Between Marsa Alam's Port Ghalib and the Sudan border lie the reefs of the Southern Egyptian Red Sea. Over 220km south of Hurghada, Marsa Alam's marina at Port Ghalib has become the main embarkation point for local day boats and liveaboards heading to the Marine Park Islands and southern reefs. Day boats also depart from the jetty at Marsa Alam itself, until recently just a sleepy fishing village. South towards the Ras Banas peninsular is Hamata with a second harbour used by liveaboards.
Marsa Alam's 'local dive sites' are spread over a 100km stretch of coastline with around 20 sites already identified, and more un-named. The Dolphins of Samadai (Dolphin House) and the resident Dugong at Abu Dabab have received the spotlight more recently.
The best known offshore reef is probably Elphinstone's with its north and south plateaux and steep walls rivalling those of the Marine Park Islands. Between Marsa Alam and Ras Banas are a number more offshore reefs including Fury Sholes. South of Ras Banas is the vast, complex reef system of St Johns. From St Johns to the Sudan border the reefs are largely closed to tourists.
While day boat diving is increasingly the norm north of Ras Banas, the nature of the reefs equally lends itself to shore diving. Fringing coastal reefs are broken by small marsas and sharms, two forms of natural bay, allowing easy access to their outer walls (sharm means shape being like a camel's lips). The back reefs contain swim throughs, holes and tunnel systems providing interesting ways to start and finish your dive. Unlike Ras Mohamed's dramatic drops the walls in the south are shallower, rarely more than 55m, with a shelving sandy seabed below. There is little to deflect the northerlies that blow in winter here but the fact that most of the reefs are not in open water, and usually accessible from shore, means diving can be year round.
Diving Holidays in Egypt's Red Sea
