Daedalus Reef

{{Short description|Reef in the Egyptian Red Sea}}

{{Infobox lighthouse

| qid = Q28375898

| name = Daedalus Reef Lighthouse
Abū el-Kizân

| image_name = Daedalus Reef lighthouse in the Red Sea.JPG

| caption = Daedalus Reef Lighthouse in 2009

| location = Marsa Alam, Red Sea, Egypt

| yearbuilt = 1863

| yearlit = 1931

| construction = Stone tower

| shape = Cylindrical tower with balcony and lantern rising from a 2-story building{{cite rowlett|egys|accessdate=November 20, 2015}}

| marking = Tower painted in white and black horizontal bands

| height = {{convert|30|ft}}

| focalheight = {{convert|30|ft}}

| range = {{convert|15|nmi}}

| characteristic = Three white flashes every 12 s.

}}

Daedalus Reef (also known as Abu Kizan) is a 400-meter-long and 100-meter-wide ({{convert|400|-|100|m|ft|disp=output only}}) standalone reef in the Egyptian Red Sea situated about 90 kilometers from Marsa Alam.{{cite web |url=http://www.redsea-diving.info/daedalus/index_daedalus.html |title=Welcome to Daedalus Reef |publisher=redsea-diving.info |accessdate=2013-04-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130713182119/http://www.redsea-diving.info/daedalus/index_daedalus.html |archivedate=2013-07-13 }}{{cite web|url=http://www.dive-the-world.com/diving-sites-red-sea-daedalus-reef.php |title=Dive the Red Sea - Egypt - Daedalus Reef |publisher=dive-the-world.com |date= |accessdate=2013-04-07}} There is a small artificial island in the center of the reef, which hosts a lighthouse constructed in 1863 and rebuilt in 1931.{{cite web|url=http://www.emdb.gov.eg/eafms/lighthouses.aspx |title=www.emdb.gov.eg - Lighthouses |date=2012-11-22 |accessdate=2013-04-07 |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122070334/http://www.emdb.gov.eg/eafms/lighthouses.aspx |archivedate=November 22, 2012 }} Daedalus reef is a well-known place for diving because of good chances to see pelagic fish, such as hammerhead sharks, and an abundance of corals. In the high season one can find many dive safari boats staying overnight, anchored to the reef.

The 30 m (98 ft) lighthouse and the station is still active with 3 white flashes in a 2+1 pattern flashes every 30 seconds and only accessible by boats.

The lighthouse consists of a 30 m stone tower painted in black and white horizontal bands, and a 2-story quarter building for the Egyptian coast guard and Navy.