Hamata

The small town of Hamata lends its name to the region opposite the Fury Shoal Reef system.  This is the most southerly diving resort in the Egyptian Red Sea. The remoteness of this area, situated 180 km South of Marsa Alam, makes it the ultimate in ‘get away from it all’ diving.

Until recently, the pristine sites of this area were the sole preserve of liveaboard boats and have consequently remained relatively unvisited. There are very few resorts this far south, but Regaldive offer three different options - Zabargad Berenice Resort, Wadi Lahami Azur Resort and Lahami Bay. All offer relaxed, uncrowded diving in a remote and unspoiled area.

The legendary Fury Shoal is right on Hamata's doorstep, offering over 35 memorable dive sites. There are over 80 types of coral to discover in this region, all in excellent condition and inhabited by a rich variety of marine species.

Learning to Dive

There are a variety of dive sites that offer novice divers the opportunity to dive on sheltered reefs. However, in order to take full advantage of the stunning dives available here, it is recommended to be an advanced or intermediate diver.

Qualified Divers

Zabargad Berenice Resort and Lahami Bay offer a combination of fine house reef diving and excellent day boat diving. For Wadi Lahami Azur Resort, boat diving is offered from Hamata Port. The remote nature of these resorts, combined with their location opposite the Fury Shoal Reef system, offers divers what is arguably the best land based diving available in the Egyptian Red Sea.

House Reef Diving

The house reef at Zabargad Berenice Resort is accessed from the dive centre jetty and offers a superb coral reef environment just 100 metres from the dive centre. The fringing reef runs parallel to the shore in both directions and starts at roughly 8 metres dropping to 20 metres. The reef is particularly good at night when numerous nocturnal species can be seen in large numbers feeding off the reef. The lack of current, fine visibility and abundance of interesting marine life makes this an excellent site for photographers.

Lahami Bay enjoys easy access to a wonderful house reef, which is made up of an attractive fringing reef and coral outcrops rising from the sandy plateau. This creates beautiful swim throughs and offers the opportunity to explore different areas on numerous repeat dives. Between the beach entry point and the start of the reef the sea grass provides a sheltered habitat for seahorses.

Both house reefs enable divers the flexibility to dive to their own schedule, and maximise their time in the water.  There is an amazing array of hard and soft corals to be appreciated, all within a short walk of your hotel room.  Night dives are also available on the house reefs and provide an exciting opportunity to watch Spanish dancers, lionfish and lobster.

Boat Diving

Zabargad Berenice Resort, Wadi Lahami Azur Resort and Lahami Bay share many of the same dive sites on Fury Shoal. There are over 35 uncrowded boat dives accessible from either resort. All of the dives sites are within 2 hours of the dive centres although the majority can be reached within 1 hour of the shore by large, purpose built day boats.  Dive sites this far South offer some of the finest coral in the Red Sea.  There are over 80 varieties of healthy soft and hard coral that have formed over millennia into spectacular coral gardens and pinnacles, which in turn support a vast array of marine life.

One of the sites, Gota Soraya is rated as one of the best wall dives in the Red Sea, with large caves full of Glass Fish, Sweepers and an abundance of corals. Divers can expect to see a wide variety of marine species including dolphin, which occasionally come in as close as the resorts house reefs. There is a good chance of enjoying encounters with a variety of shark species along with large shoals of mackerel in season. Turtles hatch along this coastline and sightings are common.

Ultimately, divers come away remembering immaculate uncrowded reefs supporting an abundance of marine life including many species rarely found elsewhere. This far south, the water temperature during the winter months is significantly higher then that of the Northern Red Sea. This creates a relaxed dive environment year round.

Regaldive work with three well managed dive centres in the Hamata area:

Guests staying at the Zabargad Berenice Resort dive with Emperor Divers. Day bost diving is only a few minutes transfer away at the marina, whilst the house reef is within walking distance.

Guests staying at Wadi Lahami Azur Resort dive with Orca Dive Club Wadi Lahami.  They offer day boat diving from Hamata Port, a ten minute transfer away.

Guests staying at Lahami Bay Beach Resort & Gardens dive with Baracuda.  They offer beach entry house reef diving and day boat diving.

Emperor Divers

Emperor Divers are a British-managed dive company who have been operating in the Red Sea since 1992. Emperor Divers is ideally located right on the beach of the Zabargad Berenice Resort and offers both PADI and BSAC instruction.

The centre offers house reef, RIB and day boat diving.  Day boat diving is three minutes transfer away at the marina, whilst the house reef is within walking distance and a great choice for those with non-diving partners and underwater photographers.  Emperor Divers will pick up from other hotels in the area.

Diving Offers
Book your dive pack or course with Regaldive prior to departure. Our prices are lower than those in resort. You can also take advantage of our great value dive pack offers.

Any dive packs offers listed below are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings, there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.

