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Freediving in Marsa Alam
The southern stretch of the Egyptian Red Sea coast, developed later and more lightly than Hurghada or Sharm, with reef in better condition as a result.
Why here
December is the annual visibility peak on the southern Egyptian Red Sea, routinely 30 to 40 meters and sometimes more. The main operator runs a dedicated freediving station off Marsa Shagra with up to four lines to a maximum of 40 meters, staffed by a full-time AIDA instructor. That is a purpose-built depth setup rather than a scuba center selling a freediving course on the side. The reef here is in better condition than the Hurghada and Sharm coasts because development came later and much of it is low-rise camp rather than resort strip.
Best months
December visibility is the best of the year at 30 to 40 meters or more. Water around 25 to 26C in December against 28 to 29C in summer, so bring a 5mm suit rather than a 3mm. The depth ceiling here is a hard 40 meters, which is what the line station is rigged to, so this is not a venue for 60 meter attempts. The station requires a minimum of nine freedivers to run, which is the main practical constraint on any given day. Winter north winds can build surface chop through the afternoon.
Getting there & around
Marsa Alam International Airport is 20 to 60 minutes from the camps depending which one you book, with charter flights from Europe and connections via Cairo. The main operator runs three villages: Marsa Shagra north of Marsa Alam town, Marsa Nakari to the south, and Wadi Lahami far south. The freediving line station runs at Shagra and Nakari only, not at Wadi Lahami. Confirm the nine-diver minimum is met for your dates before booking travel around line access. The second local option at Abu Dabbab is a PADI five-star scuba center that sells PADI Freediver courses as a side line rather than a dedicated freediving school, so treat it as a fallback. Camp accommodation ranges from tents to chalets and is booked as a package with diving.
Skill levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced
Schools & guides (2)
Blue Ocean Dive Centers
OutfitterPADI five-star scuba center that has managed Abu Dabbab beach since 2006 and sells Basic Freediver, Freediver and Advanced Freediver courses alongside its main scuba business.
Red Sea Diving Safari
OutfitterEco-lodge group running three villages on the southern Red Sea coast, with a full-time AIDA freediving instructor teaching to AIDA 3 and a dedicated line station carrying up to four ropes to a maximum of 40 meters.
Also good for freediving in October:
Torn between Marsa Alam and KaÅŸ for October?
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