorkeling in Gorgonia Beach

How to get to Gorgonia Beach snorkeling spot?

Gorgonia Beach Resort is located at the border of Wadi el Gemal National Park, 45km south of Marsa Alam and about sixty kilometers north of Hamata. Only the hotel guests can access the beach (and the snorkeling spot).

Water entrance for snorkeling Gorgonia Beach

A hundred meters long jetty, located in front of the dive center, allows guests to get into the water directly on the drop off (zone 3 on the map below). For drift snorkeling itineraries (zones 4 and 5), check the specific water entrance/exit points on the map.

Gorgonia Beach reef snorkeling exploration

The main Gorgonia Beach snorkeling area is located at the end of the pontoon (zone 3 on the map above). Once in the water, swim along the reef drop off, which extends all along the coast, on both sides of the pontoon. Be careful not to let you caught by the current, if strong.

The water level on the reef flat is generally too shallow to snorkel it, but some kinds of “natural pools” or “lagoons” (zones 1 and 2 on the map) dug in the reef flat can also be explored.

In the lagoons (zones 1 and 2) you can often see a green sea turtle feeding on seagrass, Halavi rays (or guitarfish), bluespotted ribbontail ray, cowtail stingray and deep flounder on the sand. Indian sailfin tang, network pipefish, lionfish are near corals and white-spotted puffer, masked puffer, and bluespotted cornetfish can be found too.

Around the pontoon, the reef drop off is superb, descending gradually to sandy bottoms (↕18ft/6m). It is full of hard corals in shades of yellow, pink and purple, illuminated by the sun. Many maxima clams are embedded in the reef.

The reef flat (↕2ft/0,5m) is the kingdom of sulphur damsel, Klunzinger’s wrasse, bird wrasse, and regal angelfish, one of the most beautiful fish found in the Red Sea.

In the deeper areas (↕3-10ft/1-3m), bluecheek butterflyfish, bluespine unicornfish, Sohal surgeonfish and shoals of blackspot snappers are easily spotted. From time to time, a green sea turtle or hawksbill sea turtle also comes to the reef.

When the sea conditions allow, advanced snorkelers can engage in drift snorkeling along the northern and southern reef, following the gentle north-south current. The wind often blows, sometimes the sea is too rough for the outer reef.

1/ North reef (itinerary 4 on the map, approx 1100m) – If you are a real reef lover

At higher tide you can snorkel over the shallow reef to get to the reef drop off. Enter at the tip of the small bay past the hotel grounds. Remind to keep distance to the Sohal surgeonfish in October when they defend their territory as they may hurt you with the scalpel-like spine.

You can drift snorkel along to the “blue hole” (see map) which is an interesting spot with orbicular batfish, spotbase burrfish. Always have a look to the deep blue as you may see bluefin trevally, titan triggerfish, turtles or larger species.

The outer coral reef is outstanding. The outer wall grows and branches in beautiful coral gardens mostly of the Porites solida family, hundred of years old, healthy from bottom to the top, reaching 23ft/7 meters in height.

You can exit the water from the resort’s pontoon (exit A on the map) or from the lagoon (exit B).

2/ South reef (itinerary 5 on the map, approx. 1500m) – Just enjoy

It is also worth snorkeling from the jetty south towards the next hotel and exit at the close beach, when the bottom gets sandy and less deep. You can enjoy beautiful corals like purple boulder Porites, spot Red Sea anemonefish and the many other common local fish. It will take you about 45 minutes, then you can walk back full of memories.

Restaurants and accommodation nearby

Gorgonia Beach Resort is the only accommodation available nearby. The resort has several restaurants.

Snorkel Gorgonia Beach vibrant reef drop off in this video 👇 shared by our reporter Juan Carlos!

Watch more snorkeling videos from Juan Carlos on his YouTube channel, Snorkel Lovers.