Marsa Shagra | Red Sea Diving Safari | Red Sea Diving Holidays

Marsa Shagra - Red Sea

HOLIDAY PACKAGE - FROM £1250

Marsa Shagra is something quite special, the diving concept and stunning location offers divers the opportunity to wake up as the sun rises, roll out of bed to the sound of the ocean, and then dive as much, or as little as they like. One visit and we promise you will be hooked!

INCLUDED IN THE PRICE

7 nights’ accommodation
Beach Safari Tent full board
Flights & Transfers
5 day unlimited house reef diving package
2 orientation dives on first diving day
Cylinders & Weights

KEY HOLIDAY HIGHLIGHTS

Beachfront Tents & Chalets
Stunning 2km house reef
Ideal for underwater photographers
Access to Elphinstone & Dolphin House
Yoga, Technical & Free Diving
Focused on sustainable tourism

VIEW BROCHURE

Marsa Shagra Resort Video

Take a look around Marsa Shagra Resort and the activites available on-site.
Red Sea Diving Safari Overview

Watch the original 2010 video trailer for RSDS and see more about thier history.
Marsa Shagra Aerial Video

Experience Marsa Shagra Resort from the Air. Get a feel for the resort from our drone video.
David Diley RSDS Feature

Our Video Workshop leader David Diley created this cinematic video of RSDS during a trip in 2019.

The ultimate diving adventure! Enjoy the relaxed, laid back atmosphere of Marsa Shagra, a unique location the likes of which you will not find anywhere else in the world. Marsa Shagra offers an unlimited diving concept where you can dive as much, or as little as you like.

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, these 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.

As well as unlimited access to Marsa Shagra's extensive and diverse house reef, this unique tour gives divers exclusive access to many other outstanding reefs including Elphinstone, Dolphin House Reef (Samadai) and Abu Dabbab, where if you are lucky you might spot the elusive Dugong.

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. Now we can also offer Technical Diving Courses at Marsa Shagra.

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.

On-site facilities: include BARO Medical Hyperbaric Center, WiFi, International Calls/Fax, Laundry Service, Football, Basketball, Volleyball, Massage, Kayaking, Kids Playground, Mosque,

Nearby facilities include ATM Machine, Kahramana Swimming Pool and Aqua Park, Supermarket, Pharmacy, Kite Surfing in Wadi Lahami.

The Massage Tent

Enjoy a relaxing massage in front of the sea. The professional masseur offers you a variety of therapeutic massage sessions: 30 min "Foot & Head Relax" / 60 min "Back/Neck & Feet Relax" / 60 min "Hot Stone Massage" / 90 min "Body Relax"

***Special Offer***

Guests staying for a minimum of 4 weeks consecutive or longer will receive a discounted price on accommodation and diving!

This offer is valid for stays at Marsa Shagra, Marsa Nakari and Wadi Lahami, or a combination of villages.

Prices start from £2595 per person based on a 28 night stay and include flights*, transfers, accommodation in a Royal Tent twin share, full board and 20 days unlimited diving.

*Flights prices and accommodation may differ depending on duration, location and time of year..

Give us a call on 01323 648924 or drop us a line at info@oonasdivers.com and get your extended holiday booked!

We have included the resort map so you can get a feel for how the various element of the resort are laid out. Also, we find our customers often like to reserve certain room numbers as they like the view or may prefer to be closer or further away from the main services. As a guide, the walk from Chalet 52 to the dive shade will take around 7-10 minutes.

Oonasdivers and Red Sea Diving Safari (RSDS) have been Red Sea diving partners for over 20 years. We have worked exclusively together to create renowned scuba diving experiences in the southern Red Sea across their three outstanding scuba diving focussed soft tourism resorts.

Diving at RSDS is kept something of a secret by those who visit. There is an air of “I want to keep this to myself” for every diver who has been there, and that is really part of the essence that makes these resorts so special. Owned and led since the late 1980’s by Hossam, his family and long serving team, many of whom have worked at the resort for over 10 years. Oonasdivers founder worked with Hossam to open up the Red Sea to scuba divers in the 1990’s from the UK.

