Egypt
Diving in Marsa Alam
Photo: Stephan Ernst / Pexels
Marsa Alam is Egypt's premier southern Red Sea diving destination — a 200 km stretch of pristine fringing reefs, offshore pinnacles, and protected marine parks far from the crowds of Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Once a quiet fishing village, it transformed into a world-class dive hub after its international airport opened in 2003. The region's crown jewel is Elphinstone Reef, an offshore pinnacle 11 km from shore where oceanic whitetip sharks (Oct-Dec) and scalloped hammerheads (May-Aug) patrol walls that plunge beyond 200 meters. Abu Dabbab Bay offers one of the rare places on Earth to reliably dive with dugongs — only seven individuals inhabit the entire Egyptian Red Sea coast. Shaab Samadai (Dolphin House) hosts a resident pod of spinner dolphins inside a protected horseshoe lagoon. The Fury Shoals area south of Wadi Lahami offers over 30 pristine offshore reefs with coral gardens, wrecks, and pelagic action. With year-round diving, water temperatures from 22-30°C, visibility reaching 60 meters offshore, and shore-accessible sites that rival any boat dive, Marsa Alam delivers the full Red Sea experience at every skill level — from beginner seagrass bays to advanced-only drift walls.
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Places on this map (29)
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Conditions
22–30 °C
20–60 m
2–100 m
Moderate
April to December — peak conditions June to October with calm seas, 30-60m offshore visibility, and warm 28-30°C water. Hammerhead season May-Aug at Elphinstone. Oceanic whitetip season Oct-Dec. Whale sharks May-June. Year-round diving possible; even January water stays above 22°C.
| Month | Summary |
|---|---|
| Jan | Coolest water at 23-24°C with 20-30m visibility. Windy season can bring choppy seas at exposed offshore sites but shore-accessible bays remain calm. 5mm wetsuit recommended. Excellent for uncrowded reef diving at budget prices. |
| Feb | Coldest month at 22-23°C water with 20-30m visibility. Windy conditions continue. 5mm wetsuit essential. Fewest tourists of the year. Shore diving at Abu Dabbab, Marsa Egla, and Marsa Shagra delivers reliably despite wind at offshore sites. |
| Mar | Water warming to 23-24°C with 20-30m visibility. Winds begin easing from mid-month. Transitional month with improving conditions. Good time for discovering the broader Marsa Alam reef system before peak-season prices hit. |
| Apr | Water 24-26°C with 15-25m visibility. Plankton bloom season begins, reducing visibility near shore but attracting manta rays and whale sharks. Switch from 5mm to 3mm wetsuit possible mid-month. Good value before summer peak pricing. |
| May | Water 26-28°C with 20-30m visibility. Hammerhead season begins at Elphinstone (peaks through August). Whale shark sightings possible as plankton blooms continue. 3mm wetsuit comfortable. Marine park permits now actively required for Samadai. |
| Jun | Peak summer begins — 27-29°C water, 30-50m visibility at offshore sites. Hammerhead aggregations at Elphinstone (20-40+ sharks). 3mm wetsuit or skin. Calm seas, minimal wind. Best month for offshore reef and wall diving. Whale sharks still present. |
| Jul | Warmest water at 28-30°C with peak visibility 30-60m offshore. Calm seas. Hammerheads continue at Elphinstone. Skin or 3mm wetsuit sufficient. Peak tourist month — book dive centers and liveaboards in advance. Fury Shoals sites in prime condition. |
