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Map of Yolanda Reef
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IntermediateBoat entry

Yolanda Reef

South Sinai, Egypt
Open Water suggested5–25 m (16–82 ft) depthBoat entryRash guard or 2mm shorty typical

Boat dive — see Entry & access.

Yolanda Reef at a glance

Yolanda Reef is an intermediate boat dive site in South Sinai, Egypt with depths of 5–25 m (16–82 ft). Typically most favorable Oct · from 3 years of archive data. Divers commonly see Batfish, Grey reef shark, and Grouper. Recent reports put the water around 28°C (82°F). Check the latest conditions and entry details before you go.

No window today· next: tomorrow 7:00–19:00 · favorable

Forecast for this hour · 20:00 · run under 1 h ago
0.2 m (0.5 ft)waves — under half a meter expected (waves — under a foot expected)

Tap a factor for its source and model point · Forecast 28°C · seasonal avg 28°C ( · Forecast 82°F · seasonal avg 82°F)

Site hazards: Currents around the corner from Shark Reef; the main wreck slid to ~180m so only shallow cargo remains diveable; boat traffic

Read the full hazards ↓

Dive windows this week

MonNo window

0.2 m waves · 6 kn wind (0.6 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Tue7:00–19:00 favorable

0.3 m waves · 5 kn wind (0.9 ft waves · 5 kn wind)

Wed7:00–19:00 favorable

0.4 m waves · 11 kn wind (1.2 ft waves · 11 kn wind)

Thu7:00–19:00 favorable

0.6 m waves · 13 kn wind (1.8 ft waves · 13 kn wind)

Fri7:00–19:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 8 kn wind (1.6 ft waves · 8 kn wind)

Sat7:00–18:00 favorable

0.5 m waves · 6 kn wind (1.6 ft waves · 6 kn wind)

Sun7:00–18:00 favorable

0.3 m waves · 3 kn wind (1.0 ft waves · 3 kn wind)

Favorable windowModerate window— no window

Every forecast dive window each day, site-local time, from wave and wind forecasts. Numbers under each bar are daylight averages.

First light 6:25 · Sunrise 6:49 · Sunset 18:04 · some windows run past sunset

Source: Open-Meteo marine · model point 3.8 km from site · updated 26 Oct, 20:21 EEST

Forecast only — always assess conditions on site.

Compare this weekend’s windows near Yolanda Reef

Recent diver reports

Dated firsthand observations from divers — not current conditions.

No diver reports for this site yet. — one dated observation helps every diver after you.

Dived here today — did the forecast match?

What Divers Say

Known for: Batfish, Grouper, Barracuda
Best time: June to September for pelagics; year-round otherwise

Based on community reviews and site data. Conditions vary — always verify before diving.

Best months, historically

What conditions have historically been typical at this site, month by month — not a forecast.

  1. January, 63% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (75°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  2. February, 38% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 1.2 m (3.9 ft), wind has typically been 21 knots
  3. March, 58% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 23°C (73°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  4. April, 61% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 24°C (75°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.2 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  5. May, 55% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (77°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  6. June, 63% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.1 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots
  7. July, 73% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (85°F), waves have typically been 0.8 m (2.5 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  8. August, 65% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 30°C (86°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.3 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  9. September, 73% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 29°C (84°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.2 ft), wind has typically been 18 knots
  10. October, 75% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 28°C (82°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.2 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots, historically most favorable
  11. November, 67% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 27°C (81°F), waves have typically been 0.9 m (3.0 ft), wind has typically been 17 knots
  12. December, 63% of days have historically been favorable, water has typically been 25°C (78°F), waves have typically been 1.0 m (3.2 ft), wind has typically been 19 knots

October has typically had the largest share of favorable days here. Conditions vary year to year — this is historical context, not a forecast.

Based on 3 years of archive data. Bar height shows the share of days each month whose conditions have historically scored favorably.

Marine life recorded at this site, by month

Recorded observations — evidence of past sightings, not a promise of what you’ll encounter.

Species seen here

Rough labels: “Commonly seen” usually means two or more recorded sightings near this site in public dive logs (GBIF), “Occasionally seen” one; “Seasonal” and “Rarely seen” come from dive-guide research. Not a measured rate.

  • Bluespotted Lagoon Ray recorded here Mar–Apr, Jun, Aug, Oct (5 records)

    Taeniura lymmamost recent 2018

  • Crocodile Fish recorded here Jul–Aug (2 records)

    Cymbacephalus beaufortimost recent 2015

  • Green Turtle recorded here Jul–Aug (2 records)

    Chelonia mydasmost recent 2006

  • Hawksbill turtle recorded here Apr, Dec (2 records)

    Eretmochelys imbricatamost recent 2018

  • Lionfish recorded here Aug, Nov (2 records)

    Pterois volitansmost recent 2013

  • Orbiculate Batfish recorded here Jul, Nov (2 records)

    Platax orbicularismost recent 2018

  • Palefin Unicornfish recorded here Jul–Aug (2 records)

    Naso brevirostrismost recent 2015

  • Blacktip Shark recorded here Mar (1 record)

    Carcharhinus limbatusmost recent 2002

Newest record here: 2018. Counts are occurrence records near this site from public biodiversity datasets (GBIF), grouped by calendar month across all sampled years. Sightings vary — past records are context, not a prediction.

Fills & rentals nearby

Facts from OpenStreetMap, corrected by the community — listed by distance only. Details change; confirm with the shop.

Shop facts come from OpenStreetMap and community corrections, shown nearest first. PickADive lists facts and contacts only — no listing is sponsored or ranked.

Data updated June 2026

Site details

Named after the Cypriot cargo ship Yolanda that struck the reef in 1980; the hull later slid down the wall to around 180m, but its scattered cargo of toilets, bathtubs, pipework and even a BMW car still litters the shallow reef. The site combines this quirky wreck debris with a coral plateau and wall rich in reef fish and seasonal pelagics.

boatdriftreefwallwreck

Currents around the corner from Shark Reef; the main wreck slid to ~180m so only shallow cargo remains diveable; boat traffic

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