What musn't I miss in Marsa Alam?

[Sea Pea]

I'm off to Egypt for week in Marsa Alam in November. Whilst I've been to more Northern coastal towns and reached Elphinstone by liveaboard , this time I'm going to be land-based and going out on day boats. I don't think there is too much on land, and I don't know the day boat dive sites so any tips on stuff to aim for (above & below the water) would be very welcome !

Cheers

Sea Pea

[Rod]

You are right there is virtually nothing in Marsa Alam outside of the hotels.

Dive sites I would recommend from a boat are Shaab Marsa Alam, Habili, Nakari, Marsa Samadi and Elphinstone of course. I would give Dolphin house a miss as it is quite expensive and it is hit and miss if the Dolphins are there or not. Shore dives I would suggest, Abu Dabor and Abu Dabab (mostly for Dennis the Dugong but also the guitar sharks). Most of these sites are in the 20-30 Meter range and are excellent for everyone. Water should be warm around 26 degrees but it will be windy so take a sweatshirt for the evenings.

That is about all there is to Marsa Alam, where are you staying?

[Sea Pea]

Cheers Rod,

I thought there might not be much / anything there (above water). I had warned , er , gently reminded SHMBO that there is pretty much zip there (might save a credit card ambush!). There's nine of us going, we're staying at the Coral Beach.

Thanks for the dive sites , I had read about Dennis before but had forgotten about him/her/it! No doubt the dive centre will be offering to take to see him, I 'd like to do that, I've not seen a dugong before!

For the evenings is it worth visiting other hotels for nosh & drinks (if that is all there is)?

Don't fancy horrendously long journeys to see ancioent monuments, I've done some of that before! There are fantastic but no need to do any again on this trip!

Ta

Sea Pea

[Rod]

If you are staying at the Coral then you are a few miles North of Marsa Alam in Marsa Ghalip. Not many hotels around within walking distance and a taxi is as rare as hens teeth. No real shops to speak of and the duty free at the airport is pretty poor as well so your credit card should be safe.

The dive school on site is Emperor Divers which is who I sometimes work for when I am out there. They are a well run operation and the boats are moored about 50 yards from the dive centre. The Egyptian staff are very helpful and always have a smile for you. The food at the hotel is good and the only problem is the Wednesday nights when loads of the livaboard divers spend the night there so bar and restuarant service slows down as they struggle to cope with the extra customers.

[B]

You definitely must not miss Abu Dabab... Dennis the dugong is just the most adorable creature.. a real priviledge...

We went in July, stayed at the Coral in Port Ghalib. Diving was fabulous but a lot of time spent on boat transfer because there is no beach... We dived Elphinstone which i did not think a lot of, there is also the Dolphin House which has some beautiful corals...

Enjoy your stay there, I am deeply envious...

[Ahoy]

With regards to Dolphin reef (Sha'ab samadai), I consider the reef to be one of the finest I have dived in the Red Sea and well worth the effort. I wasn't fussed on going snorkelling with the dolphins, though.

S.

[Sea Pea]

Dennis is definitley on the hit list , camera ready!

Looks like we'll get to know each other & the guests & the staff pretty well 'cos that looks about the size of the place! Better brush up on my poker otherwise I could lose at lot of dosh in the nothing-else-going-on card school! It might mean that my dive log entries get more detailed as another pastime! Luckily it sounds like the diving will make it all worthwhile! We are booked in with Emperor for 10 dives (but by the sound of it , it wouldn't make sense diving with anyone else!).

Thanks for the tip about the duty free , looks like I'll be in the Gatwick one just getting enough provisions to survive on !! Now let me think, I'm from the South, the hotel is in the more southern parts of the Red Sea and I do like a little comfort !!

Given that Ghalib is such a metropolis (not) I don't suppose there's much else to know, unless someone has the name of a particularly friendly camel!

Cheers all, might even do a trip report by way of thanks!

Sea Pea

[B]

Originally Posted by Sea Pea

Dennis is definitley on the hit list , camera ready!

Looks like we'll get to know each other & the guests & the staff pretty well 'cos that looks about the size of the place! Better brush up on my poker otherwise I could lose at lot of dosh in the nothing-else-going-on card school! It might mean that my dive log entries get more detailed as another pastime! Luckily it sounds like the diving will make it all worthwhile! We are booked in with Emperor for 10 dives (but by the sound of it , it wouldn't make sense diving with anyone else!).

Thanks for the tip about the duty free , looks like I'll be in the Gatwick one just getting enough provisions to survive on !! Now let me think, I'm from the South, the hotel is in the more southern parts of the Red Sea and I do like a little comfort !!

Given that Ghalib is such a metropolis (not) I don't suppose there's much else to know, unless someone has the name of a particularly friendly camel!

Cheers all, might even do a trip report by way of thanks!

Sea Pea

Emperor divers there are great... absolutely fantastic... and yes, camera at ready for dolphin house... we did not go snorkling either with the dolphins... had a nice rest instead...

Buy booze from duty free, in hotel is quite expensive if imported stuff... drink in your room.. are you staying at the coral??

B

[Sea Pea]

Yep, we staying at the Coral, which is starting to sound like the only hotel in town!

BTW we are intending to dive on Nitrox , does anyone know what the Emperor set-up is re blending ? Is it 'to order' or supplied at EANx32 and or EANx36 ?

Cheers

Sea Pea

[B]

You can get nitrox, let them know the night before... also if you need 15l tanks... It is standard x32...

B