Marsa Shagra Featured Hot

Established over 20 years ago, Marsa Shagra was discovered by Hossam Helmy and his Red Sea Diving Safari team whilst exploring the fringe reef on the Egyptian coastline between Safaga and Sudan.

One of three natural bays, which also include Marsa Nakari Village and Wadi Lahami Village, which essentially put the region of Marsa Alam on the map.

At Marsa Shagra, Hossam has endeavoured to promote sustainable tourism along with eco diving and his educational diving programmes are a continuation of his desire to ensure the long term future of this area.

This unique tour gives divers exclusive access to many outstanding reefs including Elphinstone and Samadi Reefs from this still relatively remote location. Marsa Shagra benefits from an extensive and diverse house reef with hard and soft corals of offshore quality. Our guests say these villages are the best value and all-round diving experience you will find in the Red Sea. With the hyperbaric chamber and medical centre on site it is a perfect location for divers.

Marsa Shagra is the larger of the villages and is suitable for all levels of qualification from non divers to instructors – there really is something for everyone.

All of the Oonasdivers team have extensive knowledge of all three villages and will be able to help you decide which of these stunning villages best suits you. It is also possible to combine Marsa Shagra, Marsa Nakari and Wadi Lahami in one trip, spending time at two or even all locations.  Marsa Shagra Village is a unique concept, superbly located to provide the very best diving in this southern area. As a guest you are completely free to dive at leisure and relax in one of the most peaceful of environments on the planet.

Beach Safari Tents

Next to the waters edge, these spacious twin bedded tents have electricity and share modern toilet and shower facilities. A great choice for those who enjoy an expeditionary feel and briefly wish to leave the western world behind. Inside each tent there are 2 beds a metre apart and you are supplied with 2 sheets, blankets (not necessary in summer) and a pillow per person.

Taking a small torch may prove useful at night should you need to go to the bathroom.

Royal Tents

Royal tents are the ideal choice for couples, being almost twice the size of a normal tent and include the choice of either a double bed or twins. They have a floor standing fan, mini-fridge, wardrobe, bean bag seats and table, with a small table and chairs situated outside – perfect for catching the early morning sunrise. They share the same bathroom facilities as the standard tents.

Mandarah Lodges

The Mandarah is an ancient Egyptian term, which describes a guest room for very close friends or relatives in an Egyptian house. The huts have a tiled floor and two beds, bedside table and a clothes cupboard. The Mandarahs are three and a half metres square with domed roofs and terraces with a sea and bay view. Guests staying in Mandarahs share the same bathroom facilities as the standard and royal tents.

Madyafa Guest Houses

Built in the same attractive Arabic style as the Mandarahs, they are more spacious with en-suite facilities. The term Madyafa comes from the ancient Egyptian era. Facilities include twin or double beds, wardrobe, a side table, dressing table with mirror, shower, toilet and terrace. The Madyafa is 40 metres square divided into two by 24 metres square rooms inside with domed roofs. In addition there are two terraces, front and rear, each measure 8 metres square, which have bamboo chairs. The terraces have a mountain view and a sea view.

Deluxe Madyafa Guest Houses

With the additional benefit of air conditioning, mini refrigerator and tea and coffee making facilites these guest houses are fantastic for those hot summer months.

Two of the guest houses have inter-connecting doors, great for young families.

Amenities

Linen is provided

You will need to bring your own towels for beach and shower use with the exception of guests staying in the Madyafa Guest Houses and Deluxe Madyafa Guest Houses where a shower towel will be provided.

220v recharging points available

Medical Kit and Emergency Oxygen

Cylinder storage

Rinse tanks and drying lines

On site shop for forgotten essentials such as insect repellant, toothpaste and suncream (limited supply only)

Children's playground

Internet access

International calls

Safety deposit box

We can arrange direct flights from Gatwick or Manchester to Marsa Alam on the following days:

April - November 2011

Gatwick - each Wednesday

Manchester - each Thursday

November 2011 - April 2012

Gatwick - each Thursday

Manchester - each Monday

It is also possible to fly from Gatwick, Manchester and other regional airports into Hurghada on a Monday, Friday and sometimes a Saturday.

The flight to Marsa Alam normally takes around 5 hours.

From Marsa Alam Airport the journey to Marsa Shagra takes approximately thirty minutes and from Hurghada airport the journey takes approximately 3 hours.

