Shams Alam Resort

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 as well as an excellent house reef.  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. The day diving boats are the only ones operating in this area.

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.

There is an easy entrance to the house reef from a secure diver’s platform. The reef is a perfect environment to conduct training dives. The centre offers 'non-limit house reef diving' packages, with four reefs to choose from: two inner reefs accessible directly from the jetty and two outer reefs accessible by zodiac.

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.

Dolphin House or Samadai is one of the most popular sites for diving and snorkeling in the southern Red Sea region. The reef topography is stunning with caverns systems and a wide diversity of marine flora and fauna. Approximately 6 nautical miles south-east of Marsa Alam, Sha’ab Samadai is a horseshoe- shaped reef, 1.4 Km long and 1 Km wide.

The three main dive sites offer various possibilities including cave system and caverns, eel garden, a little seagrass bed and the biodiversity of the pinnacles. The common passage of pelagic species like barracuda, manta, sharks and dolphins and the presence of microfauna, soft corals, hard corals and reef fish make Samadai one of the most interesting and ecologically diverse dive sites in the Red Sea.

Dive site map

Dive Prices

We recommend booking your diving package in advance to avoid disappointment. You can also take advantage of our great value dive pack offers.  Please discuss your requirements with the RegalDive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.

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.

Find out more about Regaldive's Top Three Shams Alam Excursions

Climate 

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

Time

Egypt is 1 or 2 hours ahead of GMT depending on the season as Egypt does not operate Daylight Saving Time.

Currency

Egyptian pounds or LE.

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 Traveller's 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.

Activities

• The Shams Alam Beach Resort offers peaceful diving and a brilliant night sky. Non-diving activities include:
• Snorkelling
• Racquet sports

Flight Information

Flights are available to Hurghada (HRG) from a number of UK airports. Direct flights from the UK to Marsa Alam Airport are available on a Sunday, November through to April, from Gatwick.  There are connecting options via Cairo which work well for certain resorts, southern Red Sea liveaboards, and Cairo extensions. Please speak to the team for more information on this option.

Flight duration: Approx 5–5½ hours

Transfer times: These vary according to the hotel choice. To Shams Alam from Marsa Alam Airport is approximately 1.5 hours, From Hurghada Airport is it approximately 4 hours. 

Departure tax:  N/A

Visas

Entry requirements vary from country to country, and it’s important to check the latest visa information well before you travel. Some destinations may allow visa-free entry for a limited period, while others require an eVisa or a visa obtained in advance. To ensure you have the correct documentation for your trip, we recommend checking the official advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or contacting the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

Passports

Before you travel, make sure your passport is valid for the full duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of your destination. Many countries require at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date, while others may have different rules. For the most reliable and up-to-date information, visit the UK Government’s passport guidance or the official travel advice pages for your destination. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

If you’re planning to travel to or via an EU country (with certain exceptions) your UK passport must meet two key requirements, it must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country and it must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.

Vaccinations & Health Advice

Health and vaccination requirements differ depending on where you're travelling. Some destinations may require proof of specific vaccinations or recommend certain precautions to protect your wellbeing.

We’re not qualified to provide you with specific advice on vaccinations and strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare professional before you travel to discuss the inoculations you may need to consider.

For trusted guidance on health and vaccination advice, refer to the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice, Masta Travel Health or Travel Health Pro websites.