Hossam’s focus on reef protection has created what is probably the best house reef in the Red Sea. Marsa Shagra has two kilometres of private house reef open daily for the resorts visitors to explore at their leisure. You can find all of the marine life expected in the Red Sea just on this reef. Recently, Eagle Rays were mating in the area between the Marsa, offering divers daily sightings of these beautiful creatures.

The resorts each have their own identity and feel which has developed over time as the number of divers has increased. ‘Shagra’, as it is often called, is by far the most visited. It offers the largest house reef and daily access to Elphinstone for diving with the Longimanus. Guests are often drawn to its smaller sister ‘Nakari’, on their second or third visit to RSDS or may have already had a taste after a one-day dive trip from Shagra to see what it’s all about. Nakari offers a quieter, more laid-back setting with less divers, resulting in a highly relaxing diving experience. Moving onto Wadi Lahami, the frontier resort, where although there may be a capacity of 60 divers you will often find no more than 20 in resort at any one time. Here you can really get the feel of being miles away from anywhere.

Wadi Lahami is located on an almost empty coastline where the mangrove areas attract a wonderful variety of wildlife that you may not expect to see in Egypt. The daily diving at the Fury Shoals delivers outstanding dives over and over. The newly renovated Deluxe Chalets with A/C will without a doubt be a draw for our regulars and those looking to experience the adventure of this remote village for the first time.

Back in the late 1980’s Hossam and his small dive team used to travel down the coast road by truck stopping off and putting up tents every few days. In essence a land based dive safari. This later developed into the three fixed resorts, but the same tent experience is available still and is a very popular option with guests.

Since the 1980’s, as resorts have developed they have carefully added locally styled chalets with internationally recognised facilities such as A/C, LCD TV, fridge with daily refilled mini-bar, kettle and tea and coffee making facilities. They really have it covered, and if you need anything else you just need to ask.

The resorts approach to soft tourism means that they aim to limit the use of bottled water in resort. Where possible we would kindly recommend taking your own vacuum water bottle to refill during your stay, this will mean that your visit leads to no water bottles being opened, something to be proud of we think. The mineral water is supplied using refilling water stations which are free of charge for your whole stay. Shagra has its own solar power farm enabling it to use its own renewable energy.

Since taking my role in 2016 and having visited RSDS for the first time I can honestly say I am in love with the whole experience. It isn’t possible to put everything in this website that RSDS stands for and is, or to try to explain the absolute passion it evokes in its visitors. Its a "state of mind".

As a diver with over 3000 dives under my belt, a recently qualified other half, an eager 8-year-old son and an inquisitive 6-year-old daughter, RSDS brings a new sense of adventure to what we can do as a family. Just a week past my son’s 8th birthday he was on the house reef at Shagra doing his Bubblemaker course with Ondine, one of the expert dive instructors onsite there. As I watched him take his first breath underwater, I thought about how this would have only been a dream for me when I was 8!

I am not a marine biologist by any means, but I take a keen interest in how reefs look health wise and the reefs at RSDS are exceptional. In my job I periodically re-visit destinations that we offer to monitor the effects of conservation efforts, fishing and other externalities on the dive environments and in my humble opinion the house reefs at RSDS are a glowing reflection of the 20 years Hossam and his family have protected them and managed the environment with great care and attention. Only a few metres from the beach you can find all of the varieties of marine life that you would expect to see in the Red Sea, bar the deep pelagics.

You will also find fish of the same type in varying sizes confirming that the reef is developing healthily. The house reef provides a nursery for many young fish, such as the beautiful juvenile Emperor Angelfish. I hope you find my view interesting and it gives you an insight into what RSDS is over and above your every day dive resort. We are always on hand to answer any questions you may have just drop us a call.

Beach Safari Tent

Facilities

Daily Housekeeping
Shared Bathroom
Sunrise View
Shower Towels (Upon request)
Shower gel & handwash provided in public bathrooms
Public bathrooms cleaned every 30 minutes

The Tents are one of the village hallmarks and an exciting experience of how the Red Sea Diving Safari concept all began. The Tents are on the beach-front and the interior is 3.5x3.5 meters with hand-made furniture, lighting, electricity outlet and a seating area just a few meters from the shoreline. This accommodation is available with 2 single beds and share a communal bathroom facility.

