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Dive Site

Habili Ali

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Dive Site

Overview

Habili Ali (also: Habili Kebir) is located in southern direction about 3 hours away from Ras Banas. Due to its steep drop off it rises dominantly from a depth of 100m from the deep plateau and is therefore blessed with extraordinary abundance of fish. Whether big, whether small - everything can be here!

Description

This reef is the most northeastern of the central area of St.John's. It is a steep wall reef that lies between 0 and 4m under water, depending on the season. The reef edge is riddled with grooves, notches and overhangs everywhere. Everywhere you can see beautiful and abundant growth of soft and hard corals as well as very large gorgonians and black corals. Besides the big fan corals you can surely see the favorite of all divers, the longnose hawkfish.
In width Habili Ali measures 20 to 25m from north to south, in length from east to west 150 to 200m. In the south it slopes 10 to 15m and then turns into a narrow plateau. The east and west sides drop well over 40m.

Unfortunately, the reef can not always be approached, because the reef top is so close to the water that even with a small outer wave quite decent breakers can form.

Since Habili Ali is an outer reef, the current can be from weak to very strong and come from all directions. A current test is therefore essential.

Hotspots

  • From sharks, barracudas, mackerels, puffer fish or bumphead parrotfish to hammerhead sharks, manta rays and dolphins, almost all inhabitants of the Red Sea can be spotted here.

map Dive Plans

The northwest

The first dive of the day should be started with the Zodiac at the northwest corner. The north side turns into a natural abrasion edge after 15 to 25m. After the first third of the trip along the north wall, the current may turn against you. This may disappear after a few meters, otherwise play with the depth/height and look for the appropriate current course. In the blue water it is very possible to meet one or the other grey reef shark or hammerhead shark.

The southwest

For the second dive, the southwestern side is recommended. At a depth of 25m you should follow the natural edge a little to the north in the hope of sharks, and then ascend to 12 to 8m. Then reef left shoulder to the east again. In the upper area there are four notches, you should not miss them during your exploration.