Nestled on the edge of the Eastern Desert on the southern Red Sea coast, is Marsa Alam: the ideal get-away from a mundane life and conventional vacation spots. The beauty of Marsa Alam, about 300 kilometers south of Hurghada, is the way it merges the refreshing sea with the serenity of the desert.

Divers come here from all over to enjoy one of the world’s top diving destinations, famous for its clear waters, mesmerizing corals and the diverse aquatic life found in the Red Sea. To accommodate them, Marsa Alam has several posh resorts along with the more simple and environmentally-friendly tents, huts and stone chalets for which the destination is known.

Marsa Alam has at least 16 major dive sites; about half of them are best done from a live-aboard boat. Elphinstone Reef is a sheer-wall reef that is home to a diverse and highly colorful range of fish, including the occasional Oceanic White Tip Shark. Fury Shoal is a hard coral reef garden that you will want to feast your eyes on for as long as your tank allows. The Zabargad is a sand slope rising from a lagoon covered with coral pinnacles, which forms a lively habitat for small and large reef fish. Very close to Zabargad is another prime spot, Rocky Island, where you can see schools of Hammerhead Sharks and explore the wreck of the British steamship Maiden, which sank in 1923.

If sharks are your thing, pay Daedalus Reef and Saint John’s a visit, or learn more about them at the Sharks School in Shagra Village (www.redseadvingsafari.com). The Dolphin House, a protected area, is another must-see for divers and non-divers alike. The horseshoe-shaped reef there creates a small turquoise lagoon. The highlight is the number of dolphins you can encounter, making this one of Marsa’s best places for snorkeling — but diving with the dolphins is not allowed.

Abu Dabab is the home of Marsa Alam’s other celebrity sea-mammal — the Dugong (or Sea Cow), Dennis. Even though he is difficult to find, this is definitely a sight worth waiting for if you are lucky (and patient) enough.

For those who want to give a little back to the underwater environment they enjoy, the Red Sea Diving Safari organizes an annual clean-up day every September — still a great diving holiday even though you are putting in a little work.

If you want some ‘surface time,’ there’s always a spot to chill on the beach or water sports like kite surfing or windsurfing. Another land alternative is a day trip to the desert by car, camel or on foot, run by local Bedouins from the Ababda tribe. These trips are organized by Red Sea Desert Adventures, which also manages the Astronomy Center, which makes stargazing in the still night of the Eastern Desert an unforgettable experience.

If you know a Marsa Alam resident or someone who knows the place well, be sure to get them to take you to one of the secluded beaches along the coast. Take music, brunch and a merry band of friends. There is no particular beach to recommend, as every one of them is breathtaking.

As the night falls, the stars light up the sky and Marsa Alam is magically transformed into a romantic getaway. Cuddling up on the beach or in one of the many cozy cafes along the water – the one at Ecolodge Shagra Village is highly recommended – and watching the countless shooting stars, while drinking freshly brewed tea definitely qualifies as a perfect end to the day.

An up-and-coming nearby destination is Port Ghalib, a luxurious resort community à la Gouna style. It is made up of hotels, top-notch residences, a convention center, a swimming lagoon, and its most important asset, a marina. Overlooking the marina is a corniche anchored with a long line of retail outlets, restaurants, bars and cafes. Another Port Ghalib highlight is its bazaar, the Khan, which sells semi-precious stones, perfumes, ceramics and home and personal accessories.

Marsa Alam is the perfect romantic destination — provided you both love the sea. And whether you are a diver, thirsty for an incomparable underwater experience, or just an overworked employee in the big city who wants to unwind, Marsa Alam should be your next vacation spot. et

Red Sea Diving Safari has three camps: Ecolodge Shagra Village, Ecolodge Nakari Village and Ecolodge Wadi Lahami Village Head office: 53 El-Hussien St., Dokki, Cairo Tel: +2 (02) 3337-1833 / 7942 Email: info@redsea-divingsafari.com www.redsea-divingsafari.com Ecolodge Shagra Village manager Tel: +2 (012) 398-9682 Ecolodge Nakari Village manager Tel: +2 (012) 391-3793 Ecolodge Wadi Lahami Village manager Tel: +2 (012) 174-4271

Kahramana Beach Resort Marsa Alam Tel.: +2 (065) 338-0008/9 or +2 (012) 745-4105/6 Email: kahramanamarsa@balbaagroup.com www.kahramanaresort.com

Calimera Habiba Marsa Shagra, north of Marsa Alam Tel. and Fax: +2 (065) 338-0108/7 Email: sales@balbaagroup.com www.balbaagroup.com

Iberotel Coraya Beach Resort Medinat Coraya Tel: +2 (065) 375-0000 Fax: +2 (065) 375-0009 info@iberotelcorayabeach.com

Iberotel Lamaya Resort Medinat Coraya Tel: +2 (065) 375-0030 Fax: +2 (065) 375-0039 Email: reservation@iberotellamayaresort.com

Port Ghalib has four hotels:

Intercontinental The Palace, Crowne Plaza Sahara Sands and Crowne Plaza Sahara Oasis Tel: +2 (02) 2480-0100 Email: info@icportghalib.com Marina Lodge Tel: + (065) 370-0222

Red Sea Desert Adventures and the Astronomy Center Shagra Village Tel: +2 (012) 399-3860 or +2 (012) 105-6593 Email: inquire@redseadesertadventures.com www.redseadesertadventures.com

Port Ghalib International Marina (Manager: Captain Sherif Fawzy) Tel: +2 (065) 370-0241 Email: sherif.fawzy@portghalibmarina.com or marina@portghalib.com

Marsa Alam International Airport serves daily charters from Europe and Cairo (LE 1,177 for a two-way economy class ticket and LE 1,387 for a two-way business class ticket from Cairo on Egyptair). Upper Egypt Travel (Tel: +2 (02) 2576-0261) runs buses from Cairo Gateway three times a week. The journey to Marsa Alam by bus takes at least ten hours. et