Scuba diving in Marsa Alam can be performed from shore, or with comfortable boats going out for a day or a half-day trip. Marsa Alam offers a unique array of dive sites in the Red Sea Riviera, from the sea-grass beds of some of its bays, home to the elusive dugong, to the sheer drop-offs of Elphinstone Reef, the fabled house of the oceanic whitetip shark.
Here are some of the most famous dive sites in Marsa Alam:
Abu Dabab: the house of the dugongs! A holiday in Marsa Alam isn't complete without a visit to the bay of Abu Dabab to try to spot the elusive dugong. This beautiful creature with its happy face and its friendly manners is in reality very shy and easily scared.
Samadai: also called Dolphin House, a crescent-shaped offshore reef located approximately 5km southeast of Marsa Alam. The reef is oriented E-W forming a natural lagoon on the south. The sheltered waters of the lagoon provide a favorable resting habitat for a population of Spinner Dolphins (Stenella longirostris).
Elphinstone Reef: only for experienced divers, due to the strong currents often present, is “the” Red Sea dream dive. Pelagics, barracudas, rich walls, Elphinstone has it all. Difficult to reach as in the open sea, getting there is an experience in itself.