Sirnaka / Mirkauwa Island

The island of Sirnaka lies just under four nautical miles south of Ras Banas.   Sea eagles nest here and have built large, impressive nests.   The southern tip of Sirnaka is a safe and peaceful anchorage for the night. The sandy bottom, which slopes gently from 5 meters to 20 meters, is usually used as a night dive site. A night dive at Sirnaka is calm with little current, but unfortunately usually lacks major highlights.   A fishing trawler sank on the southwest side of the reef a few years ago. The wreck starts at 25 meters and ends at a depth of 52 meters. It’s best to have the Zodiac drop you off a short distance in front of the wreck and then descend slowly along the left side of the reef; there’s usually a gentle current that carries the diver toward the wreck. Landmarks include several fishing nets lying on the sloping sandy bottom of the reef.   With its empty decks, towering superstructure, and schools of sky-blue fusiliers, the wreck has a ghostly appearance—in a good way. However, due to its depth and the wreck’s design, it’s not enough for an entire dive—after about ten minutes, you’ve seen everything there is to see. You should then continue your dive along the left side of the reef wall. There, at a depth of about 10 to 15 meters, are several small, rugged reef pillars, under whose overhangs large potato groupers make their home.