MARSA ALAM
GETTING THERE
Visitors can fly directly to Marsa Alam from many European cities, although the airport is small and flights from some countries, such as the UK, can be as infrequent as once per week. Alternatively, fly to Cairo, where Egyptair offers regular domestic flights to Marsa Alam. Another popular option is to fly into Hurghada and drive to Marsa Alam, which takes around three hours.
Marsa Alam is a laid-back resort town located in the deep south of the Egyptian Red Sea. It is a fantastic spot for shore diving with colourful reefs to explore and large schools of fish that will leave divers spellbound. Expect to encounter dolphins on the way to dive sites by boat and maybe even underwater too. There is a resident manatee at one of the sites and lots of sea turtles to be seen. There are also day trips to impressive dive sites where you can spot whitetip and hammerhead sharks.
ABU DABBAB
Abu Dabbab has made a name for itself as one of the very few places where you can dive with dugongs. These “sea cows” graze on the area’s shallow seagrass meadows, while the surrounding coral reefs provide rich habitats for triggerfish, clownfish, angelfish, morays, damselfish, butterflyfish, parrotfish, scorpionfish, pipefish and seahorses, among many others. Keep an eye out for hawksbill turtles, guitarfish and various species of rays.
DIVE EXPERIENCE All levels, from beginner upwards
BEST TIME TO DIVE March to May, September to November
WATER TEMPERATURE 22°C to 28°C
VISIBILITY 15 to 30 metres
DEPTH 5 to 40 metres