Marsa alam dive sites

[matkamees]

Hi great divers.
Having a diving trip to Marsa Alam. Never been there before. Have browsed all possible threads in many different diving sites but still struggle to figure out with which dive operator to go for 5 days dive.

Have communicated with Emperor Divers Marsa Alam and Colona Divers Marsa Alam. Colona informed they do shore based diving except 1 day to Samadai,Dolphin House. Emperor hasn't replayed yet.

Looking on Marsa Aalam dive site maps e.g. Samaka web-site WELCOME TO AZIAB or www.emepror.com it's hard to understand how far most of the dive sites are from the shore. May-be the sites mostly are from shore dive sites.

If anybody could give me some guidance, I would be greatly thankful. At last if from shore dive sites are fine enough concerning the density of sea life, corals heath and population, pools of fish, etc. I don't care so much about sharks (seen then enough in San Salvador) but pools of fish, turtles, many soft and hard corals, etc. Also while diving in Bunaken I realized that it's not always the depth what matters for me but rather have lower dive sites but more sea life.

Thanks,

 

[Solly]

where are you staying in marsa alam?
usually the operator in the place you are staying would be the best choice as you can plan your dives with shore dives on the house reef, shore dives to nearby reefs (trucks are used to go to these sites) and boat dives to other dive sites (elphinstone, samadai, abu dabab...etc.) but again, marsa alam sites are a lot and they extend all over the long coast hence you have to check where you are staying, the operator schedule and then decide what you need to do.

Most of the reefs of the shore dives are very nice, lots of corals and fish life.

 

[ED Marsa Alam]

Hi, This Mikaela from Empereor Divers Marsa Alam. We offer boat diving everyday, and sail from 15 minutes to up to an hour and a half up and down the coast, with the exception of a couple of our special trips being shore dives (Abu Dabab & Hamada Wreck). Each day consists of two dives and an optional third. I am not sure if this helps but feel free to email me directly and i will answer any more questions you have?! info.marsa@emperordivers.comhopefully hear from you soon!

 

[matkamees]

Thanks Ed Marsa Alam. Sory but we are diving with Colona Divers as it appears (intermediated by travel agent and the price was too good not to take the offer!) and they stated they will do that week diving from shores but didn't provide the schedule by email.

Solly - Staying at Marina Lodge in Port Ghaleb. Thanks for insuring me that we will have nice dives from shore or otherwise.

Sometimes it's good to go prepared and know what to ask from dive operators, so good advice of which are the very nice dive site with great healthy corals and much sea life is good negotiation points.

Thanks and I will try to make short report when back.

 

[Solly]

I haven't dove with Colona (or Empror) before, but the feedback we hear about both operators is just perfect and I am sure you will enjoy your trip.
review the schedule upon arrival and you can still ask them for extra trips to further places by boat if needed. Shore diving is not just on the local house reef, it also (should) contain going by trucks to more places that are away from your stay to do shore dives there.

 

[nomro]

try marsa-shagra.org I loved that place.

 

[milandro]

I just came back from a great holiday there in Marsa Alam. I dived with Colona Divers (all dives were boat dives leaving from Port Ghalib just 500meters from my hotel ) which I did prefer to Emperor despite them being the so called resident diving center to my hotel (it is really in the hotel next door).

Colona is a Swedish managed diving center where Jimmy and Emma and all their instructors and dive masters do a great job.

I have dived with Moustafa who was a great guy to work with.

we have never visited twice the same reef in the five times we went out and sometimes had two different locations the same day. The most spectacular dive was with a huge Dugong an experience that I had looked forward to do my whole life.

Unfortunately in this month visibility wasn’t always great but I will certainly dive again with Colona divers and go back to Marsa Alam.