Royal Tent

Facilities

Fan
Mini Fridge
Daily Housekeeping
Shared Bathroom
Sea View
Sunrise View
Shower Towels (Upon request)
Shower gel & handwash provided in public bathrooms
Public bathrooms cleaned every 30 minutes
Non-Alcoholic minibar

The Royal Tent is the most popular accommodation option and an integral part of Red Sea Diving Safari's minimal impact concept. The interior is 5x5 meters and well furnished with a minibar, fan, bean bag chairs and table, and a seating area just a few meters from the shoreline. Royal Tents are available with a double bed or two singles and share a communal bathroom facility.

Hut

Facilities

Daily Housekeeping
Shared Bathroom
Sea View
Sunrise View
Shower Towels (Upon request)
Shower gel & handwash provided in public bathrooms
Public bathrooms cleaned every 30 minutes
Wardrobe
Side and dressing table

The Huts are simple, dome-roofed rooms set on the beach, slightly back from the shoreline but offer uninterrupted sea views. They feature two single beds, bedside table with a lamp, a wardrobe, and a fan. The Huts share a communal bathroom facility and shower towels are available if needed from the reception. Beach towels can be rented for a fee.

Deluxe Chalet

Facilities

Mini Bar
Air conditioning
Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
Safety Deposit Box
Mini Fridge
Daily Housekeeping
Wardrobe
Side and dressing table
Sunrise and sunset view
LCD TV (only in 10 chalets)

The Deluxe Chalet with air conditioning is the finest room standard and has terraces on either side, one overlooking the spectacular mountains on one side and the Red Sea on the other. The Deluxe Chalets are 4x6 metres, offer either a double bed or twin beds, ensuite, wardroves, side & dressing table. Towels are provided for showering only.

Superior Deluxe Chalet

Facilities

Air conditioning
Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
Safety Deposit Box
Mini Fridge
T.V.
Private Terrace
Daily Housekeeping
Wardrobe
Side and dressing table
Sunrise and sunset view

The finest standard Superior Deluxe Chalet occupies the best location in Marsa Shagra with a large, private terrace providing breath-taking house reef views. Situated close to the centre, each chalet features a spacious, high-quality interior including en-suite bathroom, large wardrobe space and a 50-inch LED TV. Each set of two chalets are interconnecting, therefore ideal for families.

Premium Deluxe Chalet

Facilities

Mini Bar
Air conditioning
Tea and Coffee Making Facilities
Safety Deposit Box
T.V.
Daily Housekeeping
Terrace
Wardrobe
Sunrise and sunset view

The Premium Deluxe Chalet is ideally located close to all amenities with spectacular mountain views on one side and the Red Sea on the other. With a large terrace and seating area, the chalet is furbished to a high standard and comes with air-conditioning and a large double bed.

All of the meals, plus freshly baked cake each afternoon, are included within your package. Tea, coffee, water and bottled soft drinks are also included. Beer, wine, fresh juices, speciality teas and coffees, ice cream, chocolate and crisps are not included in the package and will be allocated to your room by name, signed for and settled at the end of the week during check out. You can purchase Pizza and BBQ food during the day from the Cafeteria and drinks in the evening from the Bawadi Bar.

Marsa Shagra's restaurant offers a wide choice of culinary delights to meet with everybody's taste and palate. A lavish open buffet is served for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The restaurant also offers alternating theme nights where guests can enjoy different cuisines every night.

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

The restaurant has a welcoming ambience and an outdoor terrace furnished with natural bamboo artwork. The terrace overlooks a wonderful panoramic view of the tents, desert and the sea, you can enjoy a magnificent view of the sparkling water under the sun during the day and an unforgettable white moon shine over the black night water during dinner. If you're lucky, you can see the dolphins jumping out of the water during your breakfast, it will take your breath away!

Dining times - Breakfast, lunch and dinner are served in the restaurant at the following times:

Breakfast 06:30h-09:30h

Lunch 12:00h-14:00h

Dinner 18:30h-21:30h

The cafeteria team will provide you with all inclusive soft drinks, water and tea and coffee from 0530h - 2300h.

