Exploring Underwater Photography in the Red Sea's Marsa Shagra
For those seeking an unforgettable diving experience in the heart of the Red Sea, Egypt's southern coast near Marsa Alam offers a treasure trove of vibrant coral reefs, diverse marine life, and exceptional dive sites.
Marsa Alam, renowned for its crystal-clear waters and rich biodiversity, is a popular destination for advanced divers and underwater photographers. The region hosts several top dive locations, including the Dolphin House Reef, where divers can encounter dolphins and a myriad of reef fish. Other exciting sites feature wall dives, swim-throughs, and rare sightings of creatures such as dugongs and Red Sea sharks.
One of the standout dive camps in the area is Marsa Shagra, operated by the Egyptian Red Sea Diving Safari. Known among European divers for its numerous excellent dive sites, Marsa Shagra offers direct access to a large, unspoiled house reef teeming with marine life and crystal-clear warm water. The camp caters to various accommodation preferences, from tents on the beach to chalets with air-conditioning.
Dr. Erich Ritter hosts shark weeks in November at Marsa Shagra, attracting many famous divers and underwater explorers. Blue Spotted Rays can be found on almost every dive around Marsa Shagra, making it a paradise for underwater photographers.
The restaurant at the dive camp offers 5-star food with a large buffet of European, American, and Oriental cuisine, ensuring a comfortable stay for all visitors. The camp is located in a remote desert area along the Red Sea coast, offering a unique and serene diving experience.
One of the favourite trips from Marsa Shagra is the Elphinstone Reef, an offshore reef that is home to oceanic sharks, hammerhead sharks, and friendly large Napoleon wrasse fish. Another notable location is Abu Dabbab, a bay at Marsa Shagra, known for its shallow depth and sea grass bed, attracting large numbers of huge green sea turtles and dugongs.
Dolphin House, an offshore reef near Marsa Shagra, is home to a large number of dolphins. To protect these creatures, there are strong restrictions for diving and snorkeling at Dolphin House.
For those travelling from Europe, direct flights to Marsa Alam are available from several cities. Flights from the USA may require a stopover in Cairo.
Experienced divers and underwater photographers can also embark on liveaboard diving trips, which depart from Marsa Alam or nearby ports. These trips provide access to remote sites with exceptional dive experiences, such as Daedalus Reef, famous for frequent hammerhead shark sightings and pristine coral walls, and the Brothers Islands, a shark haven with spectacular wall dives.
With its combination of accessible house reefs, remote walls populated by megafauna, excellent diving infrastructure, and liveaboard options, the southern Red Sea around Marsa Alam is one of the best regions for advanced Red Sea diving and underwater photography.
Water temperatures in the Red Sea range from 20 Celsius in January/February to 28-29 Celsius in July/August, and 26 Celsius in the fall/spring. Divers at Marsa Shagra can dive as much as they want throughout the day, with safety procedures in place to ensure everyone's safety. Whether you're an experienced diver or an underwater photographer, the southern Red Sea promises an unforgettable diving adventure.
- Marsa Alam, a celebrated destination for divers and underwater photographers, offers an assortment of vibrant coral reefs and diversity in marine life.
- The Dolphin House Reef in Marsa Alam is a favorite spot for divers, where encounters with dolphins and a multitude of reef fish occur frequently.
- Marsa Shagra, a renowned dive camp in the region, caters to a variety of accommodating preferences and features direct access to an unspoiled house reef teeming with marine life.
- Famous divers and underwater explorers flock to Marsa Shagra during Dr. Erich Ritter's shark weeks in November.
- Underwater photographers revel in the Blue Spotted Rays that can be found on almost every dive around Marsa Shagra.
- The restaurant at Marsa Shagra provides 5-star cuisine with a diverse selection of European, American, and Oriental dishes, ensuring comfort for all visitors.
- One of the favorite trips from Marsa Shagra is the Elphinstone Reef, a home to oceanic sharks, hammerhead sharks, and large Napoleon wrasse fish.
- Abu Dabbab, a bay at Marsa Shagra, is renowned for its shallow depth and sea grass bed, attracting large numbers of huge green sea turtles and dugongs.
- Direct flights to Marsa Alam are available from several cities in Europe, while flights from the USA may require a stopover in Cairo.
- Liveaboard diving trips depart from Marsa Alam or nearby ports, providing access to remote sites with exceptional dive experiences, such as Daedalus Reef and the Brothers Islands.
- The southern Red Sea around Marsa Alam boasts accessible house reefs, remote walls populated by megafauna, excellent diving infrastructure, and stunning opportunities for underwater photography, making it one of the best regions for advanced Red Sea diving.
