Marsa Alam Travel Guide: Southern Red Sea Diving and Dugongs

Marsa Alam is a small Red Sea town 200km south of Hurghada. It is the southernmost significant dive hub in Egypt, and the reason most people come here is straightforward: the reefs and marine life are better preserved than those further north. Less development, less boat traffic, and a coastline that remains largely undisturbed have kept the underwater environment closer to what the Red Sea looked like before mass tourism arrived.

Getting There

Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF) receives seasonal charter flights from Europe, primarily in the October–May window. Domestic flights connect from Cairo. By road from Hurghada it is roughly three hours south on the desert coastal highway. Some travellers drive from Luxor via the Qena–Safaga road and continue south, which adds context to a Nile Valley itinerary.

Elphinstone Reef

Elphinstone is the site that serious divers come to Marsa Alam specifically to dive. The reef sits approximately 30km offshore — a flat-topped plateau dropping into deep water on both sides. Its walls are consistently associated with oceanic whitetip sharks and seasonal hammerhead aggregations. The currents at Elphinstone are strong and variable; the site is genuinely unsuitable for beginner or intermediate divers who are not current-water experienced. For those who are qualified, it competes with the Thistlegorm as the most significant dive in Egypt.

Dugongs at Abu Dabbab

Abu Dabbab bay, north of Marsa Alam town, holds one of the most reliable dugong (sea cow) populations accessible to snorkelers and divers in Egypt. Dugongs feed on the seagrass beds in the bay’s shallow water and are regularly encountered by boat trips from Marsa Alam. Sightings are not guaranteed, but the frequency here is higher than anywhere else along the Egyptian coast. The same bay also sees sea turtles regularly.

Wadi El Gemal National Park

Wadi El Gemal National Park begins roughly 60km south of Marsa Alam town and covers a stretch of coast with sea turtle nesting beaches, mangrove stands, and an inland wadi with acacia woodland. A park permit is required. The site receives relatively few visitors and the infrastructure is basic — bring water and expect rough tracks.

The Town

Marsa Alam town itself is small. The main function of the town centre is to serve the staff working at the resort hotels that line the coast north and south. There is a market, a small selection of local restaurants, and the practicalities of life in a working fishing town — but it is not a destination for its own sake. Most visitors stay in resort hotels outside the centre.

Best Time to Visit

October through May. Summer is hot (38–42°C) and some resorts operate reduced services. The reef is accessible year-round, but diving and snorkeling conditions are most consistent in the cooler months.

Nearby

Hurghada is 200km north — a useful comparison point for the northern Red Sea and a more developed logistics hub if you need it.