In order to support efforts to be as environmentally friendly as possible and reduce plastic output, guests will receive one complimentary regular bottle of mineral water that can be refilled at any of the dispensers throughout the village.

Alternatively to show support for this project, guests are invited to purchase an RSDS branded cooler bottle. Further bottles of regular bottled water can also be purchased at the cafeteria (€2 small – €3 large).

The cafeteria also serves other beverages, snacks, and item such as; specialty coffees (latte, cappuccino, espresso etc.), diet drinks, beer, chocolate, crisps, ice cream, souvenirs, etc. These items will be billed to your cafeteria list and you pay them at check-out. The cafeteria also sells small souvenirs, toiletries, and other items. If you can’t find what you are looking for in the cafeteria please ask the reception to drive you to one of the local markets. They usually accept foreign currency but it is a good idea to have Egyptian pounds just in case.

There is an intimate Bedouin lounge right on the beach where you can enjoy traditional drinks, wine, local beer and Sheesha (water pipe). This is the perfect alternative to loud and crowded hotel discotheques - you can simply enjoy a relaxed and calm evening with your family and friends right on the beach. The lounge is just near the royal tents.

In 2019 Marsa Shagra added a Pizza Oven and BBQ to support an enhanced on-demand food service from the Cafeteria in the day and the Restaurant in the evening. The fresh Italian pizza has been an instant hit with our team and all our repeat guests. There are around 10 different options to choose from and are from around 4 Euros each depending on your choice.
The BBQ serves up on-demand burgers throughout the day.

When you book your holiday as a certified diver your package includes unlimited house reef diving and two guided orientation dives on the house reef on your first diving day. After this you are free to enjoy the resort’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. The waters edge is just meters away from the dive shade so you can get kitted up and go diving when you like. In addition to the house reef there are a number of boat and truck excursions available from the resort.

Within your package we include unlimited house reef diving as well as 2 guided orientation dives on your first diving day, further excursions by truck, speed or daily boat are 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!

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 Upon arrival at the site your guide will give you a full briefing.

Off Shore Diving

Zone B & C dive sites plus full day excursions, including the opportunity to take a boat or RIB trip to Elphinstone and Shaab Samadai (Dolphin House), can be easily arranged and paid for on site.

At RSDS all diving outside of the house reef is subject to an additional charge. The cost depends on the zone of the dive site. You can purchase diving credits for use throughout your visit. We offer credit packages that fit a few top choices such as Elphinstone, Abu Dabab and Long Canyon. You can then join these dives as they are organised throughout the week around your unlimited house reef package.

The dive centre and shade are the hub of daily scuba activities at Shagra. You will hear tanks clinking from around 5am through to 9pm as guests embark on their personal dive schedules throughout the day. The centre staff are always present around the shade and office so you can check any planned zoned dives and ask any questions that you may have. The equipment team are present from around 6am if you need a missing item or to grab your rental gear. The operation of the diving board is a honed process over many years. Guests have a numbered locker (bring your own padlock when you come) to keep their gear in and then when you go for a dive you write this on the north or south board accordingly. If you are on a zodiac/zodiac profile the boatmen and dive crew will monitor the board to ensure they know who is in the water, whereabouts they are and when they need to be collected. The crew are busy with binoculars for any SMB coming up in case of an emergency so they can immediately be on hand to assist as required. They will also check your locker if you forget to remove your name from the diving board so they can be sure that you have returned. This board is fantastic for finding a buddy to dive with too.

The House Reef

The house reef is 0m-50m+ deep depending on where you dive and how far away from the shoreline you venture. There are a few overhangs 40m+ on the south side. You really have to explore it for yourself. There are six broad dive profiles offered on the house reef;

• North Reef - GO Shore / BACK Shore
• North Reef - GO Zodiac / BACK Shore
• North Reef - GO Zodiac / BACK Zodiac
• South Reef - GO Shore / BACK Shore
• South Reef - GO Zodiac / BACK Shore
• South Reef - GO Zodiac/ BACK Zodiac

RSDS still operate Truck dives to local shore based dive sites all within a 30 minute ride from the resort, Dugong sites are only a short drive away. Snorkel trips are also run in this way and a great way to see turtles in the shallows at a local lagoon. Truck Diving (Zone A)

