“I don´t want to go all the way to Egypt and then just dive in a camp…”
Boy, have I heard that sentence many times.
And yes, I agree, diving from a liveaboard boat that can move and cover a lot of distance will give you more diverse dive sites. No doubt about that. But a camp has something that no boat can offer…
Unlimited Time!
…the good thing with a boat is that it can move around… but the bad thing with a boat is that it will always be moving around. Always in motion… from place to place… always a bit busy getting ready for the next dive site… never enough time to repeat a dive and never time to sit and get a tricky setting on your camera explained before a dive… just “dive dive dive”… hurry up and get in the water..!
You will be surprised if you have never dived from a Dive Camp. The pace is just different there, and the diving is easy and accessible. If you want to learn or test or train, not many dive sites will ever beat the logistics of Camp Nakari.
Diving here is SO easy, and it is possible to repeat a dive again and again and improve that special technique or that tricky picture… You can go back and practise that setting or that skill that you are trying so hard to become better at.
Besides, diving in and around the bay of Camp Nakari is really something special.
Remember that the animals are the same no matter where you meet them. And the water is still clear and blue. And with just a short boat ride, there are some really pretty and unspoiled reefs nearby.
Yes, besides the unlimited dives you can do at the many dive sites of Marsa Nakari, there are other places you can go to as well. There is a fee involved in signing up to one of the external trips, but they are certainly affordable, and you can go to these sites every day.
Just look at the sign in the dive center to see what trips are on for the day after.
If you are a group of 3-6 people, you can often ask the guides to set up a trip to any place you´ll like.
Below is a description of the housing reef and a selection of some of the dive sites in the nearby area.
MARSA NAKARI – House Reef
Marsa Nakari is the local House Reef and is easy to access from the beach, and offers both a North and South reef for snorkelers to explore. Snorkeling on the house reef is free of charge for guests staying Marsa Nakari Village. The house reef features diverse marine life and is a particular favourite of macro lovers due to the variety of macro critters which can often be found even in shallow water, such as velvet fish, ghost pipefish, seahorses, and more. Turtles are fairly common in the bay as well as rays, napoleon wrasse, indian mackerel, reef squid, and sometimes dolphins and reef sharks.
The topography of the South part of the house reef is particularly interesting to explore, with pinnacles and coral blocks covered in marine life. The north side also features a large patch of anemones. For those who want to explore the outer reef zodiacs are available from early morning until sunset.
Due to the north-facing orientation of the bay sometimes rubbish washes in from the open sea in windy conditions. We do our best to keep it clean, but also appreciate the help of our guests.
Besides the local housing reef, there are more options nearby:
Satayah Reef (Dolphin Reef)
Satayah (Dolphin Reef) is a large reef that makes up part of the Fury Shoals reef system. Its large, shallow lagoon is a resting place for spinner dolphins, and encounters here are often special, with dolphins in large numbers. While sightings are not guaranteed, this is one of the best places to encounter wild spinner dolphins in the Red Sea and those who make the trip out to this reef are usually not disappointed.
Day trips by big boat from Hamata Port (sailing time approximately 2 hours)
DOLPHIN HOUSE – Caves and a Good Chance of Dolphins
From Nakari, it takes only about 30 minutes by boat to reach the reef known as Shaab Samadai – better known as Dolphin House. A day trip to this famous horseshoe-shaped reef offers not only beautiful dives with caves and swim-throughs, but also the chance to snorkel with a pod of dolphins if you’re lucky. Booking and payment take place at the camp. The day trip includes lunch and the marine park fee.
ELPHINSTONE – Home of the Big Pelagic Creatures
Don’t miss the chance to visit Elphinstone Reef – a world-class site famous for wall diving and encounters with large pelagic species. From Nakari, you’ll drive north and depart by boat from the sister camp, Shagra. Elphinstone is known for frequent sightings of larger shark species such as hammerheads, oceanic whitetips, silky sharks, and grey reef sharks. You may also spot dolphins, eagle rays, Napoleon wrasse, schools of tuna and barracuda, and even manta rays. Due to strong currents and abundant marine life, Elphinstone is reserved for divers with a PADI Advanced certification (or equivalent) and a minimum of 50 logged dives.
COASTAL DIVES – Turtles and Dugongs
Truck diving from Nakari is a popular option, with two guided dives offered daily at various coastal sites. One highlight is the small bay of Abu Dabab, home to a resident dugong. In the center of the bay, you’ll find a sandy bottom with seagrass where this peaceful, roughly 3-meter-long, oddly shaped sea cow grazes. You might also encounter massive turtles, eagle rays, guitar sharks, and schools of squid during your dive. The depth is about 10–12 meters, and both sides of the bay feature vibrant, intact coral reefs that are perfect for photo and video enthusiasts. This is just one of many dives available by truck.
ABU GHUSSON – Wreck Diving for Everyone
Wreck diving is also available, with the best option being the Hamada cargo shipwreck, which sank in 1993. After about an hour’s drive south through the Egyptian desert, you’ll do two dives on the wreck, followed by lunch in a nearby national park. The wreck is easily accessible from shore and lies at a depth of 5–18 meters – making it suitable for divers of all experience levels.
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For direct inquiries, contact Lars at +45 7027 3015 or info@fotografit.eu.
