Marsa Shagra Village

The diving was outstanding. Our dive master, Ben, was professional, attentive and always mindful of both safety and enjoyment. Ali at the Dive centre was always smiling and helpful, especially when carrying tanks to the boat and shore. My partner's knee injury meant they couldn't carry heavy equipment, and Ali's help made a huge difference. We stayed at Marsa Shagra Village in December in one of the newer sea-facing nano rooms. Waking up to the Red Sea view and sound each morning was incredible, a lovely oasis after Cairo. The buffet each day was excellent, with lots of variety and consistently delicious food. Aladdin took such good care of us and made every meal feel welcoming.

The kitchen team went out of their way to prepare special food and desserts for my vegan partner, even though the buffet already had a wide selection of vegan options. From the room and cleanliness to the food, staff, diving and snorkeling, everything was perfect. Our first visit was impeccable. At check-in, the team cleared up a misunderstanding, and the outcome actually worked better for us. That gave me confidence in the high standards here. We'd definitely come back.

The house reef is sadly dying because the sea is getting warmer, so this is a dive site where you may want to take a boat 20-30 minutes to Elphiston or other spots. There are many good dive guides, but Virág was probably the best, a great sign of a really good dive. I also did freediving training with Kareem. He is very well prepared and we had a really good session. Food had a wide selection and was good, and the rooms are okay.

The buffet comes three times a day and has tasty local and Western food, with Egyptian evenings twice a week. At the house reef you can dive whenever you like with a buddy, or book trips to other dive spots. The instructors are experienced, speak many languages and put safety first. Boats and gear are excellent, and every dive brings plenty of special marine life. Marsa Shagra Village is a wonderful place for divers and snorkelers, with a friendly atmosphere that makes it easy to meet other adventurers. It's suitable for solo travelers, couples and groups. The facilities are clean, organized and can host up to 200 guests without feeling crowded. I'd recommend a Royal Tent for a different kind of stay. Nights cool down enough to be comfortable without air conditioning, at least when I went in April & July. This was my second visit in 10 months, and I can't wait to go again. Lots of people return here.