The Red Sea in Egypt is known as one of the most beautiful destinations for snorkeling and diving. What makes this region so special is the great biodiversity of marine life and the impressive coral reefs. However, the impact of climate change is visible here too. Due to the warming of the seawater – which in many places exceeds 30 degrees, allowing you to dive even without a wetsuit – many corals have bleached and died. Fortunately, during our sailing trip in Marsa Alam, we still discovered colorful sections of reef, rich marine life, and stunning coral formations that showcase the magic of the Red Sea. These are the most beautiful diving spots and snorkeling locations in Marsa Alam, Egypt!
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Where to stay to explore Marsa Alam, Egypt
The women’s retreat sailing trip I did last summer with my best friend and a group of inspiring women was exactly what I needed. After a pretty intens and bussy year, with the stress of building a house, that week finally brought peace to my mind and body. I could breathe again. Relax. I felt alive – maybe even reborn. Pure, intense happiness to the depths of my soul. No wonder i still think about this trip almost every single day. Unreachable to the outside world, completely connected with the ocean and with each other.
Before our sailingtrip, we stayed three nights at the Marsa Shagra diving resort. This beautiful camp has a stunning house reef, which you can explore while snorkeling and diving. Think of hard and soft corals, green turtles and hawksbill turtles, rays, blacktip reef sharks, and a wide diversity of colorful fish. The dive camp is also the ideal base for some of the best and most beautiful dive spots in Marsa Alam, including the iconic Elphinstone.
The Most Beautiful Diving Spots & Snorkeling Locations in Marsa Alam
Sataya Reef Dolphin House
SNORKELING- Sataya Reef, also known as Dolphin House, is one of the best places in the world to swim with wild dolphins. In this calm bay, large groups of dolphins gather to rest and protect themselves from predators. No sonar is used here, yet the chance of encountering them is extremely high: 90% throughout the year!
During our seven-day sailing trip, we sailed to Sataya Reef for five days. This gave us the opportunity to spend a lot of time with these beautiful animals. Because we didn’t join a day trip, we often had magical moments alone with the dolphins – without the crowds of boats full of wild and loud tourists. An experience that made Sataya even more special for us.
Sataya Reef // General Sataya Zone
SNORKELING AND DIVING- Around Sataya, we found some of the most beautiful places in all of Marsa Alam for freediving, snorkeling, and diving. As soon as you enter the water, a world of gigantic coral gardens opens up, stretching endlessly beneath you. Between the coral pinnacles, you’ll also find intriguing caves and small passages to explore.
Furthermore, while freediving, we also discovered the Sha’b Sataya North Wreck, which lies at its deepest point around 27 meters. For experienced freedivers, this is a fantastic challenge: you can partially glide along the inside of the wreck, which has now been completely taken over by nature. Hundreds of small fish have made their home here, soft corals sway with the current, and the steel structure has been transformed into a colorful underwater oasis.
Elphinstone
DIVING- Elphinstone is undoubtedly the most iconic dive spot in Marsa Alam, but only suitable for Advanced Open Water divers with at least fifty logged dives. This elongated reef is known for its mighty coral walls that drop almost vertically, to depths of more than 100 meters. At the top, you’ll find colorful coral gardens and an abundance of impressive marine life.
During our dive, although conditions and visibility weren’t optimal, we still saw a group of hammerhead sharks just a few meters away. Elphinstone is also known as a hotspot for spotting oceanic whitetip sharks, grey reef sharks, and large pelagic fish. Keep in mind that the current here can be extremely strong. The reef is known for its drift dives and requires experience and good air consumption. I personally surfaced with barely ten bar after a deep dive of over forty meters.
Shoab Sharm // Shaab Sharm
DIVING- Shaab Sharm is undoubtedly one of the absolute highlights of Marsa Alam, but -like Elphinstone- it’s one for the advanced diver. The reef, which is about 700 meters long, is located about 12 kilometers off the coast of Marsa Alam and immediately surprises you with impressive walls that slowly descend to a depth of 200 meters.
Just like at Elphinstone, the current can be strong here, which makes this place both challenging and unforgettable. The biodiversity is phenomenal: colorful coral gardens with both hard and soft corals adorn the steep walls and plateaus. This dive spot attracts large (schools of) fish: from reef sharks to snappers, jacks and trevallies and many other impressive marine life.
Abu Dabbab & Marsa Mubarak
DIVING AND SNORKELING- Due to the calm water in the bays and the large fields of seagrass, this is THE place in Marsa Alam to spot turtles and dugongs (sea cows). And lucky we were! After waiting patiently for a while, a lazy male suddenly appeared. While snorkeling, we quickly noticed that this dugong was completely at ease. The divers got the green light to prep their gear to get closer to this special creature.
We spent over an hour underwater, while the dugong moved calmly and playfully around us, grazing. A magical encounter – and without doubt one of the many highlights of this trip. Eye to eye with the cutest potato of the ocean!
Shaab Marsa Alam
DIVING AND SNORKELING- Shaab Marsa Alam is a popular diving and snorkeling spot, located about 4 kilometers from the coast. The reef stretches for almost 800 meters, offering a lot of variation in dive profiles. Because it’s relatively shallow and easily accessible, it’s often visited during day trips by boat. Underwater, you’ll discover beautiful coral gardens and a lively mix of reef inhabitants. Extra fun: on the south side lies a shipwreck that makes the dive just a bit more adventurous. Keep in mind that the popularity of the spot leads to more crowding, which you may notice in the vulnerable corals and visibility.
Marsa Shagra House Reef
DIVING AND SNORKELING- Staying at the Marsa Shagra diving resort? Then you dive for a daily rate, allowing you unlimited exploration of the house reef. To be honest: part of the coral here has unfortunately already bleached or died. Yet the reef remains surprisingly lively. Among the remaining corals, it still teems with colorful and diverse marine life. Even for non-divers, this is a great place to discover all this beauty while snorkeling.
More Unforgettable Diving Destinations
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