Marsa Alam - who to dive with?

[InTheDrink]

Hi,

After much soul searching I will be diving in Marsa Alam mid June. I'm keen to learn some of the following:

1. Good dive op
2. Land based day dives or liveabord
3. Summary of best dive sites (e.g. elphinstone)

Any tips, thoughts, tricks, hugely appreciated - want to book immediately but would like to locate Op first to check for availability so any recommendations on this would be brill.

Thanks,
John

 

[large_diver]

Hi John,

I dove with Red Sea Diving Safari back in Oct. 2007. They have 3 different locations = Shagra (closest to Marsa Alam), Nakari (80km south of MA) and Wadi Lahami (further south).

Shagra has the advantage of being closest to Elphinstone, a well known off-shore reef. Nakari (where we stayed) is very close to Dolphin House reef (snorkeling with dolphins and good diving). Lahami is close to Fury Shoals, I believe. They will also run day trips back and forth between some of the locations = e.g., when we were staying at Nakari they ran a day trip up to Elphinstone. RSDS also has some short term liveaboard options that can be combined with their land-based diving - take a look at their web-site.

Each of the locations is slightly different, with Shagra being the most developed, Lahami being the most rustic and Nakari somewhere in between. In general, these are "ecolodges", simple lodging, no TV, no pool or other distractions = just diving and a clean/simple place to sleep. In Nakari, the diving "program" had many different choices = house reef diving direct from shore or via RIBs (RIB out, dive back to shore; dive from shore/RIB return or RIB/RIB), off-shore reef diving via RIB (1-3 miles) and then longer offshore trips. Night dives were also common almost every night.

I found the dive operation to be very well run and the quality of the diving was very good. You could dive as much as you liked. It is definitely a "dive/dive/dive" type of place.....and the folks there are generally serious divers (since there really isn't anything else to do except snorkel or read a good book). At Nakari there were no fancy pools or palm trees, no air conditioning.....just a simple lodge in the middle of the desert. No need to wear more than shorts, t-shirt and sandals. Food was a basic buffet for every meal - hearty, plentiful and good. The people there were also great and so kind and helpful - I was there with my wife and kids snorkeling and diving and we all loved it.

Hope this helps.

Chris

RED SEA DIVING SAFARI - The Eco-diving Adventure - Home

 

[alchemist117]

Just got back from Marsa Alam on Wednesday 15th April. We stayed at Marina Lodge and dived with Emperor. V well run dive op, did Elphinstone (no sharks), Abu Dabab (lots of green turtles, no dugong), Sha'ab Samadai (huge pod of dolphins), very few other dive boats around on any site, really good corals. It was quiet, a bit pricey- no competition, and poor sterling exchange rate. A good experience. This was our 5th trip to the Red Sea, so we've other places to compare it to.

 

[Riger]

I have dived with Emperor out of Sharm and Hurghada. As a dive operation, I had no complaints and found their service to be solid and safe. If I were going to Marsa, I'd go with them.

Let us know how it goes for you and who you end up diving with.

Best Regards

Richard

 

[InTheDrink]

Hi, in the end I'm doing a liveabord with Discovery divers out of Marsa Alam - itinerary is Brothers, Daedalus and Elphinstone. It looks promising as an itinerary, here's hoping it delivers

End of the day though, it's warm, wet and full of anticipation - which will be fine by me!

I'll let you know how it goes.

Cheers,
John

 

[300bar]

Hope you'll have some good dives,we;ll be there aswell on june 16.

 

[Riger]

Please report back and let us know how it went with the dive operator.

Enjoy.

Regards
Richard

 

[samaka]

Good time of year to be going to Daedalus. Normally we have loads of hammerheads around there at that time. Mainly feamlaes congregating. you can check my personal website WELCOME TO AZIAB for more detailed info. Click on "Liveaboard Diving" and Yearly Cycle" and you will find loads of info. Also the "Marine Life" page has some interesting stuff on what yopu will see when you're there.

Havve a fantastic trip!

...a...

 

[InTheDrink]

Thanks guys for the info Samaka - sounds like this should be a lot of fun I'd already checked out your website but had missed that section - that is WAY cool and really really helpful. In fact, your website is pretty comprehensive/impressive. Do you ever get time to dive?

300bar - who you diving with when you're there? I depart 17th. Boat gets me back to land either 16th or 17th depending on schedule. Have you been there before? If so, name the bar and if opportunity allows we could grab a beer!

 

[triciamint]

Hi,

I would recommend Marsa Shagra for many of the reasons Large Diver did. I have visited twice. The first time was in June about five months after I completed my AOW. I picked this holiday because I wanted the option of a lot of diving, which this certainly gave me. Also, being a single traveller was not a problem as I did not have to pay any supplement.

I did find that I was one of the least experienced divers there but that was more a problem for me than others, everyone was very helpful and very quick to pass on their knowledge and tips.

My second visit, again in June, was for two weeks. This time I went with my buddy. (who I met at Shagra on the previous visit) We had a fabulous time. The diving was spectacular, pristine reefs. Did see sharks on Elphinstone, one oceanic, a fair few reef sharks, eagle rays etc.

One of the best things about Shagra is that for most of the shore diving you won't see another soul, you get that Jacques Cousteau feeling or is it Star Trek .... boldly go where no man... etc?
Anyway it is fabulous.

As regards the site itself, it is basic but that is part of the appeal. The food is good, the staff are superb.

One thing though, first visit, no mosquito bites, second visit, absolutely covered in them the first night. Take LOADS of anti-mosi stuff!!

Oh, also to dive Elphinstone you need to have done your AOW and logged 50 dives.

Hope you have a fab time wherever you go.