The southern Red Sea is where Egyptian diving is at its best: fewer boats than Hurghada or Sharm, reefs that start at the water's edge, and offshore sites where oceanic whitetip sharks and schools of spinner dolphins are regular visitors. Marsa Alam is the base, a quiet stretch of coast where resorts and dive camps sit alone on their own reefs.
We start in Cairo because almost everyone flying from Australia passes through it anyway, and two nights is enough for the Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum before you swap temples for tanks. The diving week mixes easy shore dives on the house reef with boat days to the region's most famous sites, and finishes with a dive-free day, so you can fly safely to Cairo and home.
It works for certified divers of every level and for beginners, who can complete an Open Water course in the first three or four days. Non-diving partners snorkel the same reefs, visit the turtles and dolphins from the surface, or spend a day in the Wadi el-Gemal National Park.
Journey highlights
- The Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Grand Egyptian Museum
- Six nights at a Marsa Alam dive resort with shore diving on its own house reef
- Green turtles grazing on the seagrass at Abu Dabbab Bay
- Samadai Reef (Dolphin House), where spinner dolphins rest in the lagoon
- Elphinstone Reef for experienced divers, famous for oceanic whitetips in autumn
- A day in the Wadi el-Gemal National Park with Ababda coffee
- A dive-free day before flying, with a final night in Cairo
Day-by-day itinerary
- Day1
Arrive in Cairo
You are met inside the terminal at Cairo International Airport and driven to your Giza hotel, about 45–60 minutes away. Rest after the flight from Australia.
- Day2
Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum
Start at opening time on the Giza Plateau for the Great Pyramid, the panoramic viewpoint and the Great Sphinx with your private Egyptologist. Spend the afternoon in the Grand Egyptian Museum, a few minutes away, with Tutankhamun's treasures and Khufu's Solar Boat.
- Day3
Fly to the Red Sea
Fly from Cairo to Marsa Alam, or, on days when there is no suitable Marsa Alam flight, fly to Hurghada in about an hour and drive south along the coast for about 3.5–4 hours. Check in to your dive resort, hand over your certification card and logbook, and fit your equipment ready for the morning.
- Day4
House reef and the turtles of Abu Dabbab
Begin with a check-out dive on the house reef, where the dive centre confirms your weighting and skills. In the afternoon, drive to Abu Dabbab Bay, about 30 km north of Marsa Alam town, to dive or snorkel the seagrass beds where green turtles feed in 3–12 metres of water. Beginners start their Open Water course today instead.
- Day5
Samadai Reef (Dolphin House)
Take a boat of about 45–60 minutes to Samadai, the horseshoe reef known as Dolphin House, where spinner dolphins often rest in the sheltered lagoon. Access is zoned with daily limits: snorkellers enter the permitted area, and divers explore the coral pinnacles of the outer reef. Sightings are common but not guaranteed.
- Day6
Elphinstone or a southern reef
Experienced divers head offshore to Elphinstone Reef, a long wall with plateaus at each end, where oceanic whitetip sharks are most often reported from about October to December; operators set a minimum number of logged dives. Newer divers dive sheltered sites chosen by the dive centre, or continue their course.
- Day7
Wadi el-Gemal and a surface interval on land
Take a half-day trip into the Wadi el-Gemal National Park, south of Marsa Alam, with acacia-dotted desert, coastal mangroves and coffee prepared in the Ababda way. Return for an afternoon shore dive or snorkel on the house reef, or a rest by the pool.
- Day8
Last dives
Make your final two dives in the morning, from the shore or a day boat, and finish by early afternoon. That leaves at least 24 hours before tomorrow's flight, comfortably beyond the 18-hour minimum widely recommended after repetitive dives.
- Day9
Dive-free day and fly to Cairo
Enjoy a morning on the beach or a snorkel on the surface, then fly to Cairo in the late afternoon, either from Marsa Alam or from Hurghada after a drive up the coast with a stop at El Quseir's Ottoman fort. Overnight at a Cairo airport hotel.
- Day10
Depart Cairo
A short transfer takes you to Cairo International Airport for your flight home via the Gulf or Asia.
Where you’ll stay
| Location | Accommodation |
|---|---|
| Cairo (Giza), 2 nights | Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo or similar |
| Marsa Alam, 6 nights | A dive resort with its own house reef, such as Marsa Shagra Village by Red Sea Diving Safari, or similar |
| Cairo airport, 1 night | Le Méridien Cairo Airport or similar |
What’s included
- 9 nights' accommodation with breakfast in Cairo and half board at the dive resort
- A 10-dive package with a licensed PADI or SSI dive centre, including tanks, weights and boat days, or a PADI or SSI Open Water course for beginners
- Domestic flights Cairo–Marsa Alam or Hurghada, and return
- Private Egyptologist guide and private vehicle for the Cairo day
- Private transfers between airports, hotels and the dive resort
- Half-day Wadi el-Gemal excursion
- Standard entry fees in Cairo and marine park fees on the planned boat days
- Airport meet-and-assist service and 24/7 local support
Not included
- International flights from Australia or New Zealand (we can quote and book these)
- Egypt visa fee
- Travel insurance with scuba diving cover (compulsory)
- Equipment hire, dive computer, nitrox and extra dives beyond the package
- Drinks, lunches and meals not listed
- Tips for dive guides, boat crews, drivers and hotel staff
Destinations on this journey
Cairo & Giza · Marsa Alam · Red Sea Coast
Red Sea Diving Holiday in 10 Days: The Pyramids, then Six Nights Diving Marsa Alam: FAQs
Do I need to be a certified diver?
No. Beginners can take an Open Water course in place of the dive package, usually over 3–4 days, and can do the theory online at home before flying. Certified divers should bring their card and logbook. Our scuba diving in Egypt guide explains the levels.
How long should I wait before flying after diving?
Widely used guidelines suggest at least 18 hours after repetitive dives, and many divers allow 24. That is why the last dives are on the morning of day 8 and the flight to Cairo is late on day 9.
Will we definitely see dolphins at Samadai?
Sightings are common but never guaranteed, and the reef is zoned with daily visitor limits to protect the resting dolphins. If conditions or numbers rule it out, the dive centre suggests an alternative such as Sataya Reef. See swimming with dolphins in Egypt.
Why Marsa Alam rather than Hurghada?
Marsa Alam has fewer boats, reefs right off the resort beaches and the southern offshore sites. Hurghada is closer to Cairo, has more flights and suits wreck lovers and families. Compare them in Marsa Alam vs Hurghada; we can base you in either.
What should I check in my insurance?
Many standard policies exclude scuba diving or limit depth. Make sure yours covers recreational diving to your certified depth, hyperbaric treatment and evacuation. Our travel insurance guide lists what to ask.
Could we do a liveaboard instead?
Yes. A week-long liveaboard from Marsa Alam or Hurghada reaches offshore reefs such as the Brothers and Daedalus that day boats cannot. See Red Sea liveaboard diving.
