Marsa Alam on Egypt's southern Red Sea coast is the land-based base for easy reef diving and one of the world's best shore-based dugong encounters. The shallow seagrass bay at Abu Dabbab has resident dugongs and green turtles grazing daily, accessible on snorkel. The Marsa Alam coast is also the jumping-off point for liveaboards to the offshore reefs and has several excellent house reefs in its own right. Gentle conditions and year-round diving make it more beginner-friendly than the northern Red Sea.
The year at a glance
- Water
- 22–24 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 21–23 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 22–24 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 23–25 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 25–27 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 28–30 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 27–29 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 26–28 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 24–26 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
- Water
- 23–25 °C
- Viz
- 20–30 m
- Sea
- calm
- Rain
- low
Signature dive sites
The sites you'll hear about in every briefing.
- 01
Abu Dabbab Bay
Shallow seagrass bay with resident dugongs and green turtles.
- 02
Elphinstone (day trip)
Accessed from Marsa Alam boats; oceanic whitetips in autumn.
- 03
Sha'ab Samadai (Dolphin House)
Spinner dolphin resting lagoon; snorkel only in designated zones.
What you'll see
Top species with their April status.
Dugong
Oceanic Whitetip Shark
Getting there
Gateway
Fly into Marsa Alam (RMF). Visa: Visa on arrival for most nationalities, 30 days.
Best months
Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May, Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct, Nov, Dec