Hamata
Hamata is the most southerly diving resort in the Egyptian Red Sea and lends its name to the region opposite the Fury Shoal Reef system.
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 two different options: Wadi Lahami Azur Resort and Lahami Bay. Both 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.
We offer a RegalDive Learn to Dive Guarantee - if you don't love diving, we'll give you your money back!
Qualified Divers
Lahami Bay offers a combination of fine house reef diving and excellent day boat diving. For Wadi Lahami Azur Resort, boat diving is offered from Hamata Port (see below). 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.
Hamata
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Highlights
- Dive from Egypt’s most southerly resort region
- Dive the vibrant Fury Shoal reef system
- Enjoy exploring the extensive house reef system
Hamata Resorts & Hotels
Lahami Bay Beach Resort
The southernmost beach resort in Egypt, this stunning hotel offers luxury accommodation and facilities.
From £1,565
Wadi Lahami Azur Resort
Wadi Lahami Azur Resort is one of the Red Sea's most southerly beach resorts, situated directly north of Ras Banas.
8 days from £1,450
Gallery
Hamata Information
Boat Diving
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 resort's 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 than that of the Northern Red Sea. This creates a relaxed dive environment year round.
Dive Centres
Regaldive work with two well managed dive centres in the Hamata area:
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, and house reef diving from their new jetty.
Guests staying at Lahami Bay Beach Resort & Gardens dive with Barakuda. They offer beach entry house reef diving and day boat diving.
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 also offer house reef diving from their jetty.
Orca Dive Club offers 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 enquire for full details.
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, at an additional cost.
An Environmental Fee is applicable to all trips with Orca Divers. Fees are paid locally and are non-refundable. The fee is made up of national park fees and tax and permissions.
Typically, 10 unguided house reef dives with Orca Divers at Wadi Lahami Resort starts from £200 per person excluding equipment rental.
Barakuda Dive Centre
Barakuda 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. Please enquire for details of dive courses available at Barakuda.
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 Barakuda 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 Barakuda staff, unless each diver pays a supplement. Divers without 30 logged dives and their buddy must dive with a guide (a per person per dive charge applies).
Typically, 10 unguided house reef dives with Barakuda at Lahami Bay starts from £260 per person excluding equipment rental.
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.
Resort Info
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.
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 1 or 2 hours ahead of GMT depending on the season as Egypt does not operate Daylight Saving Time. Please note that Hamata is 3 hours ahead of GMT - one hour ahead of the northerly Egyptian resorts - although this may be subject to change during the period of Ramadan.
Currency
Egyptian pounds or LE.
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.
Planning your Holiday
Flight Information
Direct flights from the UK to Marsa Alam Airport are available on Sundays, November through to April, from Gatwick. There are connecting options via Cairo, into Marsa Alam Airport, which work well for Hamata resorts, southern Red Sea liveaboards, and Cairo extensions. Please speak to the team for more information on this option.
Please speak to our friendly travel consultants for the latest information.
Flight duration: Approx 5 - 5½ hours
Transfer times: These vary according to the hotel choice. From Marsa Alam Airport to Hamata resorts is approximately 3 hours, we do no recomend transfering from Hurghada Airport to Hamata without an overnight on arrival.
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.
Location Map
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