Red Sea Diving Safari (Marsa Shagra)
Red Sea Diving Safari, founded in 1990 by Hossam Helmy, operates its flagship shore-based eco-village at Marsa Shagra, approximately 22 km north of Marsa Alam town and 20 minutes south of Marsa Alam International Airport (RMF). Recognized as a pioneer in sustainable tourism, the center offers an immersive eco-diving adventure.
Services & Diving
- House Reef Diving: Enjoy unlimited diving on Marsa Shagra's extensive and pristine 2 km house reef, accessible directly from the beach. The bay features depths from 1-10 meters, gradually dropping to 40-50 meters on its outer walls, teeming with diverse marine life and corals. Certified divers receive two guided orientation dives on their first day, then have the freedom to dive unguided with a buddy from 6 AM to 8 PM. Zodiacs are available for accessing different areas of the house reef.
- Guided Excursions: The dive center organizes boat and truck excursions to world-famous dive sites, including Elphinstone Reef, Dolphin House (Shaab Samadai), and Abu Dabbab. Elphinstone is a notable outer range dive site, known for its drop-offs and potential for shark encounters.
- Technical Diving: Red Sea Diving Safari supports PADI TecRec Tec 40, Tec 45, and Tec 50 courses, including specialized technical trips to Elphinstone Arch.
- On-site Amenities: The village features a fully equipped dive center with individual storage boxes, rinsing facilities, and an electricity bank for charging equipment. An on-site hyperbaric medical center provides an added layer of safety.
Certification Courses
As a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort, Red Sea Diving Safari offers a comprehensive range of PADI certification courses for all levels, from beginner to professional. Courses include:
- PADI Open Water Diver
- PADI Advanced Open Water Diver
- PADI Rescue Diver
- PADI Divemaster
- Specialty certifications such as Nitrox Diver, Deep Diver, Night Diver, Wreck Diver, Drift Diver, Boat Diver, Peak Performance Buoyancy, and Sidemount Diver.
- The center also provides TDI Technical Diving Courses and AIDA Free Diving Courses.
Equipment
- Full diving equipment rental is available, with rental included free of charge for participants of the Open Water Course.
- Tanks offered include 12-liter aluminum tanks (single valve, DIN or INT) with both Air and Nitrox fills, and 15-liter tanks (Air only) upon request.
- Divers are required to carry a dive computer (except for entry-level courses), a Delayed Surface Marker Buoy (DSMB), and an alternate air source.
Location & Expertise
Located directly on the Red Sea coastline, the dive center staff are available daily from 6 AM to 8 PM. Languages spoken by the instructors and staff include English, German, Italian, and Arabic. Red Sea Diving Safari also hosts various workshops, including freediving, marine life, reef check, fluorescence, photography, videography, and yoga.