| Aug | Peak warmth continues at 28-30°C with 30-60m offshore visibility. Last month of prime hammerhead season. Dugong encounters reliable at Abu Dabbab. Spinner dolphins active at Samadai and Satayah. 3mm wetsuit or skin. Book well in advance for August trips. |
| Sep | Water 27-29°C with 25-40m visibility. Transition from summer peak — slightly windier but still excellent conditions. Fewer tourists. Good month for combining offshore and shore sites. Reef sharks year-round at Elphinstone. |
| Oct | Water 26-28°C with 25-35m visibility. Oceanic whitetip shark season begins at Elphinstone. 3mm wetsuit recommended. Excellent shoulder-season month — warm water, good visibility, fewer crowds, lower prices. One of the best months for overall value. |
| Nov | Water 25-27°C with 20-30m visibility. Oceanic whitetips continue at Elphinstone through December peak. 3mm wetsuit. Winds increasing but shore sites remain sheltered. Good value before holiday season. Wadi El Gemal National Park sites in good condition. |
| Dec | Water 24-25°C with 20-30m visibility. Peak oceanic whitetip season at Elphinstone. 5mm wetsuit recommended for multiple dives. Holiday crowds arrive mid-month — book everything in advance. Windy days possible at exposed sites but shore diving and sheltered reefs remain excellent. |
Dive Sites (84)
Abu Dabbab 2
2–12m · Beginner
Seagrass beds · Macro life · Shallow photography
Abu Dabbab 3
5–25m · Intermediate
Outer reef · Pelagic corridor · Current-dependent
Abu Dabbab Bay
1–20m · Beginner
Seagrass · Dugongs · Turtles
Abu Galawa Big (Tug Wreck)
3–20m · Beginner
Wreck · Coral reef · Photography
Abu Galawa Small (Yacht Wreck)
3–15m · Beginner
Wreck · Coral reef · Snorkeling
Abu Ghusun
3–30m · Beginner
Remote location · Pristine reef · Eco-resort
Abu Ghusun — Hamada Wreck
5–30m · Beginner
Wreck · Coral reef · Shore dive
Abu Ghusun Hamadi Wreck
15–20m · Intermediate
Small wreck · Artificial reef · Coral-encrusted
Marine Life (86)
must-seeLoggerhead Turtle
must-seeGreen Sea Turtle
must-seeHawksbill Turtle
must-seeSpotted Eagle Ray
must-seeAtlantic Bottlenose Dolphin
Great Barracuda
Day Octopus
Net Fire Coral
Table Coral
Painted Spiny Lobster
Black Sea Cucumber
Spotted Garden Eel
Dive Shops (29)
Coral Reef Divers
diving.DE Abu Dabab
Marsa Adventure Divers
Wanderlust Blue diving center
Euro-Divers Marsa Alam
Ocean View Diving Centre Marsa Alam
Scuba Leaders
Go Diving – Diving Center Marsa Alam
Globe Dive Clubs
Extra Divers Equinox Marsa Alam
Star Diving Marsa Alam
Ducks Diving Superior
Red Sea Diving Safari
Scuba dive sea
Dive in Marsa
Brayka Divers
Monkey Divers Diving College
Infinity diving safari
Scuba World Divers Marsa Alam Lagoon View Hotel
Blue Vision Diving Hotel
Marsa Alam Divers
Scuba store marsa alam
SeaHorse Diving Club
Dive Red Sea Marsa Alam
POSEIDON Scuba DIVING
Diving Marsa Alam | Diving Center Ssi, Padi, Cmas.
Marsa Diving Center
Tauchen Marsa Alam - Deutsche Tauchschule von Padi, Cmas, Ssi.
Reef Oasis Dive Club Marsa Alam
Guides
The Complete Marsa Alam Diving Guide: Sites & Species
Swim with oceanic whitetip sharks, spinner dolphins, and dugongs in Marsa Alam — Egypt's uncrowded southern Red Sea diving paradise.
Top 7 Dive Sites in Marsa Alam: A Beginner's Guide
Diving with oceanic whitetips, spinner dolphins, and dugongs in Marsa Alam. Compare the best dive sites from Elphinstone Reef to Abu Dabbab.
Marsa Alam Dive Conditions: Temperature & Seasons
Water 22–30°C, visibility to 40 m, and two distinct seasons. Complete month-by-month guide to diving conditions in Marsa Alam, Egypt's southern Red Sea.
Safety
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