• Marsa Abu Dabbab
• Sharm Shuni
• Marsa Shuni
• Marsa Moureen
• Marsa Egla
• Marsa Samadai
• Ras Samadai
• Marsa Nakari

RIB Diving (Zone B)
The planned RIB dives are a great way to see some outer reefs and see more of the Red Sea.
• Sharb Abu Dabbab
• Shaab El Nabaa (Nelson reef)
• Gabel el Rosas (Nemo City)
• Egla Top
• Torfa Gabel el Rosas
• Om Halhala
• Long Canyon

Elphinstone Reef (Zone C)

This is a deep torpedo shaped reef where you can see the famous Longumanus (White Tip Oceanic) and outstanding soft corals. This is a serious adrenaline dive for the advanced diver! You will find a buddy board at both Marsa Shagra and Marsa Nakari. Wadi Lahami house reef diving is operated at organised times (4 dives daily) using a zodiac due to the size of the house reef system shore based entry and return is not viable.

The house reef offers outstanding snorkelling opportunities with access from the beach or use of the jetty zodiacs to be dropped off further out to either swim back or spend time around the area for a period of time and then be collected after a specified time.

At Marsa Shagra it is possible to undertake Technical Diving training. The resort offers TDI 40, 45 and 50. The house reef has the depth to allow the training to take place from the

This location has regular groups of freedivers attending the resort. There are a number of places suitable to freedive and a spare zodiac is often set up in a location to provide a hub for freedivers to operate from. There are also a few dive sites accessible by RIB that trips are arranged to for the freedivers. One site called Canyons is particually good as it has swim-throughs and also a small wreck inside a horse-shoe shaped reef. Marcus Greatwood runs escorted freediving holidays with us. If you are interested in joining one of these give us a call.

Hossam the owner of RSDS helped devise, establish and continues to provide support to the Decompression Chamber located across the road from the resort. You can take a visit to Baro Medical to see what it is all about, just ask at reception and they will help organise it. Each guest pays an in-resort fee of 7 EUR as a donation to the chamber to keep it running. The doctor on-site also dives at the resort and is on hand if anyone happens to fall ill as happens from time to time.

The Red Sea lies between Africa and Asia and is surrounded by desert. The warm waters, minimal rainfall and sunny days attract travellers from all over the world. The diving season is year-round with visibility averaging 30m. From December to February, the nights can be cool, with warm, balmy nights in the summer months. July and August are the hottest months. In winter, there can often be a breeze. Marsa Shagra It is centrally located 253km south of Hurghada Airport, 40km south of Marsa Alam Airport and 20km north of Marsa Alam city.

There are over 1200 species of marine life that can be found in the Red Sea, the most common are clown fish, moray, turtles, napoleon, and parrot fish. Add to this sharks, dolphins, pristine corals and even the elusive dugong, and you have a diving destination that has something wonderful around every corner. Reefs team with life, a kaleidoscope of colours sure to impress every diver, with the clear waters also attracting snorkellers and underwater photographers along with beginners and those wanting to try their hand at technical diving and free diving.

Average temperatures in Summer (April-October):
Air 26-30°c / Sea: 27-31°c

Average temperatures in Winter (November-March):
Air 22-24°c / Sea 23-25°c

We can arrange flights into both Hurghada Airport and Marsa Alam Airport from a selection of airports in the UK, the flight time is around five and a half hours.

Transfers between the airport and the resort can be included within your package. You will be met by a representative from Red Sea Diving Safari outside the terminal building. The transfer time from Hurghada is approximately 3 hours, and from Marsa Alam around 30 minutes.

A Visa is required for entry into both Hurghada and Marsa Alam.

The Egyptian Pound is the currency in Egypt however euros and sterling are widely accepted in small denominations.
The time difference is GMT + 2 hours.
The calling code is +20
The plug type is C & F / 220v voltage
Please follow this link for up-to-date health advice and details of any vaccinations that are required before travel
https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/egypt

Visa - Your 30 day Egypt entrance VISA has not been included in your package unless otherwise requested.

Transfers - After passing through immigration and collecting your luggage please proceed to exit the terminal building where your Red Sea Diving Safari representative will be waiting for you outside.

