Shams Alam is a perfect 'get away from it all' destination for divers, with access to more than thirty dive sites by day boat or rib. Situated further south than its neighbour Marsa Alam, Shams Alam offers fantastic, pristine Southern Red Sea diving from a peaceful shore base, situated along some of the most scenic coastline in the Red Sea.
House Reef
The house reef is located directly on the hotel’s beach. It is shelved in different parts through three sandy bays where you can easily enter and exit. The north part is shallow and is just used for snorkelling.
For diving, there is an easy and relaxed entrance right off of the Marina from the diver’s platform. The house reef is a perfect environment to conduct training dives.
Learning to Dive
Like its more northerly neighbour Marsa Alam, Shams Alam offers a few sheltered sites and some incredibly beautiful fringing reefs. Learning to dive is a possibility here and the opportunity to shore dive means that the water is particularly accessible. However, to take full advantage of the stunning dives available it is recommended to be an advanced or intermediate diver with some experience.
Qualified Divers
The coral gardens of Wadi Gamal Island are situated in relatively calm water with good visibility. There is a vast array of beautiful reef fish among pristine hard and soft corals. They range from shoals of bright yellow banner and angelfish, to menacing moray eels and predatory lionfish, from the territorial trigger and clownfish to the rainbow colours of parrotfish and wrasse.
Sha’ab Sharm is a large, kidney-shaped reef lying atop a vast undersea mountain that is thought to be an ancient volcano. This site is well known for its dramatic, sheer walls swept by strong currents. An exhilarating drift dive on which you will be almost certainly accompanied by large schools of jacks and barracuda. This is also the patrolling ground of grey reef sharks, hammerheads and tuna.
Sataya, or Dolphin Reef, is situated at the southeast tip of the well known Fury Shoal reef system and offers several sheltered turquoise lagoons that are frequented by dolphins. This is also a popular night diving site for spotting Spanish dancers, sleeping parrotfish, crabs and shrimps.
WADI GIMAL DIVE CENTRE
The Wadi Gimal dive centre is located on the beach at the Shams Alam Resort. Wadi Gimal is a PADI accredited centre, well managed by a professional German team.
A full range of diving services is offered, including training courses and boat diving by day boat and rib. Equipment hire is also available.
General Information
Learn to Dive Courses >
Advanced Dive Courses >
Technical Dive Courses >
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 16 dive packs and get one FREE. Go to the Regaldive Groups page>
| Standard Prices | |
| Dive Pack Prices | |
| 1 day | £52 |
| 2 days | £95 |
| 3 days | £150 |
| 4 days | £163 |
| 5 days | £185 |
| 6 days | £206 |
| Learn to Dive Courses | |
| Discover Scuba Diving | £48 |
| Scuba Diver | £164 |
| PADI Open Water | £222 |
| Referral Course | £163 |
| Advanced Courses | |
| PADI Advanced | £163 |
| PADI Enriched Air Nitrox Diver | £111 |
| Emergency First Response | £71 |
| PADI Rescue Diver | TBC |
| Groups Policy: Book 16 get 1 FREE. Click here to visit the Regaldive Groups Page | |
Please note:
- Packages for qualified divers include, tanks, weights and air for 2 boat dives per day. Divers with fewer than 20 logged dives must be guided. Guide costs an additional €7 per person. For 'Special Trips' and 'Extras payable locally in resort', please see below.
- Check Dive / Scuba Review: Most dive governing bodies recommend a scuba / skills review if no diving has taken place for 6 months. A Scuba Review can be prebooked at a cost of £59. A check dive will be carried out in resort for all divers who have not dived for 6 months and a charge of €12 will apply.
- All 'Learn to Dive courses' listed include equipment rental.
- Additional costs for courses: PADI Open Water manual: £28, PADI Advanced Open Water Manual: £26, Rescue Diver Course: £28, Enriched Air Diver Course: £35, Emergency First Response £35, PADI Certification fee paid locally: $39
- Extras payable locally in resort:-
- Guide pppd: €7
- House Reef Dive: €13
- Nitrox per day (2 tanks): €5, 5 days (10 tanks: €22
- Environmental fee pppd: €2
- Equipment hire pppd (excludes computer and torch): €22
- Lunch on boat (excludes drinks): €5
- Sales tax in resort: 10%
Getting Around
The Shams Alam Beach Resort lets you dive some of the best sites in the southern Red Sea in comfort by day boat.
