| Umm Gammar or ''moon'' in Arabic is the name of a solitary little island bearing a lighthouse which lies about halfway to Shadwan, 9km (5.6 miles) north of Giftun and 16km (9.9 miles) from Hurghada.
The island, approximately 400m (437 yards) in length, is positioned at the southern tip of a very long reef stretching for a distance of 2km (1.2 miles). Typically, lone reefs or islets tend to attract pelagic fish, and this is clearly the case here. Pause to look out to sea every now and then while diving, and you might be rewarded with the sight of sharks, mantas, andeagle rays cruising past the reef wall. The most popular diving area lies to the southeast, where the island itself forms a protective barrier against wind and waves. Begin your dive opposite the lighthouse (A) . A steep wall descends to depths of 35m (115 feet) here.
As you proceed south to the mooring point, you will observe that the sheer wall gradually becomes more of a slope. Many cracks and overhangs mark the upper section of the reef, all adorned with soft coral. Look out for the coral formation shaped exactly like a rhino horn which protrudes from the reef wall (B) .
Just past it you will find a deep cave with openings in its ceiling (C). This cave, home to lionfish and sweepers, is named Peter's Cave in honor of the underwater cinematographer Peter Scoones.
Don't use all of your film on the inhabitants of Peter's Cave: there are other attractive photographic targets here. Make your way to the deepest sections of the slope where you will still be able to see and record specimens of black coral (D), a species which has regrettably vanished from many corners of the globe because of its popularity in the jewellery industry. The actual coral slope is not terribly rich, so the large coral patches scattered along it naturally enough serve to focus the diver's attention. The area at the southern tip of the reef has a very different atmosphere thanks to the numerous coral formations found here. This is also your preferred mooring point.
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Visibility: up to 20m (65ft)
Depth: up to 35m (115ft)..average 20m(65ft
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Directions
27� 21.155' N
34� 54.550' E
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