Marsa Shouna
Overview
Marsa Shouna is one of those Red Sea dive sites that experienced divers overlook and beginners never forget. This sheltered bay approximately 15 kilometres south of Marsa Alam is protected from wind and current by low desert hills on three sides, creating a natural pool of turquoise water over a reef starting in ankle-deep shallows. There are no dramatic walls, no deep drops, and no punishing currents. What Marsa Shouna offers instead is accessibility and an underwater garden that delivers consistent encounters with the Red Sea's most charismatic residents. I walked in from the shore and was swimming over coral within ten seconds. The reef is packed into a compact area, but the density and health of hard coral coverage is exceptional. Table corals, fire corals, massive Porites heads, and branching Acropora competed for space across a gentle slope from 2 to 15 metres. Anthias swarmed the coral heads in their perpetual orange clouds, and butterflyfish picked at polyps with surgical precision. The turtles arrived quickly. Two green sea turtles were already visible from the surface, gliding over sea grass patches that border the coral zone. Descending to 8 metres, I found a third turtle resting in a sandy clearing, head tucked under a coral overhang, eyes closed. These turtles are habituated to divers and showed no alarm as I settled nearby and watched. Over an hour-long dive never deeper than 15 metres, I counted six individual green turtles, making this one of the most reliable turtle encounters in all of Egypt. The supporting cast was no less engaging. Blue-spotted stingrays shuffled across sandy patches, a crocodilefish lay camouflaged so perfectly that my guide pointed twice before I saw it, and a moray eel shared its crevice with a cleaning shrimp. Marsa Shouna is proof that shallow does not mean boring and that protected bays can harbour ecosystems as rich as any exposed reef wall.
Marine life
Dive profile
DEPTH PROFILE
DEPTH PROGRESSION & WAYPOINTS: Marsa Shouna
Location
Frequently asked questions
How do I reach Marsa Shouna from Marsa Alam?
Marsa Shouna is located approximately 15 kilometres south of Marsa Alam along the coastal road. The bay has a small car park and a basic entry platform built over the reef flat. Most dive centers in Marsa Alam and Port Ghalib offer guided trips to Marsa Shouna as a shore dive. Independent divers can drive there and enter from the shore, though having a guide familiar with the bay's layout is recommended for first visits. No boat is needed, making this one of the most budget-friendly dive sites in the southern Red Sea.
Is Marsa Shouna suitable for night diving?
Marsa Shouna is considered one of the best night dive sites in the Marsa Alam area. The sheltered bay eliminates current and wave concerns, the shallow depth keeps things manageable, and the nocturnal marine life is exceptional. Spanish dancers emerge from crevices, hunting lionfish prowl the reef edge, octopuses forage across the sand, and sleeping turtles can be found tucked under coral overhangs. The easy shore entry and exit make logistics simple even in the dark.
What makes Marsa Shouna different from other Marsa Alam dive sites?
Unlike the exposed offshore reefs and deep walls that characterize much of Marsa Alam diving, Marsa Shouna is a fully enclosed bay with no current, no deep water, and no need for a boat. This makes it accessible to all skill levels and ideal for extended bottom times. The bay's sheltered nature also means it is diveable in conditions that shut down other sites, making it a reliable backup option during windy weather. The turtle population here is among the densest in the Egyptian Red Sea.
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Data Provenance
This profile is compiled from 3 operator submissions and 142 community logs. Key facts (depth, entry) are verified against official hydrographic charts.