The Red Sea Diving Safari representative will meet you outside the terminal building holding a Red Sea Safari notice (see above). You will need to purchase your £13 Egypt entrance visa at the counter in the arrival lounge.

You will be supplied with three hearty meals a day in a buffet style layout, plus freshly baked cake is available in the late afternoon. Tea, coffee, water and bottled soft drinks are included free, cans (diet & tonic) are chargeable.

Egyptian beer is available as well as fresh juices, speciality teas and coffees, ice cream, chocolate and crisps – all of which are allocated to your room by name, signed for and settled at the end of the week during check out.

Vegetarians and other special dietary requirements are very well catered for.  Please let us know in advance regarding your requirements.

Desert Excursions & Astrology

Red Sea Desert Adventures offer you a unique experience for Eastern Desert excursions with visits to Al Shelatin camel market, or mountain trips to Pharaonic, Ptolemaic and Roman ruins or gold and emerald mines.

Stargazing is something you should not miss as you explore the crystal clear night sky.

Snorkeling

Both Marsa Shagra and Marsa Nakari give the best opportunities for non-diving family and friends to see the diversity and colour of marine life.

Other Activties

Bubbles Oxygen Bar and Lounge

Bedouin Lounge

Desert Excursions by horse and camel

Land Sailing

Beach Buggies

Kayaking

Within your package we include unlimited house reef diving as well as 4 Guided dives as part of your dive package, 2 guided house reef orientation dives on your first diving day, and 2 truck dives outside of the village during your stay, further excursions are now all booked and paid for locally. . Your first dive will be an orientation dive on Marsa Shagra's house reef accompanied by a guide. After this you are free to enjoy Marsa Shagra's unlimited diving set up where you have the freedom to dive in buddy pairs at your own pace and at the time of your choosing. With the waters edge just meters away from the dive shade you can get kitted up and go!

The diving program covers over 60 dive sites which are categorised into a 'zoning system':

Zone A

House Reef and shore dives accessible by mini bus or RIB (standard dive package) which includes the following dive sites:

Marsa Shagra

Marsa Abu Dabbab

Sharm Shuni

Marsa Assalai

Marsa Egla

Egla Top

Nemo City

Abu Nawas Garden

Marsa Samadai

Zone B

Short range off shore dive sites accessible by high performance RIB which includes the following dive sites (these are optional and are booked and paid for on site):

Sharm Abu Dabbab

Shaab Abu Dabbab

Nelson Reef (Shaab El Nabaa)

Abu Ghusoon

Zone C

Long Range off shore dive sites accessible by high performance RIB which includes the following dive sites (these are optional and are booked and paid for on site):

Elphinstone

Full Day Excursions

You also have the option to take a full day trip by hard boat to the following dive sites (these are optional and are booked and paid for on site):

Shaab Samadai (Dolphin House Reef)

Shaab Marsa Alam

Fury Shoals

Unlimited House Reef Diving

Shagra is situated in front of a small bay (Marsa)  with a sandy bottom. The dive centre is in front of this bay which is the base for Marsa Shagra's unlimited diving set up. Marsa Shagra bay has a superb house reef which is home to hundreds of marine life species and an excellent variety of soft and hard corals.

The bay is shallow, starting from 1-10 metres in depth and slowly dropping as you reach the outside walls of 40-50m in depth.

High performance speedboats are on standby at your request offering the option of up to 6 different dive patterns within the house reef. These dives are unguided which allows for a real sense of exploration and adventure.

Shore Dives

The shore diving program is included as part of your standard unlimited diving package. Two guided dives per day by either mini bus or RIB are offered. These depart twice daily, the first in the morning between 7 and 8am and the second in the afternoon between 1.30 and 2.00pm. Upon arrival at the site your guide will give you a full briefing.

Off Shore Diving

You will also have the opportunity to take a boat or RIB trip to Elphinstone and Shaab Samadai (Dolphin House), as well as Shaab Marsa Alam and Fury Shoals. These trips can be booked and paid for on site.

Diving Course Supplements (Booked and paid for in advance, in addition to standard diver package):

Please note the above prices include equipment hire unless otherwise stated and are in addition to the standard diver package price. Please note these prices exclude the PADI licence fee and manual.

