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Shaab Rumi

Plizio editorial teamUpdated: Jun 2026Data Sources

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Practical info — Shaab Rumi

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Shaab Rumi is one of the most revered diving sites in the world. Located about 40 kilometers north of Port Sudan, this reef was made famous by Jacques-Yves Cousteau, who conducted his 'Precontinent II' experiment here in 1963. He built a futuristic underwater village to prove that humans could live beneath the sea for extended periods. The remains, including the iconic onion-shaped diving bell and the underwater hangar, are still visible to divers today. The reef itself is of dramatic beauty, offering a great mix of a sheltered inner lagoon and dramatic outer drop-offs. Shaab Rumi is especially famous for its shark encounters, hammerheads, grey reef sharks, and silvertips are frequently seen patrolling the plateaus. The visibility is often phenomenal, and the coral gardens are among the healthiest and most spirited in the entire Red Sea. Access is only possible by boat, typically as a highlight of a multi-day liveaboard diving safari. Because currents can be strong, the site is best suited for experienced divers. There are no land-based structures here, only the vast expanse of the open ocean. The best time to see large schools of pelagic fish is from March to May. Diving Shaab Rumi is like walking through an underwater museum and a natural paradise simultaneously. The profound silence beneath the waves, combined with the historical weight of Cousteau’s relics, creates a spine-tingling atmosphere. It remains a place that perfectly embodies the pioneering spirit of marine exploration.