Gota Kebir

In the Red Sea, a “gota” is always a circular or oval reef that extends all the way to the water’s surface. “Kebir” means “large.” So, the “Large Oval Reef” of St. Johns.   Although the reef is very large, there are only two exciting dive sites. You can either have the Zodiac drop you off on the east side and dive back to the boat along the right side of the steeply sloping reef wall.   Or you can dive the southern plateau from the anchorage. In the shallow water area of the reef wall, at depths ranging from 3m to 9m, there is a huge field of anemones. Another large field of anemones can be found between 14m and 16m. In the southwestern part of the plateau, at depths of 4 to 8 meters, there are small cave passages open at the top. If you approach carefully and slowly, you can often spot small whitetip reef sharks resting there.   The southern plateau begins at approximately 17 meters and ends at a depth of 30 meters. This is where the not particularly spectacular drop-off begins. The plateau is beautifully covered with many small coral blocks. With a bit of luck, you might encounter a sea turtle here.