Marsa Alam, which is situated in southeastern Egypt, is located on the Red Sea’s eastern shore. Home to the Marsa Alam international airport, and near the Tropic of Cancer, the city looks much like a tropical paradise. With mangroves and palm trees, this is truly a desert oasis of grand proportions. Excursions to the temple of Seti I and the famous Egyptian emerald mines can help occupy your time while you’re not diving. Let’s take a few moments to see what lies beneath the incredibly clear, blue waters of Marsa Alam.
Marsa Alam Diving Conditions
During the summer, the water temperature reaches thirty degrees Celsius, while it barely ever drops below its’ January low of about twenty-four degrees. The water is quite calm throughout most of the year, although storms are more likely between December and February.
The plankton, for which the Red Sea gets its name, blooms during April and May. This can affect underwater visibility, so plan your trip accordingly!
Elphinstone Reefs
These reefs are home to big oceanic white tip sharks, which are seen quite often. Unlike some of the smaller reef shark species many divers are familiar with; these big sharks are reportedly quite bold and have a habit of approaching divers, and sometimes even bumping into them. Stay close to your buddy and never feed a shark like this. A bump can precede a bite, and while you do not want to panic, you should be sure to educate yourself about diving with big sharks if you plan to enjoy this incredible experience.
Besides the sharks, this site features incredible underwater architecture, and, according to legend, an arch located at the reef’s southern end could even house an unknown Pharoah’s sarcophagus. Deep divers have reported an odd, rectangular shape covered in coral at about sixty meters here – so, who knows? He might be watching you!
Whether this story is true or not, there are some additional incredible features for divers to enjoy. Along the east walls, there are vertical drop offs that plunge from the top of the coral (about twenty meters) to the ocean floor at about seventy meters. Along the west side of the reefs, you’ll find that the drop-offs are less intense, and the slopes are covered with sand and feature small overhangs and caves. Here, you may be lucky enough to find one or two octopus, as well as groupers and barracuda.
Marsa Abu Dabab
This site is home to the endangered Dugong, which is closely related to Florida’s manatees, and it is also popular with sea turtles. With a maximum depth of just twenty-five meters, and featuring an easy entry from shore, this site is excellent for divers of every level. Visibility is not at all good, however, the animals you’ll encounter on this dive make up for those limits!
Look for the dugong as they graze placidly in the sea grass, and watch for turtles in the shallows. These creatures are used to divers, as are the rare guitar sharks which also inhabit these warm shallow waters. Although it is possible to get very close to them, you should never touch or attempt to ride any of these animals.
Samadai Reef
Also known as Dolphin House, Samadai Reef is home to a pod of about one hundred spinner dolphins. At one time, divers and snorkelers were allowed unrestricted access to the entire area, however, that led to unhappy dolphins, which left the area. Now that tighter restrictions have been set into place, the dolphins have returned, and are happy to come into divers’ areas and then return to their own sanctuary.
The maximum depth here is just fifteen meters, and this dive is suitable for all divers. The site features buoys which delineate zones for snorkelers, mooring boats, divers, and dolphins only. If you want to visit this site, then make reservations, because only 100 divers and 100 snorkelers are allowed to visit each day, between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.
Besides the dolphins that make their homes here, there are several beautiful coral towers and underwater caves which should not be penetrated by anyone without cave diving experience. Local guides are happy to accompany you for a safe and fun experience.
Dahra
An elongated reef located to the northwest of Shiriniat Island, Dahra is a very popular night dive, and a common mooring site for liveaboards. Here, you’ll find the wreck of an old liveaboard lying on the sandy bottom at about twelve meters, which is just teeming with fish and smaller creatures. As you head around the reef, you’ll find several rocks encrusted with coral, and some overhangs and caves, which can have a slightly barren appearance, especially once the fish have gone to bed for the night.
However, this site is famous for octopus sightings, and it is advisable to move slowly and keep a sharp eye out for these magnificent creatures, which blend right into the background. Watch also for Spanish dancers, which can be seen either resting on the reef, or swaying in the open water.
Abu Dabab Reefs
Just a few nautical miles out from Marsa Abua Dabab, lie the six Abu Dabab Reefs, along with a small shipwreck, a coral garden, and some lovely underwater caves. The name Abu Dabab is loosely translated “Father’s Stepping Stones”. Local mythology says that the Egyptian Gods use these stones to cross the water! Visibility here is normally between twenty and thirty meters, and with a depth of just twenty-five meters maximum, this site is popular with divers of all levels. Here, you may be lucky enough to encounter a dolphin or two, or perhaps even see an entire family swimming side by side.
Many features at this lovely reef are located at about fifteen meters, and the entire reef system is home to beautiful fish, nudibranchs, gorgonians with seahorses living in their structures, and often offers surprise visits from larger pelagics.
Whether you visit just one or two of these magnificent Marsa Alam dive sites, or if you have the good fortune to be able to spend plenty of time exploring each and every one of them thoroughly, local dive operators can help you make the most of the time you have, so you can be certain to enjoy the memories of these unique experiences for years to come.