Marsa Alam is a wonderful scuba diving destination that you can enjoy in Egypt, in the Red Sea. You will be able to see dolphins, the beautiful whitetip shark, hammerheads and even the highly rare dugongs.
What is interesting is that Marsa Alam stood out as a fishing village, a quiet location in the South of Egypt only a few years ago. After the 2001 Airport was opened, the influx of divers quickly grew. Many visit because they can avoid the crowds and the reef is very interesting. Many say that the very best scuba diving is offered by Marsa Alam and it is really hard to argue with this statement.
Based on a level of luck and where you go, many animals can be seen and the underwater landscape is truly wonderful. You will want to consider this option in the event that you love scuba diving.
Best Marsa Alam Scuba Diving Locations
- Elphinstone Reef
This is a truly wonderful diving site. The offshore reef gives you a wonderful wall diving experience that features coral and some beautiful marine life. You will surely appreciate the regular encounters with hammerhead sharks and you can even see the dangerous whitetip shark. However, you should only consider diving in this spot in the event that you are experienced as the site is dangerous.
- Sha’ab Samadai Dolphin House
This is a wonderful reef that creates a perfect scuba diving lagoon. Visibility is normally really great. Both snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts will love the experience, especially when they manage to see spinner dolphins. You will often find yourself swimming and diving together with the dolphins, which is an experience that is truly unforgettable.
- Abu Dabbab
This is by far one of the most popular locations in the area. There are few places in the world where dugongs can be seen since the species is endangered. However, the shallow bay will feature this experience, together with the possibility of seeing the Green Sea turtle. To make matters even more interesting, the diving spot will give you access to the possibility of seeing the guitar shark, which is also rare. Underwater photography is really great here so make sure that you take your camera with you.
- Hamada Wreck
Marsa Alam may be a wonderful scuba diving destination but when it comes to wrecks, not many opportunities area available. Hamada Wreck is a 65 meters long ship. It was sunk in the year 1993. Ever since, it offered a great beginner shore diving experience. This is also a great place to go if you enjoy underwater photography.
When To Dive In Marsa Alam
You can go diving in Marsa Alam every single day of the year. However, we do have different seasons that you want to know about:
- April and May – visibility can be a little reduced by the presence of plankton bloom. However, this is where you can see whale sharks andmanta rays.
- January – the waters are really cold, at around 24 degrees Celsius.
- May And June – this is when you can see whale sharks.
- November to February – winds are pretty strong and the sea is choppy. Offshore dives are sometimes preserved.
- Summer – this is when you gain access to the best possible scuba diving conditions.
- May To August – this is when you will be able to see manta rays and hammerhead sharks in the Elphinstone Reef.
- October to December – this is when oceanic whitetip shark season is at its peak.