Marsa Shagra, Marsa Nakari and Wadi Lahami have passed the required COVID-19 audits by the Egyptian authorities to operate.

All accommodation types in all villages are now available.

Wadi Lahami requires a minimum number of guests to open, and a minimum number of divers for the diving centre to operate.

All RSDS staff are fully vaccinated.

There are some changes on site, for example the installation of glass screens, sanitiser, increased signage, and increased sanitisation/cleaning procedures. 2 chalets in each village are designated as quarantine chalets.

All diving excursions are now operating as normal.

Water dispensers have now been reinstated, please take your refillable bottle.

RSDS would appreciate non-contact greetings where possible, and credit card payments rather than cash. We also encourage guests to leave tips on their invoice at the end of their stay, rather than cash.

Marsa Shagra was the first hotel in Marsa Alam to reopen and receive the certification from the Ministry of Tourism, Ministry of Health and Egyptian Hotels Association (required by law to operate).

Rooms

· Housekeeping service is only provided twice per week. If guests require towels and linen they are welcome to ask in the reception.
· Housekeeping staff are required to wear full suits, gloves, visors and use additional equipment for deep cleaning (e.g. steamers).

Wifi

All 3 resorts have internet access via Wi-Fi around the reception areas. Please ask at reception for more information and prices. Please remember that due to the remoteness of the location’s internet access is not always as fast and efficient as other parts of the world. This is also a shared connection for all guests, so the speed is also linked to how many others are also using the service. If you need to be connected all the time and in your Tent/Chalet then you should organise your personal WIFI/SIM Card.

Personal Wifi/SIM Card Usage

SIM cards are available to purchase at Marsa Shagra, and by prior arrangement at Marsa Nakari and Wadi Lahami. Vodafone 4G works well in Egypt. Your phone will need to be un-locked for the SIM to work in it (if you have a contract phone it will likely be locked - check with your provider before you leave). For the best data connection, purchase a MIFI before departure (a MIFI is a little box that a SIM Card slots into and provides a WIFI connection for your devices to use).

Electricity

220v European style 2 pin.

Lockers & Storage

At Shagra all Deluxe Chalets have mini safes for your valuables, for all other accommodations there are lockers available for use in reception. At Nakari & Lahami valuables can be stored in the reception safe.

Toiletries

It is possible to purchase essentials such as shampoo and toothpaste etc, but we do advise our guests to take their own.

Towels

Ample shower towels are provided in the room, beach towels can be rented for 5 Euro for the week from reception.

Drinks Plan

All resorts include inclusive water, selected soft drinks, standard tea and coffee. Speciality teas and fresh coffee and juices are available to purchase locally from €2. Beer and wine is also available.

Medications

At Marsa Shagra there is a small pharmacy opposite the resort, this would be suitable for pain relief etc, there is also the doctor located in the hyperbaric chamber. Please ensure you take all of your prescriptive medications with you. If you need any medical help whilst on resort please speak to reception.

Mosquitos

As all resorts have some pleasant planting, we do suggest all guests take insect repellent as a precaution.

Your little luxuries

You can take your own little luxuries and store them in your room fridge (subject to room choice). Take your Vacuum coffee cup to enjoy hot drinks on the go, re-fill free of charge at the restaurant or in between at the cafeteria. Take your own drink and just grab hot water and milk.

Health & Well-Being

We want you to have a great holiday as does every member of staff at RSDS. If you have any problem, something is not to your liking or you are not feeling well which can be common in a hot country especially if it is your first time away. Do speak to reception, the dive centre or one of the staff who can in turn help ensure your problems are solved. We are also able to help via e-mail while you are away, just drop your booking manager a message. Always drinks lots of water, especially in the hotter months. You can easily become dehydrated and get an upset tummy. If this happens speak to reception or alert the dive centre team who can in turn help deal with your issue promptly to ensure you can enjoy your holiday.

Currency

Euro is the preferred currency, if you wish to purchase a small amount of local LE this can be arranged through reception. Your final bill can be paid in cash, or card. Visa and Mastercard are accepted with a 3% charge, sorry they cannot accept Amex.

