Gordon Reef

The rusting hull of the Loullia, aground since 1981, still stands above the waterline on Gordon's northern edge - the Strait of Tiran's most photographed landmark and a sober reminder of what these reefs do to ships. Underwater, Gordon is the gentle one of the four: a wide southern plateau at 10-16 meters where garden eels sway over the sand, morays hole up in scattered coral heads, and triggerfish guard their patches in summer. A field of industrial drums, cargo lost decades ago, has grown into its own small habitat. The outer slope drops away for those who want more depth, but the charm here is unhurried time in the shallows between the strait's stronger dives.

اللحظة التي جئت من أجلها: The Loullia standing on the reef; garden-eel plains; easy plateau diving between Tiran's drift sites.

التضاريس: Broad sandy plateau with coral heads sloping to a drop-off

التيار: Usually gentle over the plateau; the outer edge picks up strait flow.

نقطة الدخول: Sheltered moorings on the southern plateau make this the strait's easiest dive and a common second stop.

المخاطر: Summer titan triggerfish nests; boat traffic around the moorings; current beyond the plateau edge.

التصاريح والقواعد: Tiran marine-park fee applies.