Where to Stay in Marsa Alam: Resorts, Diving Lodges, and Liveaboards

Marsa Alam is the ultimate Red Sea destination for divers seeking pristine reefs and world-class encounters with dugongs, turtles, and pelagic sharks. However, because the dive sites are spread out along a long, remote coastline, choosing where to stay in Marsa Alam is the most crucial decision of your trip.

Your accommodation dictates your daily diving routine, the ease of accessing the best sites, and the overall atmosphere of your holiday. To help you plan, we break down the three distinct types of lodging available, catering to every budget and diving style.

1. The All-Inclusive Resort: Luxury and Convenience

The Marsa Alam coast is dotted with modern, all-inclusive resorts, primarily clustered around major bays and Port Ghalib. These cater to families, couples, and divers who want luxury and comfort alongside their aquatic adventures.

Key Features:

  • Amenities: Full-board or all-inclusive dining, large swimming pools, spas, evening entertainment, and organized excursions.
  • Location: Often situated near popular bays like Coraya Bay and Abu Dabbab, offering direct access to the sea.
  • Diving Advantage: Many resorts feature excellent house reefs accessible via a jetty or shore entry. Staying near Abu Dabbab, for instance, gives you the highest chance of seeing the resident dugongs and turtles without a long boat trip.
  • Examples: The large resorts in Coraya Bay (like Jaz Lamaya or Steigenberger) offer great convenience close to the airport (RMF), while resorts like Hilton Nubian or El Malikia are perfectly placed on Abu Dabbab Bay.

Best For:

Divers traveling with non-diving partners or families; those who value comfort and hassle-free, all-inclusive convenience; and divers who love easy, unlimited house reef diving.

2. The Dedicated Diving Lodge: Eco-Conscious & Dive-Centric

For the diver whose primary mission is to maximize time underwater, Marsa Alam offers unique, eco-conscious diving villages and lodges built specifically for the diving lifestyle. These options offer a more communal, relaxed, and focused environment.

Key Features:

  • Vibe: Rustic, laid-back, and often eco-friendly, with simple accommodation ranging from comfortable tents to chalets. The atmosphere is highly social among fellow divers.
  • Diving Advantage: Lodges like the famous Marsa Shagra Village and Marsa Nakari Village (run by Red Sea Diving Safari) are world-renowned for their unlimited house reef diving packages. Their proximity to the Red Sea’s famous sites means they offer fast boat transfers to legendary spots like Elphinstone Reef, making them an excellent land-based alternative to a liveaboard for advanced sites.
  • Focus: The entire operation is designed around diving. Your room, restaurant, and dive center are often just steps away, minimizing travel and maximizing dive time.

Best For:

Independent divers, groups, solo travelers, or those pursuing dive certifications who prioritize high-volume diving and a strong sense of community over resort luxury.

3. The Liveaboard: The Ultimate Deep South Exploration

If your Red Sea bucket list includes remote marine parks and the biggest pelagic sightings, staying on a liveaboard is non-negotiable. Marsa Alam, specifically Port Ghalib Marina, is the main embarkation point for these advanced itineraries.

Key Features:

  • Itineraries: Liveaboards departing from Port Ghalib primarily run the famous “Deep South” routes, including the Golden Triangle (Brothers, Daedalus, and Elphinstone), as well as trips down to the remote St. John’s Reefs and Rocky Island/Zabargad.
  • Diving Advantage: You get 3-4 dives a day for an entire week, reaching remote sites that day boats cannot touch. This significantly increases your chance of close encounters with Oceanic Whitetip and Hammerhead sharks.
  • Logistics: The package includes all food, accommodation, and diving. Transfers are often arranged from RMF or HRG to the Port Ghalib marina.

Best For:

Experienced divers (Advanced Open Water certification is usually required) seeking challenging drift dives, dedicated pelagic encounters, and a truly immersive, week-long diving expedition away from the crowds.

No matter your choice, finding a place to stay in Marsa Alam is the key to unlocking the Red Sea’s most protected and spectacular underwater realms.