Tips

We recommend a tip of approx. €60 per person for a 7-night stay. Tips are at your discretion, and this is just advisory only. You may also tip any member of the team privately.

Compulsory Local Charges

These charges will be added to your bill at check out.
€7 DECO chamber contribution - Shagra, Nakari & Lahami
€5 Solar programme contribution - Shagra only

· Guests renting regulators are required to purchase their own mouthpiece on site, to keep, at a cost of €3. They can also bring their own.
· Additional disinfecting procedures are in place for rental equipment
· Rinse tanks are no longer in use and guests are required to rinse their equipment under running water in the diving shade.
· House reef white boards are not currently in use. Guests are required to inform the shade staff of their diving profile and they will keep the record and watch for their safety
· Lower maximum numbers of divers on our speedboats according to the speedboat size · Zone A (truck dives) are currently unavailable until further notice
· No entry to the diving centre - all communication should be carried out by the service window
· Defogging liquid provided to discourage the use of saliva for mask defog
· Guests are encouraged to keep all items, including wetsuit and BCD in their diving locker (instead of using hangers)
· Additional chemicals and disinfectants are in use in the diving shade area for sanitisation

Dive Centre Check In

The morning after your arrival, at approx. 8am you can check into the dive centre. Please ensure that you take your dive certification with you, along with any nitrox or medical certificate you may also need to present. Once you have checked it, been given your weights and locker number you will attend a thorough dive briefing, were you will receive information on dive profiles and instructions for the house reef and zodiac use, along with details of excursions available, prices and how to book. Once the briefing is over, you will be taken to the dive shade to kit up and prepare for your first of 2 orientation dives. Please note, if you have taken a 5 days dive package and wish to take a day’s dive rest mid-week, please ensure you inform the dive centre, so they know not to add an additional day to your bill on check out.

Dive Equipment storage

Lockers are provided to store your equipment in the dive shade. You can purchase a padlock for approx.; €2 but you are welcome to take your own.

Cylinders & Nitrox

A selection of 12ltr aluminium cylinders are available in both DIN and international fittings. 15ltrs are also available but carry a surcharge of €5 per dive. Nitrox 32% is available at €2 per fill

Water temperature & suggested wetsuit

Dec & Jan 26c to 20c 5mm - 7mm
Feb & Mar 23c to 20c 7mm
Apr & May 24c to 25c 5mm
Jun & Jul 26c to 28c 3mm - 5mm
Aug & Sep 28c to 30c 3mm
Oct & Nov 29c to 27c 3mm - 5mm

Snorkelling

Snorkelling is available at both Shagra & Nakari from the shore, it can also be nice to hop on the zodiacs as they leave to drop off divers and drop onto the edge of the Marsa and slowly drift back. Have a quick chat with the dive shade locally so they can advise on wind and current. Snorkellers can often join on excursions, for a small charge, please check locally with dive centre if the dive site is suitable.

DSMB

Please ensure you are able to deploy your DSMB properly and operate you own safety stop management for buddy shore diving, especially for the outer house reef zodiac to zodiac dives.

Oonas has been organising group holidays to RSDS and many other worldwide destinations for over 25 years. Our team are expert is managing complex group holidays.

Every year we support universities and marine colleges achieve on-site learning utilising the house reef at Marsa Shagra helping to achieve excellent outcomes for students with real life experiences.

We run many trips throughout the year for UK Dive Shops who take groups away on clubs trips and to enjoy social diivng together. Our team lead by Lydia has supported the local diving industry for 12 years and counting.

If you are interested in a group holiday, pick up the phone and chat to our team who will give you peace of mind to work with us knowing you will be well supported and have many years of experience on hand. Red Sea Diving Safari is an outstanding location to take groups to as you are able to run your own schedule and with the unlimited house reef diving you can really maximise your diving and also if you have people of differing levels they can dive together and improve their skills while others head off to Elphinstone for some adrenaline diving and then all meet up at your designated group table for dinner to enjoy the sunset and chat through the days experiences.

Shagra offers families with children over 10 years old a great opportunity to dive together and develop their experience in a safe and controlled environment. The inner reefs are shallow and dive profiles of 10m deep offer great interest and fish diversity. The resort enviornment is a great alternative to your Dubai type resorts for families to spend quality time together.

