Red Sea Diving Safari
Eco-diving resort south of Marsa Alam with 3 villages, unlimited house reef diving, 60+ sites, and access to Elphinstone Reef.
PADI9 services3 languages
Diving in Marsa Alam
Egypt's quiet southern Red Sea hub for dugong bays at Abu Dabbab, oceanic whitetips at Elphinstone, and the protected spinner-dolphin reef at Samadai.
Last updated June 2026
Overview
Two seagrass bays, one offshore wall, a horseshoe dolphin reef, and a string of shore-accessible house reefs define the diving here. Abu Dabbab and Marsa Mubarak hold small resident dugong populations in shallow seagrass meadows, shore-accessible and suitable for new divers; repeat visitors describe sightings as achievable rather than rare. Elphinstone sits roughly 300 metres offshore with walls dropping beyond recreational depth, and it is the regional anchor for oceanic whitetip sharks from October to April. Samadai Reef shelters a resident pod of spinner dolphins under zoned marine park access. The rest of the menu is calm bays and coral gardens reached from the town, Port Ghalib, or the eco-village house reefs.
Community voice has been consistent for several years. The area is quieter than Hurghada and Sharm, operators run dive-first programmes, and repeat visits are common. A 2024 bleaching event affected hard corals across much of the southern coast, with September water reaching 32 degrees; first-hand reports from late 2024 describe a mixed picture, with Marsa Shagra's house reef reportedly in good shape while other stretches were visibly damaged. Pelagic life at the offshore reefs was not noticeably affected. The area runs on two accommodation templates: the eco-villages at Marsa Shagra and Marsa Nakari, and a row of resort-affiliated centres clustered around hotels from Port Ghalib down the coast.
Planning your visit
Marsa Alam International (RMF) receives direct charter flights from the UK, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy and Netherlands, which avoids the 3 to 4 hour road transfer from Hurghada. The main decision is accommodation style. Eco-villages suit divers who want unlimited shore diving and quiet evenings; resort-affiliated centres work well for package travellers who want a house reef plus minibus or Zodiac transfers to nearby sites; Port Ghalib is the marina base and the departure point for the offshore liveaboard areas further south.
Elphinstone enforces AOW plus 50 logged dives in practice, and November to February winds can cancel offshore day trips, so flexible itineraries help. A 3mm suit covers summer; bring 5mm for December to February when water drops to 22 to 24 degrees. The April to May plankton bloom reduces visibility but brings whale sharks and mantas. December to February is peak for oceanic whitetips but carries the highest weather risk, while May is the quieter value window across the area.
Geology & underwater terrain
Fringing coral reefs along the coast with sheltered bays (marsas), dramatic offshore walls and pinnacles such as Elphinstone, and shallow seagrass meadows that support dugong and green turtle populations
Top Dives
The must-do dives in this area, picked by our editors.
- 1
Advanced divers who want a high-current wall dive and a realistic chance of an oceanic whitetip encounter on the southern plateau.
- 2
Beginners and wildlife divers seeking close-up green turtle encounters and a realistic chance of seeing a Red Sea dugong without a boat.
- 3
Divers who want Red Sea reef quality combined with the chance of a genuine wild dolphin encounter under a conservation-managed permit system.
- 4
Beginners, families, and wildlife-focused divers seeking turtle encounters and a real chance at seeing a dugong.
- 5
Open Water divers wanting a varied first Red Sea dive, and liveaboard groups easing into or out of a Deep South safari.
Dive sites map
Diamonds mark nearby dive areas — tap to explore.
Dive sites in Marsa Alam
Filter:
Abu Bassala
A 1,050m St. John's reef in Egypt's Deep South with coral towers on sand, narrow caverns, and the area's standout night dive.
Moderate30mBoatReefCave
Abu Dabbab
Sandy shore-dive bay north of Marsa Alam with a tracked population of 27 resident green turtles and one of the Red Sea's most accessible dugong encounter sites.
Easy20mBoat & shoreSandy bottomReef
Elphinstone
Offshore Red Sea wall and drift dive 9 km from Marsa Alam, famous for autumn oceanic whitetip encounters and intact soft-coral colour.
Advanced40mBoatReefWall
Gota Marsa Alam
Offshore reef 4 km east of Marsa Alam where two southern pinnacles, a small cavern, and a deteriorating wooden wreck sit inside an 18 m profile.
Moderate40mBoatReefPinnacle
Marsa Moray
Quiet seagrass bay 18 km south of Port Ghalib with a rope-assisted corridor entry, resident green turtles, and occasional dugong on the meadow.
Easy25mShoreReefSandy bottom
Marsa Mubarak
Sheltered horseshoe bay near Port Ghalib with resident green turtles, seagrass meadows, and one of the best dugong encounter chances in the Red Sea.
Easy26mBoat & shoreReefSandy bottom
Marsa Murena
Sheltered bay with a narrow entrance on Egypt's southern Red Sea coast, offering seagrass habitat, coral walls, cryptic reef species, and an occasional dugong.
Easy10–25mTech to 70mBoat & shoreReefSandy bottom
Marsa Shouna
Wide sheltered bay south of Port Ghalib on the Red Sea liveaboard circuit, known for seagrass flats, coral block terrain, and a resident dugong population.
Easy25mBoat & shoreReefSandy bottom
Samadai Reef
Managed marine sanctuary 5 km offshore Marsa Alam, home to a resident spinner dolphin pod of ~150-200 and a strict three-zone permit system.
Moderate30mBoatReefWallCaveCanyon
Shaab Sharm
Exposed offshore Marsa Alam reef with two plateaus, a 45 m cave entrance, grey reef sharks, and a quieter wall alternative to Elphinstone.
