Taka Makaha sits within the protected boundaries of Ras Mohammed National Park, and the moment you drop off the wall here, you understand why this corner of the northern Red Sea has been pulling divers back for decades. The reef edge begins at around five metres and plunges into deep blue well past 40 metres, with visibility regularly sitting between 20 and 30 metres on a good day.
You'll want to keep an eye on the current — it can push hard around the point, which is precisely why the big pelagics gather here in such numbers.
Schools of bigeye trevally and barracuda move through in loose, silvery masses that catch the light in a way that's genuinely disorienting. Drop a little deeper and the moray eels are tucked into every reasonable crevice along the wall, with the occasional napoleon wrasse cruising past without much interest in you.
The hard coral coverage on the upper reef sections is reasonable, though like much of the Red Sea it carries the marks of past bleaching events and some historical anchor damage before protected mooring was introduced. Conservation management here is among the better examples in the region.
Most divers reach Taka Makaha on a day boat out of Sharm el-Sheikh, roughly 30 to 45 minutes away, and there's no shortage of operators running regular trips. Liveaboards passing through from Hurghada also stop here as part of broader southern Red Sea itineraries. Snorkelling is possible in calmer conditions along the shallower sections, though the real experience belongs to anyone comfortable managing a drift dive at depth.
Open Water certification is the minimum, but Advanced is strongly recommended given the currents and depths; October through April offers the most reliable conditions.