There is a playground for children to enjoy under supervision from a parent. Swings and a cimbing frame are available and a see-saw.

Marsa Shagra is perfect for those seeking to get plenty of time in the water at their leisure. Combined with the Solo Diver course you can really maximise your time in the water taking time to train yourself

PHIL & ANN METCALF & DUXY PHOTO WORKSHOP

After the success of the first Red Sea Photo Camp at Marsa Shagra Village in Egypt we are doing it again! We're working on the same basic principle that worked very well in 2019, which is to run a set of talks over four days, three times over a twelve day period.

The idea is that guests can arrive and leave at anytime during or before the twelve days and as long as they are there at least four days of the camp they can access all the talks.

Our plan is to offer eight different talks, two per day. There won't be a need to attend any of the talks in a specific order. We'll do one talk every afternoon at 3.30pm and a talk in the morning which will be flexibly timed to fit in with excursion dives.

Guests will also be able to access the two of us and our colleague Paul ‘Duxy’ Duxfield for advice throughout their stay and we'll run impromptu sessions and give at least an hour's one to one time ( last camp we managed more than that) with everyone who is booked on the workshop.

The talks will cover videography, photo editing and workflow, understanding marinelife, composition, using light and underwater photography styles and techniques. Each will be one to one and a quarter hours long.

The resort has a range of accommodation from tents to air conditioned chalets. A standard package will include full board, most soft drinks and five days unlimited house reef diving. Meals are buffet style, with a good range and the meal times are long enough to allow for early morning dives and night dives without any risk of you missing out.

The house reef diving is excellent, you can dive unguided from 6am to 8pm. As well as accessing the house reef from shore, zodiac dives on the outer house reef are covered in the unlimited package. Marine life is impressively varied with regular sightings of turtles, reef sharks and dolphins as well as plenty of macro life to find and occasional sightings of whale sharks. The potential is there to get a lot of dives in during the trip. We had guests managing four dives a day and made it to talks as well.

Excursion dives are extra on a tariff scale starting at about €17 for the nearby shore dives. Elphinstone can be dived by speedboat with a journey time of about 20 minutes.

Trip includes: Beach Safari Tent with Full Board and 20 Days House Reef Diving

£125 workshop fee paid direct to Alphamarine Photography Ltd.

HOLIDAY FROM £1595 - WORKSHOP FEE £125 - TRAVEL DATE: Between 30 November and 11 December 2021

LONG STAY OFFER

Guests staying for a minimum of 4 weeks consecutive or longer will receive a discounted price on accommodation and diving! This offer is valid for stays at Marsa Shagra, Marsa Nakari and Wadi Lahami, or a combination of villages.

PRICES START FROM £1595 inc Flights, Transfers, Beach Safari Tent with Full Board and 20 Days House Reef Diving

Seeing the stars is best done from the desert where you can lay back and see the milky way and many constellations. Your guide will help you spot them during your tour.

Take a quad bike trip into the desert and see some amazing geology dating back thousands of years. Enjoy the trip at your own pace and see some breath-taking views.

Take a camel ride at sunset along the water’s edge, or near the mountains where you can stop and meet some local Bedouins. This is something everyone does at least once during their stay!

Enjoy a massage by the sea. You can book the massage at reception in resort from 9-5pm.

For those who dare, go and try your hand at bartering with the boys in the Bazaar. They sell things that one may have forgotten from home, along with local tea, spices and souvenirs.

You are able to join a trip from Marsa Shagra down to Marsa Nakari where the boat departs to take snorkellers to Dolphin House. Dolphin House is a Horseshoe shaped reef that has been home to a pod of Dolphins for many years. The area is protected and you are not able to freely explore the area. Your guide will advise which ropes to stay behind so to not disturb the area that is only for the Dolphins.

Hossam the owner of RSDS helped devise, establish and continues to provide support to the Decompression Chamber located across the road from the resort. You can take a visit to Baro Medical to see what it is all about, just ask at reception and they will help organise it. Each guest pays an in-resort fee of 7 EUR as a donation to the chamber to keep it running. The doctor on-site also dives at the resort and on hand if anyone happens to fall ill as happens from time to time.

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