Marsa Alam in March

[blondie1]

We are looking into going to Marsa Alam in March. We have been to Sharm twice in the past 5 years, but found it very overcrowded last time we visited - hence thinking of going to Marsa Alam this time. I have logged approx 40 dives and my husband approx 90. We like to dive twice a day, but are not really "hard core" divers - we also like very comfortable hotel and good food....

What kind of fishlife should we expect to see at that time of year? Can anyone recommend a good hotel and a good dive company?

 

[Mark Goodchild]

Hi Blondie!

Can't speak for March I'm afraid. Went in September last year. Booked through a dive club. Although it was a Regal diving trip with Emperor divers. Recommended.

Really great place. Here is my report (Hope it helps):
http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Reports/MarsaAlamTripReportSept04.htm

Some more photos I took:
http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Gallery/Egypt1/index.html

And some videos from the region too...save them to disk is better or they are choppy until loaded...

http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Images/Video Thumbs/Egypt_anthias.jpg
http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Movies/Fusilier.MPG
http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Movies/Dugong.MPG
http://www.zerovisibility.co.uk/Movies/EatingJellyfish.MPG

Enough for now! Hope this all helps.

 

[gehadoski]

I will go with Mark Goodchild and recommend the Emperor diving centers, they are very professional. I hope that you like diving with them.

 

[DesertEagle]

Mark, that is an excellent trip report with great photos.

I went 4 years ago during December. Conditions were a little rougher than in summer but not bad. Back then the only operation was Pioneer Divers/Red Sea Diving Safari. Our multinational group enjoyed them very much. I stayed at the Kahramana which was quite comfortable. To get to the dive boat we would first board a zodiak that would ferry us to the dive boat. A jetty would have made things easier.

Elphinstone was my favorite dive, by far. The reef is absolutely covered in corals and swarms of fish. It is a fantastic drift dive and you are bound to see just about everything. Imagine Ras Mohammed time three, but with fewer divers. Be aware that the dive centers may require 50 logged dives. If you start with 40 dives and do a few easier dives first, you can probably go. I have attached a few photos from Elphinstone. Sorry but they weren't scanned very well and are heavily cropped.

Last year I went with Emperor Divers in Sharm el Sheikh. Based upon my experience in Sharm I have no problem recommending them in Marsa Alam.