Advanced17–35mTech to 45mBoatReefWall
Torfet Ali
Five reef and pinnacle sub-sites ten minutes from Port Ghalib, with steep drop-offs, hard coral gardens, and a resident hawksbill turtle at Villa (Kharafi).
Easy35mBoatReefPinnacle
Dive centres in Marsa Alam
View allBook online or contact a centre that dives this area.
Blue Horizon
41m, 26-guest wooden liveaboard running Master Liveaboards' full Egyptian Red Sea catalogue from Hurghada and Port Ghalib, from northern wrecks and Tiran through the offshore Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone to the far-south Rocky, Zabargad and St John's reefs.
Liveaboard26 guestsHurghada
Blue Melody
38m, 26-guest wooden sister to Blue Horizon running the identical Master Liveaboards Egyptian Red Sea catalogue, from northern wrecks and Tiran through the offshore Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone to the Deep South, from Hurghada and Port Ghalib.
Liveaboard26 guestsHurghada
Emperor Asmaa
Compact 18-guest, 9-cabin wooden liveaboard focused on Deep South and St John's routes from Port Ghalib, reaching remote Rocky Island and Zabargad.
Liveaboard18 guestsPort Ghalib
Emperor Elite
26-guest sister of Superior with Junior and Executive suites, ranging across Emperor's Egypt catalogue from northern wrecks and offshore Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone to the Deep South.
Liveaboard26 guestsHurghada
Emperor Superior
13-cabin, 26-guest wooden liveaboard running Emperor's northern Red Sea wreck-and-reef weeks from Hurghada, plus offshore Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone.
Liveaboard26 guestsHurghada
Long Island
Red Sea Explorers' largest liveaboard: 37.5m, 28 guests across 14 cabins, running the same GUE-leaning offshore and deep-south Egypt route catalogue.
Liveaboard28 guestsHurghada
DDIVECODEXFOR CENTERS
Add your dive center
Get in touch to add or claim your dive center listing on DiveCodex.
Contact us
FreeReach divers
Photos
Videos
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you see dugongs in Marsa Alam?▾
Yes, and it is one of the more reliable dugong locations worldwide. A small resident population uses the seagrass meadows at Abu Dabbab and Marsa Mubarak, and divers often describe successful encounters on check dives. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the bays are shallow and shore-accessible, which makes repeat attempts easy.
When is the best time to dive Elphinstone for sharks?▾
October to April is the window for oceanic whitetip sharks, with December to February considered peak. Hammerheads tend to appear in spring and summer. November to February can be windy enough to cancel offshore day trips, so divers chasing whitetips usually plan a week with flexible site alternatives.
What certification do I need for Elphinstone?▾
Operators enforce Advanced Open Water plus 50 logged dives in practice, and reports describe the check as strict rather than flexible. Divers with only Open Water certification or low dive counts are routinely turned away at briefing. Families with newly certified teenagers usually plan alternative offshore sites instead.
Is Marsa Alam good for beginners?▾
Yes, for the shore and sheltered-bay sites. Abu Dabbab, Marsa Mubarak, Marsa Murena, Marsa Shouna and the eco-village house reefs are calm, shallow and suit Open Water divers. The offshore reefs including Elphinstone and Shaab Sharm are separate trips with stricter experience gates, so mixed-ability groups work well here.
Marsa Alam or Hurghada for diving?▾
Marsa Alam is the quieter, more dive-first option, with dugongs, spinner dolphins, oceanic whitetips and eco-villages offering unlimited shore diving. Hurghada has the Abu Nuhas wreck corridor and stronger non-diving infrastructure. Direct charter flights to RMF avoid the 3 to 4 hour road transfer from Hurghada for several European markets.
Is the coral still good after the 2024 bleaching event?▾
As of late 2024, community reports describe widespread bleaching damage on hard corals along the southern coast, with September water reaching 32 degrees. Marsa Shagra's house reef was described as being in good shape over the same period, so conditions vary by site. Pelagic encounters at the offshore reefs were not noticeably affected. Expect a mixed picture rather than universally pristine coral in the near term.
How does the eco-village shore diving model work?▾
The camps at Marsa Shagra and Marsa Nakari bundle tented or chalet accommodation with unlimited shore diving from the house reef, plus day-boat and Zodiac excursions to offshore sites. Guests often log 4 to 5 dives a day across a week. The camps are deliberately low-key, with one returning visitor noting that evenings are quiet rather than resort-style.
How do you dive Samadai for dolphins?▾
Samadai Reef, known as Dolphin House, is a regulated marine park with zoned boat access. Permits are arranged through operators and boats work in designated areas to protect the resident spinner dolphin pod. The dive combines the reef's coral gardens and pinnacles with a chance of encountering the pod, which is the constraint rather than the terrain.
Is Port Ghalib a good base for diving Marsa Alam?▾
Port Ghalib is the marina hub roughly 5 km north of Marsa Alam town, with day boats operating directly from pontoons and the offshore liveaboard fleet launching from here. It is more built-up than the eco-village corridor but still compact; divers who want dive-forward evenings without the remoteness of the southern camps tend to choose it.
DDIVECODEXLOG
Every dive has a story. Share yours.
Log your dives - notes, photos, conditions and the marine life you saw - and share them as one public diver profile. What you share helps the next diver, too.
Log every detail
Depth, duration, conditions, gear, buddy, notes — all in one place. Import from Suunto and other dive computers.
Track marine life
Record species sightings on each dive. Build a personal catalogue of everything you've seen underwater.
Your public dive profile
Share your dive history, stats, and experiences with a profile page you control. Show the world where you've been.