Wadi Sabarah

Overview

Nestled along the enchanting Egyptian Red Sea coast south of Port Ghalib, the Wadi Sabarah Lodge is a hidden gem for those seeking diving perfection. This idyllic retreat offers a unique blend of tranquillity and adventure, making it the perfect destination for diving enthusiasts. The on-site Emperor Divers centre ensures quality and safety, providing a range of diving experiences starting from the extensive house reef. 

ACCOMMODATION 

Wadi Sabarah Lodge provides comfortable and charming accommodation options that cater to more discerning travellers. 46 rooms and 3 suites have been created by local craftsmen out of traditional coral limestone in the Bedouin style, each featuring unique architectural touches. Every room has either a sea view terrace or balcony, plus en suite facilities.  

OTHER FACILITIES 

This resort offers more than just exceptional diving opportunities. Guests can unwind in the inviting infinity pool, indulge in sumptuous local and international cuisine at the Tamarisk restaurant, sip on refreshing drinks at the beach front bar or simply enjoy 400 metres of natural beach. The resort also features a library for quiet moments with a superb selection of literature and local artefacts along with a botanical garden with 2,000 plants, including many endangered species. 

The on-site Emperor Divers dive centre rubber stamps the lodge's appeal for divers. Whether you're an experienced diver or a beginner, the expert team at Wadi Sabarah will ensure that your underwater adventures are unforgettable. 

LOCATION

Wadi Sabarah Lodge is situated in a prime location on the Egyptian Red Sea coast, 40 kilometres south of Port Ghalib and the Marsa Alam international airport. The location provides access to some exceptional diving, including the famous Elphinstone Reef. 

Dive info

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’. This is virgin diving away from the crowds at its very best.

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

Regaldive work with a number of well established dive centres in Marsa Alam:

Emperor Divers Port Ghalib operate the diving centre at in the Marina Complex in Port Ghalib. Emperor's daily diving boats leave directly from the marina, facilitating the hotels in the main area of Port Ghalib.

Emperor Divers also operate a diving centre from Wadi Sabarah Lodge in Marsa Alam.

Orca Dive Club operate the dive centre at the Concorde Moreen Beach Resort. House reef diving is available, as well as minibus trips and boat trips to a variety of sites including Elphinstone and Dolphin House.

The Oasis Diving Centre is based at the Oasis Dive Resort and co-managed by Werner Lau and Sinai Divers.   

Extra Divers Fayrouz is located at Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort. House reef diving is available, as well as minibus trips and boat trips, starting from the harbour. 

The Blue Ocean Dive Centre is located in Abu Dabbab Bay, and offers diving for guests staying at the Abu Dabbab Diving Lodge. House reef diving is available, as well as boat trips to a number of dive sites, including Elphinstone.

Emperor Divers Port Ghalib

Emperor Divers are a British owned dive centre that have been operating in the Red Sea for over 25 years.  They are renowned for excellent service and great diving at all their centres. In Port Ghalib, they are based at the brand-new Marina City complex, and they will arrange free transfers from a variety of hotels in the area.

Day boat diving is offered to a variety of dive sites. Day boats are moored in front of the Marina Lodge, with special trips available to Elphinstone and Dolphin House. There are also regular shore diving trips to Abu Dabab, Marsa Egla and the Hamada wreck.  Please enquire for details of dive packages available at Emperor Divers.

Emperor Divers also offers equipment rinse, storage facilities, classrooms and a training pool.

Typically, a 5 day/10 dive package with Emperor Divers Marsa Alam starts from £250 per person excluding equipment rental.

EMPEROR DIVERS WADI SABARAH

The Emperor Divers Dive Centre, in collaboration with Wadi Sabarah Lodge, brings over 20 years of Red Sea expertise to your scuba adventure. Sonia Goggel, a legendary Red Sea guide, has exclusively tailored the diving program for this region, ensuring an exceptional experience.

What sets this dive centre apart is its commitment to environmental education. Each evening, guests are treated to informative presentations on the Red Sea's ecology, biology, and environment. With a maximum group ratio of 6:1, you'll have the time and space to observe and photograph marine life behaviours, fostering a deeper appreciation for the underwater world.

Dive options are diverse, ranging from shore diving trips to explore the bays and reefs along the coast to daily boat excursions on Emperor's vessels from Port Ghalib and Marsa Alam, all within 30 minutes. Speedboat trips to Elphinstone are also available, just a few kilometres from the resort. Notably, the resort boasts a remarkable house reef, offering three distinct dives across 700 meters of pristine fringing reef. 

Typically, a 5 day, 15 dive package starts from £330 per person, with two guided shore dives along the coast, and an afternoon unguided house reef dive. Other packages available.

Orca Dive Club

Orca Dive Clubs are well established in the Red Sea and now operate the dive centre at the Concorde Moreen Beach Resort. The Dive Club takes full advantage of its location in the heart of Abu Dabour Bay on one of the finest stretches of Red Sea house reef.

Depending on level of experience, divers can opt for unguided dives, as well as individual dives or unlimited house reef diving from the jetty. Guided dives are offered at a small additional charge. The house reef offers a sheltered lagoon and a large variety of dives, north and south, amidst stunning corals and marine life, including a resident dugong.

