Marsa Alam
Why Marsa Alam?
Marsa Alam is the southern Red Sea: a long, quieter coast far from the cities, with its own international airport and reefs that see fewer boats than those further north.
It is for clients who want the sea itself: offshore reefs for experienced divers, and calm bays where turtles feed in the seagrass and spinner dolphins rest.
- Elphinstone Reef
- Abu Dabbab
- Dolphin House (Samadai)
- Fury Shoals
The Reefs of the South
Fewer boats, more reef, and wildlife that is never guaranteed and all the better for it.
Elphinstone Reef
An offshore reef with steep walls and strong currents, among the best-known dive sites in the southern Red Sea. It is for experienced divers, with a private guide who knows the conditions.
Abu Dabbab
A sandy bay with seagrass beds where green turtles come to feed, reached straight from the beach. A dugong has long been seen here too, though sightings are never promised.
Dolphin House (Samadai)
A horseshoe reef where a pod of spinner dolphins often rests in the lagoon. Visits are regulated to protect them, and are planned around the permitted times and zones.
Fury Shoals
A maze of reefs further south, with coral gardens and quiet lagoons for divers and snorkellers alike.
The reefs 
Dolphin House 
Fury Shoals 
From the shore
A Coast of Its Own
Further from everything, which is the point.
Marsa Alam is a coast of resorts and eco-lodges rather than a town to explore. It suits clients who want days on the water and quiet evenings, and it is less suited to those who want restaurants and a marina on the doorstep, for whom Hurghada or El Gouna may fit better.
With its own airport, it can be the only stop of a sea-only stay, or the end of a Nile Valley journey: the Nile at Edfu and Luxor is reached by road across the Eastern Desert.
Marsa Alam for the Trade
- Getting there
- Marsa Alam International Airport has international routes, so clients can fly in directly. Domestic connections are fewer than at Hurghada, and are confirmed for the dates.
- Time needed
- Four nights or more; the reefs reward time rather than a short stop.
- When to go
- All year. Spring and autumn are the most comfortable; winter water is cooler; summer is hot on land.
- Wildlife
- Turtles, dolphins and the rarer dugong are wild, and sightings are never guaranteed. We say so in the proposal.
Journeys That Can End Here
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Marsa Alam have its own airport?
Yes. Marsa Alam International Airport has international routes, so the coast can be reached directly rather than through Hurghada.
Will my clients see dugongs or dolphins?
Possibly, never certainly. Green turtles are often seen at Abu Dabbab and spinner dolphins often rest at Samadai, but they are wild animals, and the rarer dugong is seldom seen.
Is Elphinstone suitable for beginner divers?
No. Its currents and depth make it a site for experienced divers. Beginners are better served by the sheltered reefs and bays along the coast, with a private instructor.
Tell us who is coming to Marsa Alam.
Share the travellers, the dates and what they want from Marsa Alam. We will come back with how it fits their journey.
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