Diving holiday Marsa Alam: house reef hotels

Diving holiday Marsa Alam: a house reef hotel and the right dive centre

A diving holiday in Marsa Alam comes down to two main decisions: which hotel you stay in and which dive centre you go diving with. It is easiest when the two are in the same place, meaning a hotel with a house reef and a dive centre on site. Scuba World Divers runs four PADI 5 Star dive centres in the region, each located right in a resort. Here you can read which centre suits which kind of holiday, which dive sites you can reach from there and what to check before you book. You will find more about the individual reefs in the guide Diving in Marsa Alam.

What makes Marsa Alam special as a dive destination

The dive area stretches from Elphinstone Reef far offshore to sheltered bays such as Abu Dabbab. The region is known for healthy corals, turtles, dolphins and dugongs. The reefs see far fewer visitors than those in the north of Egypt. There is a practical advantage too: at several hotels the reef starts right at the beach. So you can dive without having to get on a boat every day, and still head out to the well-known sites on selected days.

Marsa Alam hotel with a house reef: four centres compared

JAZ Grand Marsa and JAZ Neo Reef

The dive centre at JAZ Grand Marsa and JAZ Neo Reef is on the hotel grounds, a few minutes from Port Ghalib harbour. It is the centre with the widest programme: house reef, daily boat trips, speedboat trips and minibus tours to nearby bays. At the house reef you enter from the beach. The reef slopes down gently, with coral gardens in the shallows and larger schools of fish passing by further down. Soft corals, turtles and eagle rays are among the typical encounters. If you are staying at a nearby hotel, for example JAZ Solaya, JAZ Lamaya or Steigenberger Coraya Beach, the centre picks you up free of charge.

Marsa Mares Bay with Marsa Mubarak

The Marsa Mares Bay dive centre belongs to the hotels JAZ Costa Mares, JAZ Elite Amara, JAZ Elite Riviera and JAZ Elite Negma. Its house reef is the bay of Marsa Mubarak, where dugongs and large green turtles feed on the seagrass. You travel to the dive sites in the bay by Zodiac to protect the seagrass. The dugongs are in the bay all year round; a sighting is likely but never guaranteed. There are also boat trips, speedboat trips and minibus tours, for instance to Abu Dabbab.

Lagoon View Hotels

At the dive centre at the Lagoon View Hotels you walk straight from the beach into a calm, shallow lagoon. It is well suited to check dives, courses and anyone still working on their buoyancy. Behind the lagoon a sloping reef wall begins, which you can follow to the north or to the south. Moray eels, lionfish and anemonefish live there, with green turtles in the seagrass next to it. You can dive the house reef all day, without limits and at night as well. No day boats leave from here, but there are speedboats, including to Elphinstone, and minibuses to shore dives.

Sentido Acel Beach Resort in Acel Bay

The dive centre at Sentido Acel Beach Resort is near El Quseir, on the resort's sandy beach. The house reef has a northern and a southern section and starts a few fin kicks from the shore. On offer are shore dives, PADI courses and guided snorkelling tours. This centre is a good match if you mainly want relaxed house reef diving, plan to take a course or are travelling with snorkellers.

Which dive centre in Marsa Alam suits you?

• You want as much variety as possible: JAZ Grand Marsa and JAZ Neo Reef, because house reef, boat, speedboat and minibus all start from one centre.
• You want to see dugongs and turtles: Marsa Mares Bay with Marsa Mubarak as its house reef.
• You are travelling with family or just learning to dive: Lagoon View Hotels with the sheltered lagoon.
• You are looking for a quiet house reef for a course and snorkelling: Sentido Acel Beach Resort.

For a direct comparison of the reefs by experience level, see the article Which hotel has the best reef?.

Dive sites you can reach from the centres

• Elphinstone Reef: steep walls, strong current and the chance of oceanic whitetip sharks and hammerhead sharks. The speedboat trip is only for Advanced Open Water Divers with at least 50 logged dives.
• Samadai Reef (Dolphin House): protected reef with resident spinner dolphins. The full-day trip includes two dives or two snorkelling stops, with lunch and soft drinks included.
• Abu Dabbab: bay with large turtles and calm conditions, good for mixed groups and families.
• Marsa Egla: bay with seagrass and turtles, visited as a minibus tour.
• Abu Ghusum: the wreck dive site in the Lagoon View centre's programme.

All sites, with depths, are listed in the overview of dive sites in Marsa Alam. Which trip runs on which day depends on the weather and sea conditions. So do not plan Elphinstone and Dolphin House for the last day of your holiday.

Best time to go on your diving holiday

Diving in Marsa Alam is possible all year round. From June to September the water reaches up to 30 °C, which is pleasant if you get cold quickly. From October to May the water temperature is 22 to 24 °C. During this period the chances of seeing big fish are better, especially sharks at Elphinstone. For the cooler months, pack a full-length wetsuit or rent one at the centre.

Courses, prices and what is included

At the centres you can take all the usual PADI courses, from a try dive to Open Water Diver and on to Rescue Diver; children start with Bubblemaker and Junior courses. The instructors speak German, English, French and Arabic. Details are available under beginner courses in Marsa Alam.

Prices differ from centre to centre. You will find the current prices for courses and dive packages in each dive centre's price list. If you book online, you save 10 % compared with the price on site.

• Nitrox is free for certified Nitrox divers.
• The transfer is free if your hotel is no more than 15 km from a centre.
• The rental equipment is from ScubaPro and is serviced regularly.
• A government environmental fee is charged for diving in Marsa Alam. When booking, ask whether it is included in your package.

Frequently asked questions about a diving holiday in Marsa Alam

Which hotel in Marsa Alam has a house reef with a dive centre?

Scuba World Divers has centres at JAZ Grand Marsa and JAZ Neo Reef, in Marsa Mares Bay (JAZ Costa Mares, JAZ Elite Amara, JAZ Elite Riviera, JAZ Elite Negma), at the Lagoon View Hotels and at Sentido Acel Beach Resort. At all four locations you dive on the house reef.

Can I dive in Marsa Alam as a beginner?

Yes. The house reefs at JAZ Grand Marsa and at the Lagoon View Hotels are suitable for try dives and the Open Water Diver course. For Elphinstone Reef, on the other hand, you need experience.

Am I sure to see a dugong?

No, there is no guarantee. Your best chances are in Marsa Mubarak and Abu Dabbab, where the animals feed on the seagrass all year round.

Do I have to stay at the dive centre's hotel?

No. If your hotel is within 15 km of a centre, you are picked up and brought back free of charge.

Plan your diving holiday in Marsa Alam

Take a look at the four centres on the page Diving in Marsa Alam with Scuba World Divers and book your dive package or course online with a 10 % discount. If you are not sure which centre fits your hotel, write to us via the contact page.