Regaldive Exclusive HALF PRICE Diving Offer
Book a 4, 5 or 6 day dive pack and your buddy gets the same HALF PRICE! *

Saving based on standard diving prices. Valid for new bookings from 18 January 2013.  Valid for departure dates:

5 June - 23 July 2013
13 November - 10 December 2013

Group Offer
Book 10 dive packs and get one FREE.

Offer does not apply if concessionary rate dive packs taken.

Emperor Divers Hamata Diving Prices >

Orca Dive Club Wadi Lahami

Orca Dive Club run the dive centre at the Wadi Lahami Azur Resort.  Boat diving is offered from Hamata Port jetty just ten minutes transfer from the centre. Divers with fewer than 30 dives logged must be guided.

Orca Dive Club is a PADI and CMAS centre, offering a range of courses from novice through to Divemaster, and technical diving courses including Nitrox and Draeger Rebreather. FREE Nitrox is available (32%) for qualified Nitrox divers, making it an ideal centre for Nitrox divers, and those wanting to learn.

Please note that it is compulsory at Orca Dive Club to dive with a dive computer.  All divers with fewer than 30 logged dives must be guided. Guided dives cost €5 per person per dive.

Diving Offers
Book your dive pack or course with Regaldive prior to departure, our prices are lower than those in resort.

Any dive packs offers listed below are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings, there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.

HALF PRICE Diving Offer
Book a 5 or 6 day dive pack and your buddy gets the same HALF PRICE. Book a PADI Open Water or Advanced course and your buddy can book the same at HALF PRICE!  Saving based on standard diving prices.  See table for special offer prices in red. Valid for departure dates:

26 April - 5 July 2013

Group Offer
Book 11 dive packs and get one FREE.

Orca Dive Club Soma Bay Diving Prices >

Baracuda Dive Centre

Baracuda dive centre is ideally located at Lahami Bay Beach Resort, and offers house reef and day boat diving.  The centre is extremely well organised, and offers dive training to PADI, CMAS and TDI standards.

A range of courses is available, from novice to Divemaster. An excellent range of well-maintained equipment is available for hire. DIN fittings standard, with International adapters available free of charge.

Lahami Bay has a fringing house reef accessible directly from the beach.  Outer parts of the house reef are also accessible by small boat.  Minimum numbers apply for these trips, and a supplement is payable in resort for any boat trips.

Please note that it is compulsory at Baracuda to dive with a dive computer. All divers with over 30 logged dives will be unguided and unescorted, as a buddy pair or group, by Baracuda staff, unless each diver pays €6 per person per dive. Divers without 30 logged dives and their buddy must dive with a guide (€6 per person per dive charge applies).

Dive Packs
Book your dive pack or course with Regaldive prior to departure. Our prices are lower than those in resort.

Any dive packs offers listed below are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings, there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.

Group Offer
Book 12 dive packs and get one FREE.

Baracuda Hamata Diving Prices >

The Hamata region offers the most southerly accommodation for divers in the Egyptian Red Sea.  A remote region, Hamata is an area of natural beauty, and offers access to superb dive sites previously visited only by liveaboards.

Getting Around

Remote and removed from the outside world, the hotels this far south are generally self-contained.  Entertainment is very much centred around the individual hotels.

Find out more about Regaldive's Top Three Hamata Excursions >

Climate 

The hottest time of the year is July and August with air temperature of over 30 ºC. The coolest time is January with the temperature at around 20 ºC. Rainfall is negligable and it is invariably sunny but breezes can be cool.

Time

Egypt is 2 hours ahead of GMT.  Please note that Hamata is 3 hours ahead of GMT - one hour ahead of the northerly Egyptian resorts.

Currency

Egyptian pounds or LE. Approximately £1 = 9LE

We recommend that you take some money in Cash to Egypt.  Please note that Scottish notes are not accepted in Egypt.

Tipping

Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to travellers for personal recognition of the services offered. We would advise that you allow approx. £10 for gratuities for local staff for the duration of your stay.

Rough Price Guide 

• Local beer:  €3
• Snack meal (pizza / sandwich):  €8
• Bottle of mineral water:  €2.5
• Soft drink:  €2.5

Flight Information

From London Gatwick direct to Marsa Alam every Thursday (Jan - April 2012) and every Wednesday (May - Oct 2012).

Alternatively, there are flights from London Gatwick and Manchester to Hurghada as well as other regional airports. Please see below.

Flight duration: 5 - 5½ hours

Transfer: Approx 2½ hours from Marsa Alam airport and 5½ hours from Hurghada airport.

Departure tax:  N/A

Passports

Passengers travelling to Egypt must have six months valid on their passport from the date of departure from Egypt.

Visas

A single entry tourist visa for Egypt is required for all nationalities. For British passport holders with British citizenship, Egyptian visas can be obtained conveniently and inexpensively on arrival at Marsa Alam and Hurghada airports.

Other nationalities should check with consular office.

Vaccinations

There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to Egypt, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio. Though malaria does exist in Egypt, it is generally not present in the Sinai. 

Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.  For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic.

Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.

Zabargad Berenice Resort

Lahami Bay Beach Resort

Lahami Bay Beach Resort