In addition to house reef diving, Orca Dive Club Moreen Beach also offers boat diving special trips to sites including Elphinstone and Dolphin House. The boats leave from the marina in Marsa Alam, a 30 minute transfer away. There are also regular minibus trips to shore diving sites including the Hamada wreck at Abu Ghusun.

Orca Dive Club Moreen Beach is a well-equipped dive centre with classrooms, locker rooms, storage facilities and dive boutique. A range of courses is available and FREE Nitrox fills are offered for qualified divers. Please enquire for details.

From January 2023 the following Environmental Fee is applicable to all trips with Orca Divers. Fees are paid locally and are non-refundable.

• Nation park fees: €5 per person, per day
• Tax and permissions: €5 per person, per day

Typically, 10 unguided house reef dives with Orca Divers at Concorde Moreen Beach Resort starts from £250 per person excluding equipment rental.

Oasis Diving Centre

Situated in the wonderfully unique Oasis Hotel, 20km north of Marsa Alam, the Oasis dive centre is a joint project between Werner Lau and Sinai divers, both synonymous with excellent service & professionalism.  Oasis offers all levels of instruction, as well as specialty courses and FREE NITROX (32%) fills for qualified divers. Please enquire for details.

The stunning house reef is ideal for beginners, as dives can be made straight from the jetty.  Introductory dives are conducted in a 4-5m deep ‘aquarium’ just off the beach in a nearby bay.

This area has everything experienced divers could wish for, and there are regular jeep and boat trips to legendary sites such as Elphinstone, Dolphin House & Abu Dabab.

Typically, 10 unguided house reef dives with Oasis Diving Centre at Oasis starts from £180 per person excluding equipment rental.   

Extra Divers Fayrouz

Situated at the Three Corners Fayrouz Plaza Beach Resort on the beach beside the beach bar, Extra Divers Fayrouz is professionally managed. House reef diving is available, as well as minibus trips and boat trips which range from 15 to 90 minutes and are suitable for divers of all experience levels.

Extra Divers Fayrouz offer day trips by boat, as well as full day, or half day trips by minibus. Covering dive spots from Ras Ghalib to Marsa Alam they feature an outstanding variety of underwater adventures. 

A range of courses is available and FREE Nitrox fills are offered for qualified divers. 10l, 12l and 15l aluminium tanks are available. Please enquire for details.

From January 2023 the following National Park Fees are applicable to all diving trips with Extra Divers. Fees are paid locally.

• All boat trips: €7 per person, per day
• All house reef dives (shore, boat and minibus entries): €5 per person, per day

Typically, 10 unguided house reef and jeep dives with Extra Divers at Three Corners Fayrouz starts from £260 per person excluding equipment rental

Blue Ocean Diving Centre

One of Egypt’s most highly respected and professional diving operators, Blue Ocean operate the dive centre in Abu Dabbab Bay. The dive centre provides direct access to the exceptional house reef, with coral reefs on either side of the bay and a seagrass beds known for superb turtle sightings. Occasionally, Dugong are also seen in the bay.

Day boat diving is also offered to a number of local dive sites, with special trips arranged to Elphinstone, just 25 minutes way by speedboat. Overnight trips can also be arranged Sataya Dolphin Reef and the Wadi Lahami reefs.

The well appointed dive centre, located directly on Abu Dabbab Beach, has a spacious area for gearing up, equipment rinse, lockers, equipment rental, classrooms and a small shop.

Nitrox is available for an additional charge.

For those looking to learn to dive, a full range of PADI courses are available from the dive centre. Please enquire for details.

Typically, 10 unguided house reef dives with Blue Ocean Diving at Abu Dabbab Divers Lodge starts from £230 per person excluding equipment rental.

DIVE PRICES

Book your dive pack or course with Regaldive prior to departure, and benefit from lower prices than those in resort. 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

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 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.

Currency

Egyptian pounds or LE. Approximately £1 = 20LE

We recommend that you take some money in cash to Egypt. 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:  65LE
• Snack meal (pizza/sandwich) 130LE
• Bottle of mineral water: 25LE
• Soft drink:  35LE

Travel info

Flight Information

Flights are available to Hurghada (HRG) from a number of UK airports. Please refer to the tables below for typical flight schedules, or speak to our friendly travel consultants for the latest information.

Direct flights from the UK to Marsa Alam Airport are available November through to April from Gatwick (stating in winter 2023).  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.

Typical Annual Schedule

HRG = Hurghada Airport, RMF = Marsa Alam Airport, updated July 2023

Key: * = Winter only (November to April), ** = Summer only (May to October), *** = Irregular schedule ask for more information

NB: Please note that flight schedules may be subject to change by the airlines at any time. Full and up to date flight details will be provided with any holiday quotation.

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

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 Hurghada airport, or in advance via the new e-visa portal - Visa2Egypt.

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.

Prices

The price panel above provides an indication of a lead-in price for your holiday, based on the cheapest time to travel. Prices shown are per person, and based on two persons sharing. 

As flight prices vary from day to day, Regaldive will prepare a quotation for you based on current flight prices available. This ensures that you receive the most competitive price for your chosen travel dates. Flights from regional UK airports may be available, depending on your destination and date of travel.

Please call 01353 659999 or e-mail Regaldive, using the link below, for a quotation.

Our Price Promise

At Regaldive we are committed to offering you the best possible value for money on all our diving holidays. That's why we offer you a price match promise. Learn more about our promise to you.

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