Climate
The hottest time of the year is July and August with air temperature of over 30 degrees C. The coolest time is January with the temperature at around 20 degrees C. Rainfall is negligable and it is invariably sunny but breezes can be cool.
Time
Egypt is 2 hours ahead of GMT.
Currency
Egyptian pounds or LE. Approximately £1 = 8LE
We recommend that you take some money in Cash to Egypt. There is a currency exchange desk available at the hotel. Please note that Scottish notes and Australian Travellers Cheques 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 20LE
- Foreign imported beer c.20LE
- Snack meal (pizza/sandwich) 20LE
- Bottle of mineral water 5LE
- Soft drink 8LE
Activities
The Shams Alam Beach Resort offers peaceful diving and a brilliant night sky. Non-diving activities include:
- Snorkelling
- Raquet sports
Egypt Factbox
| Area: | 1, 001, 450 sq. km |
| Population: | 67 million |
| Language: | Arabic, English |
| Time: | GMT + 2 |
| Electricity: | 220v. Round pin adaptors |
Flight Information
From London Gatwick direct to Marsa Alam every Monday & Wednesday. Alternatively, there are flights from London Gatwick and Manchester to Hurghada every Friday. Regional departures are also available. Please call Regaldive for details.
Flight duration: 5 hours
Transfer: 1.5 hrs from Marsa Alam airport, 4.5 hrs 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 coastal resorts.
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
Red Sea Offers
Red Sea Dive Pack Offers
Various dates available
Regaldive are committed to saving you money on your dive holiday!
Book your dive pack or course before you go to save money. Our prices are lower than those you will pay in resort. You can also save £££'s with our great value special offers and discounts.
All special offers have limited availability, so book early to avoid disappointment!
Emperor Divers, Red Sea
€20 OFF SPECIAL DIVE TRIPS, DIVE COURSES & EQUIPMENT RENTAL - 2010 Voucher Offer
This voucher entitles the holder to €20 off special dive trips, dive courses and equipment rental. Valid until 31st December 2010.
Available at Sharm, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Nuweiba.
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Learn to Dive HALF PRICE Diving Offer!
Book a PADI Open Water course and your buddy can book the same at HALF PRICE! Saving based on standard diving prices. Valid for new bookings from 26 August 2010.
Valid for departure dates:
1 September - 24 December 2010
Available at Sharm, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Nuweiba.
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HALF PRICE Diving Offer 2010 & 2011
Book a 4, 5 or 6 day dive pack and your buddy gets the same HALF PRICE! *
Book a PADI Open Water, Fastrack* Open Water or Advanced course and your buddy can book the same at HALF PRICE! * Saving based on standard diving prices. Valid for new bookings from 18 May 2010.
Valid for departure dates:
18 November - 14 December 2010
31 December 2010 - 15 March 2011
1 June - 12 July 2011
*Fastrack materials £45 extra for concessionary place.
Available at Sharm, Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa Alam and Nuweiba.
All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.
Divers' Lodge, Hurghada - FREE Diving
Book a 5 or 6 day dive pack or a PADI Open Water, Open Water Fastrack* or Advanced Course and your buddy can book the same FREE! Valid for departure dates:
19 November -17 December 2010
7 January - 1 April 2011
6 May - 8 July 2011
*Fastrack materials £45 extra for concessionary place.
All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.
Orca Dive Club - HALF PRICE Diving
Book a 5 or 6 day dive pack and your buddy gets the same HALF PRICE (boat, or boat & house reef, or house reef only).
Book a PADI Open Water or Advanced course and your buddy can book the same at HALF PRICE! Saving based on standard diving prices. Valid for new bookings from 25 May 2010.
Valid for departure dates:
17 November - 16 December 2010
5 January - 8 April 2011
1 June - 8 July 2011
Available at Soma Bay, Abu Dabab & Hamata.
All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.
Sinai Divers, Dahab - HALF PRICE Diving
Book a 5 or 6 day dive pack (shore dives only or shore + boat dives) 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!
Valid for departure dates:
20 November - 17 December 2010
8 January - 13 March 2011
7 May - 19 June 2011
19 November - 17 December 2011
Valid for new bookings from 28 May 2010.
All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.