Speciality Course Supplements (Booked and paid for in advance, in addition to standard diver package)

Please note the above prices exclude equipment hire and are in addition to the standard diver package price. Please note these prices exclude the PADI licence fee and manual.

Divemaster & Instructor Courses

Please note the above prices exclude equipment, licence fee and dive supplements

Diving Courses for Children (Booked and paid for in advance, in addition to standard diver package)

Please note the above prices include equipment hire unless otherwise stated and are in addition to the standard diver package price. Please note these prices exclude the PADI licence fee and manual.

Course Manuals

Non-diver discounts deducted from standard diver package

If you have a family member or friend who is not a qualified diver but would like to have a taster or enjoy the amazing snorkeling on offer please see the relevant discounts below.

Please note the above prices include equipment.

Equipment Rental Prices (Payable on site):

Please note rental equipment is subject to a 10% sales tax. On site credit card payments are subject to a 3% surcharge

Dive Supplements (In addition to standard dive package, payable on site):

Extras (Booked and paid for in advance):

Hi there

Yes we had an amazing time once again! If you could pass on our comments to the team @ Red Sea Diving Safari that would be great:

Once again we had a great trip @ Marsa Shagra. What makes this place so special is not just the house reef and the unlimited diving but the whole team that work there to ensure that everything runs so smoothly. From the cleaners and the gardeners who you hardly ever see, (yet somehow kee the place immaculate and the plants/shrubs maintained) to the guys in the Dive Shade who work such long hours keeping watch over everything,  Special mention also to the lads who work on the Zodiacs/RIBs, (Sorry, but we didn't get their names!)  hauling us and our kit in and out of the water, they handle everything with such ease and always have smiles on their faces. We always felt safe in their hands that we would be picked up after the hour, even if it did get a bit choppy some afternoons making it difficult to sometimes see the SMB's we were never waiting long. We loved the way we were always greeted when picked up by Zodiac with the comment "Welcome Back"  - Such a nice touch!

Thanks also to the chaps in the Cafeteria, Abdul and the other guys, always cheerful and kept a constant supply of ice coming for us, to go with our Vodka Tonics!  The young guy who cleaned the Bean Bag area was also so hard working and again, always with a smile on his face, even sweeping the sand, he kept the place immaculate!

One last special mention to Whaleed (?) the Chef in the restaurant, I complimented him one night on a dish that we had enjoyed and that was it...! he would surprise us lunch and dinner with special little dishes he made up that he knew we liked, even asking us what we would like for our "last dinner"  - a real great guy, he made us feel very special - A true example of going above and beyond and "dazzling" customers, great service!

I'll try and get some photos over to you once they're all uploaded, thanks again for your help also booking the trip, everything always goes so smoothly when we book with you and we love the personalised service of booking with Oonas rather than with a large travel company : )

Anna & Jason Kennedy

Hi Sharmin and Alison,

Paul and I would like to say a HUGE thank you to both of you for helping us book and make our honeymoon so special and for being so efficient at re-arranging new flights for us during the horrible snow fiasco.

We had an absolutely amazing time. It is a fantastic place, with wonderful people and amazing diving!!  Luckily the water temperature was unusually warm for that time of year - a toasty 27degrees.  We want to go back again already :)

Thank you sooooo much for everything and we wish you both a wonderful Christmas and New Year.

Kristen & Paul Fassolas xxx

we came back from marsa shagra late last night  just want to say thanks for a really fantastic hol, you are right the place is beautiful infact we went to the maldives last year and in some ways marsa shagra

is more beautiful than the island we went to! the staff couldnt be more helpful the accommondation was one of the best i have stayed in and it was sooooo peaceful there.  and the diving of course was brill!

We had a fab time thanks. would deffo go back and also recommend to others . ps weather was 31+ degrees

Theresa Cloake

Just wanted to say thanks for sorting out a totally awesome week!  Everything was spot on, and I really didn't want to leave.  I can't recommend Shagra high enough - the ability to just pick up a tank and get in the water is worth its weight in gold, the dive guides/instructors are all excellent (special thanks to Mahmoud and Ismail) and the quality of the diving was simply superb.  I can't gush enough about the beautiful house reefs, and the amazing wall at Elphinstone...

Food & Accommodation was also of a high quality

Rob Quagliozzi