Wadi Sabarah

Marsa Alam is the gateway to the exciting Southern Red Sea and its myriad pristine reefs. Once the sole preserve of liveaboard boats, this area is now accessible directly from the shore. Diving is a combination of shore dives along the 100km of coastal reef, reached on foot, or by jeep and truck, or boat day trips to the legendary Elphinstone Reef and Sha’ab Samadai, otherwise known as ‘Dolphin House’.

Learning to Dive

The coastline of the region around Marsa Alam offers a number of sheltered bays and some incredibly scenic fringing reefs. It is possible to learn to dive in Marsa Alam and the house reef and shore diving on offer is often particularly suited to novice divers. However, to take full advantage of the stunning dives available here it is recommended to be an advanced or intermediate diver with some experience.

Qualified Divers

Diving in Marsa Alam is world-class and combines the best aspects of shore and boat diving. The coastal reefs are stunning with impressive hard and soft corals, elaborate topography and an amazing abundance and variety of colourful fish. House reef diving is on offer at most hotels and offers the perfect starting point to your diving holiday.

Shore divers make something of a pilgrimage to Marsa Abu Dabbab, wishing to catch a glimpse of the resident Dugong that feeds on the sea grass found in the middle of the bay. Even without seeing ‘Dennis’, there is enough here to satisfy most divers wanting a relaxing shore dive with plenty to see. The reefs are beautiful and packed with marine life, whilst this site is also well known for its regular sightings of guitar sharks, turtles and eels.

To take advantage of the best this area has to offer, day trips are organised to outer sites. The dramatic walls and drop-offs of Elphinstone Reef are a spectacular dive. The sheer walls of this great finger-like reef plunge steeply into the blue, richly decorated with soft corals, sponges, gorgonians and fans. Sharks often swim by the spot to feed on the abundant reef fish population. The northern plateau is home to schooling hammerheads with frequent sightings of oceanic white tip sharks.

A trip to Sha’ab Samadai or ‘Dolphin House’ is another absolute must. A large, horseshoe-shaped reef creates a shallow, turquoise lagoon that is frequented by a pod of around 60 spinner dolphins. The diving here typically takes place between 10–15 metres on the southwest tip of the main reef. There is a fantastic network of caves and tunnels and a carpet of seagrass that hides moray eels, leopard groupers, goatfish, lionfish, masked butterflyfish and more.

To find out more about diving in Marsa Alam, watch our online talk with Sonia Goggel from Emperor Divers Red Sea.

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

Some of the hotels that Regaldive feature are remote and are self-contained units with restaurants, bars and sports facilities available, depending on the hotel.  Other hotels are part of the Port Ghalib marina development offering shops, restaurants and nightlife.

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. 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.

Flight Information

Flights are available to Hurghada (HRG) from a number of UK airports.

Flight duration: Approx 5–5½ hours

Transfer times: These vary according to the hotel choice. Minimum transfer time is approx. 20 minutes, certain more remote destinations require longer transfers. 

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.