Marsa Alam - any tips

[Jerry Barrett]

Hi Guys

Looks like I'm off to MA for a week shortly - any experiences in that area you can pass on please. dive operators and dive sites worth a peek.

Many Thanks
Jerry

[Alan Taylor]

Tell you next week, going on friday from Manchester.:D

[sharkhunter]

Where you staying in MA?

We stayed at the Kahramana and used the dive centre there which is Pioneer Divers (http://www.redsea-divingsafari.com/pioneerfact.html), (their website is rubbish, but it gives you some info) part of Red Sea Diving Safari. They were good, we enjoyed diving with them and they are better than most. [OK, they are no Werner Lau, which IMHO are the best dive operates and if you want unguided real diving then this is the dive company to use, but they arn't in MA]

Most the dives are done by truck or rib and they also have there own bay, SHAGRA VILLAGE, where you can do unguided dives in the bay if qualified, which is cool.

These are the best:
Elphinestone Reef (35 Minutes)
Abu Dabbab (50 Minutes)
Shaab Marsa Alam (55 Minutes)

Generally the dive sites have good reefs, but not much big stuff unless you go out to Elphinestone, which has Oceanic White Tips there in October and Hammerheads in June-July...the cool stuff ;)

As usual Red Sea Rules apply here as well, except you can wear a dive knife, unlike Sharm (what a stupid rule or what!! :mad: ) Most dives are guided as usual in the Red Sea, (what are we, all children or something!! :mad: ), as you can tell I'm not over impressed with "being guided round a museum" style of diving that most dive operators seam to do, but don't be put off as there are some fantastic dive sites and excellent reefs, and Pioneer are one of the best I've used in the Red Sea.


PS: The dolphin bay all day dive trip is a bit a con. The dives are ok, but when it comes to the snorkeling with the wild dolphins those dam Red Sea Rule come into play again.
1/ You have to wear an inflated life jacket
2/ No skin diving down to the dolphins
3/ No touching
4/ Can't go into their area

So you don't get the real wild experience, and IMHO I didn't think if worth the money.

Hope this is helpful :o

Hi Guys

Looks like I'm off to MA for a week shortly - any experiences in that area you can pass on please. dive operators and dive sites worth a peek.

Many Thanks
Jerry

[Gordon]

Something to possibly consider - I heard through the grape vine that Kahramana (a fantastic hotel - had a great time while we were there) has recently blown a massive chunk out of the house reef, meaning its now great for boat access, not so for the coral reef that used to be there. Cant tell you how great the snorkelling was on the reef as we didnt try due to the massive swell (take a jumper, it was seriously windy when we went at Easter last year) but did look fantastic.
Dont take my word as true, I did only hear it through the grapevine.
But if it is true....

[sharkhunter]

As Gordon says, the Kahramana resort is good, it's also HUGE.

I was there in June/July and it was very windy then as well, so maybe MA is always windy. :p

The house reef off the Kanramana is ok, but not that good, put it this way, it's no match for places like Ras Gamila or Ras Umm Sid let allow Jackson (Sharm el Sheikh dive sites), and if they have destroyed a big section of what little there was for water access then you're better off going round the corner to the SHAGRA VILLAGE, where it's much better. It's a fair walk, but if you go to Pioneer dive centre and pay a small fee they will take you round there.


Something to possibly consider - I heard through the grape vine that Kahramana (a fantastic hotel - had a great time while we were there) has recently blown a massive chunk out of the house reef, meaning its now great for boat access, not so for the coral reef that used to be there. Cant tell you how great the snorkelling was on the reef as we didnt try due to the massive swell (take a jumper, it was seriously windy when we went at Easter last year) but did look fantastic.
Dont take my word as true, I did only hear it through the grapevine.
But if it is true....

[Jerry Barrett]

Thanks Guys

Useful info - staying at the Lamaya Iberotel or something like that.

Its next to extra divers a German bunch from what I can tell, should be well organised, really want some no brainers - follow the guide is fine with me.

Will look out for some of those sites you mention thanks.

Jerry :)

[Alan Taylor]

Tell you next week, going on friday from Manchester.:D


Have a look at the report on BSAC Travel Club, GO, Grab yourself a BARGIN! but don't tell anyone else!:) :) :)

Alan:)

[Alan Taylor]

Something to possibly consider - I heard through the grape vine that Kahramana (a fantastic hotel - had a great time while we were there) has recently blown a massive chunk out of the house reef, meaning its now great for boat access, not so for the coral reef that used to be there. Cant tell you how great the snorkelling was on the reef as we didnt try due to the massive swell (take a jumper, it was seriously windy when we went at Easter last year) but did look fantastic.
Dont take my word as true, I did only hear it through the grapevine.
But if it is true....

No holes No boats last week (Jack Custard did it at the Blue Hole in Belize,to get Calypso in, but who are we to argue)just the hazard of italian thongs and cobble stones:D

[Alison Boler]

Read Alan's trip report

http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/reports/marsa2.htm

Thanks for that, Alan!

Allie

[Alan Taylor]

Read Alan's trip report

http://www.bsactravelclub.co.uk/reports/marsa2.htm

Thanks for that, Alan!

Allie

Anytime only problem was all the dive sites sound like they come off a kebab shop menu and take some getting used to:D

PPS The headphone socket on TC airline is Two Pin, might save a shilling or two:)