Jackson Reef - Hammerhead Shark Point

Jackson Reef Hammerhead Shark Point is the most revered pelagic dive in the Strait of Tiran — the northeast corner of Jackson Reef, one of the four famous reefs that stretch between the Sinai Peninsula and Tiran Island, funneling Red Sea currents into a natural highway for sharks, tuna, and the legendary summer hammerhead schools that give the site its name. The dive is a high-current drift along the reef's northern plateau, which drops from 20 meters vertically into the blue. Divers descend to 25-30 meters and position themselves on the plateau's corner to scan the blue water for schooling scalloped hammerheads, which typically appear in formations of five to fifty from May through September. The reef also hosts grey reef sharks, silvertips, and the seasonal passage of oceanic whitetips heading into the Red Sea. The coral quality at Jackson is among the best in the Sinai — the Strait of Tiran's strong currents deliver constant nutrients that produce a dense carpet of hard and soft corals, gorgonian fans, and black coral bushes on the vertical wall. Resident fish life includes giant trevally, schooling barracuda, tuna, Napoleon wrasse, and the wrecked cargo ship Lara, which sits aground on the reef's north edge as a dramatic backdrop. Jackson Reef is strictly advanced diving. Currents regularly exceed two knots, depths reach 30+ meters, and the open-water position means conditions can deteriorate rapidly. The site is reached by day boat from Sharm el-Sheikh, typically as part of the classic Tiran day trip that also includes Thomas, Woodhouse, and Gordon reefs. Best hammerhead season runs June through September, with early-morning dives on the outgoing tide offering the most reliable encounters.