St Johns Gota Soraya

Gota Soraya is a steep offshore reef pinnacle in the St Johns area of the southern Red Sea, featuring a vertical drop-off wall with overhangs, cracks and a small chimney near 9 m. The reef is heavily encrusted with hard and soft corals, gorgonians and sea whips, and large coral-covered blocks rise from the wall. Marine life is abundant along the wall, with large schools of snappers and other reef fish and the blue water drawing pelagics such as reef sharks, silvertips, hammerheads and rays. Dives are boat-only, typically from liveaboards with zodiac or dive-boat drop-off and pick-up. The top of the reef is around 17 m and recreational dives commonly range to 40 m or more while the wall continues beyond 70 m. Conditions are clear and warm with visibility often exceeding 20-30 m and temperatures in the mid-20s to upper-20s °C. Strong currents commonly meet the reef and the site is usually drifted along the wall; the currents are the main hazard, so advanced certification and good buoyancy control are recommended.