Straits of Gubal: Rosalie Moller Dive Site – Egypt
Site Overview
Rosalie Moller is a expert-level shipwreck dive site located off the Straits of Gubal coastline in Egypt's Red Sea, offering an extraordinary combination of vibrant coral reef ecosystems and rich marine biodiversity in one of the world's most celebrated diving destinations. The site is accessed by boat from Hurghada, typically 22 to 21 minutes depending on sea conditions. Rosalie Moller reaches a maximum depth of 50 meters with the most productive diving occurring between five and 25 meters where the coral walls and reef structures provide shelter and feeding grounds for an incredible diversity of marine species. The underwater topography features dramatic coral formations including the atmospheric wreck structure and its thriving artificial reef community, vertical walls encrusted with soft corals, massive coral pinnacles, and sandy channels that create a mosaic of distinct ecological zones. Marine life encounters commonly include Oceanic Whitetip Shark, Lionfish, Scalloped Hammerhead, Clown Triggerfish, along with numerous Red Sea endemic species that inhabit the coral substrate. The Red Sea's uniquely stable conditions, with water temperatures ranging from 22 degrees in winter to 28 degrees in late summer and visibility typically between 15 and 30 meters, create an underwater environment of extraordinary clarity and biodiversity. Seasonal visitors including oceanic whitetip sharks, hammerhead sharks, whale sharks, and manta rays add an extraordinary dimension to dives in this region. The Red Sea is home to over twelve hundred species of fish with approximately twenty percent endemic, and more than two hundred species of hard and soft coral that create some of the most vibrant underwater landscapes on Earth. Straits of Gubal is increasingly recognized as one of Egypt's finest diving destinations, offering the perfect combination of world-class marine life, excellent infrastructure, and reliable year-round diving conditions. The challenging conditions including strong currents, significant depth, and exposure to open water conditions demand experienced divers with appropriate certifications.
Dive Briefing
"The descent begins from the dive boat moored above the reef structure after your guide assesses current direction and strength. The dive profile typically begins with a gradual descent along the reef wall to approximately 28 meters where the current-facing side offers the best marine life encounters in the nutrient-rich Red Sea waters. Oceanic Whitetip Shark are frequently observed patrolling the wall at 25 to 33 meters, while Lionfish inhabit the coral gardens and overhangs throughout the mid-section of the dive. The wreck section is explored at approximately 28 meters where the structure has been colonized by decades of coral growth creating a thriving artificial reef. Your guide leads careful penetration of accessible compartments while maintaining strict depth and time discipline. The coral substrate between 23 and 36 meters is encrusted with colorful soft corals, gorgonian sea fans, and Red Sea endemic hard corals that provide excellent macro photography opportunities between the larger species encounters. Scalloped Hammerhead can be found in crevices and ledges throughout the site. Your guide leads you progressively shallower along the reef contour, ensuring adequate bottom time for the safety stop at five meters. The final portion of the dive is spent exploring the shallow reef flat at three to eight meters where coral diversity is highest and sunlight creates ideal conditions for wide-angle photography. The safety stop is conducted along the upper reef before surfacing and returning to the boat for a total dive time of approximately 50 to 60 minutes."
Signature Marine Life
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Carcharhinus longimanus
Best: March, April, May
Lionfish
Pterois miles
Best: March, April, May
Scalloped Hammerhead
Sphyrna lewini
Clown Triggerfish
Balistoides conspicillum
Best: March, April, May
Whitetip Reef Shark
Triaenodon obesus
Best: March, April, May
Parrotfish
Chlorurus genazonatus
Best: March, April, May
Safety & Hazards
- Red Sea current variability requiring constant awareness and SMB deployment capability
- Fire coral and sharp coral formations requiring careful fin and hand placement
- Venomous lionfish and scorpionfish on ledges requiring careful hand placement during wall dives
- Moray eels in crevices that may bite if provoked or hands placed in holes
- Strong surge near cavern entrances and shallow reef flats during Red Sea swell events
- Potential for nitrogen narcosis at deeper sections below twenty-five meters
Traveler Notes
Who is this for?
Rosalie Moller is reserved for expert-level divers with Rescue Diver certification or higher and extensive experience in challenging open ocean conditions including strong currents, significant depth, and remote locations with limited emergency support. The site presents serious challenges including depths reaching 50 meters, powerful Red Sea currents, and extended boat travel times that demand self-reliant diving skills and thorough emergency planning. Only divers with proven deep diving competence, excellent physical fitness, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure should attempt this site. The rewards for expert divers are extraordinary: pristine walls with virtually no other divers, encounters with oceanic pelagic species rarely seen at more accessible sites, and the satisfaction of exploring some of the most remote and untouched dive sites in the entire Red Sea basin.
Quick Stats
Dive Logistics
- Blue O Two
- Emperor Divers
- Colona Liveaboards
Photography Info
Best for: wide_angle, macro
Nearby Stay
Liveaboard vessel
On board • 0km away
Steigenberger Al Dau Beach
Hurghada • 50km away