Hamata

Scuba diving in Hamata centres on Fury Shoals, the broad reef system off Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast. Coral gardens, pinnacles, small wrecks and drop-offs make it a varied base: you can spend one day exploring sheltered reef terrain and another on a more exposed wall, when conditions and experience allow.

Some dive sites suit newer divers; others demand confidence with current, depth and boat pickups. Choosing a programme matters more than calling the whole region “advanced” or “easy”. Hamata and nearby Wadi Lahami also let you reach reefs on day outings while sleeping ashore, an attractive option if a full liveaboard week is not your style.

In this page you will find more detailed information about scuba diving in Hamata.

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Which Hamata dive sites should you look for?

• Sataya (Satayah): a large horseshoe reef with a lagoon used by spinner dolphins. Snorkelling trips and scuba profiles are different outings. Sataya is not Samadai, the separate Dolphin House closer to Marsa Alam.
• Sha’ab Claudia: coral formations and a canyon/chamber system. SeaHorse Diving Club describes chambers down to about 14 m and an outer garden around 22 m. An opening to daylight does not remove overhead risk; enclosed sections need appropriate training, equipment and planning.
• Abu Galawa: Kebir/Big has a tugboat wreck; Soraya/Small has a yacht. Confirm which site is intended. Coral pools and reef structure are as much a reason to visit as the wrecks.
• Maksour: an exposed drop-off reef where current and depth make the actual profile important. Discuss your recent experience with the operator rather than treating possible sharks as a reason to exceed your limits.

See our Fury Shoals site guide for the differences between these reefs. The Wadi Lahami site catalogue also separates the local sites by operating zone; a zone label describes that operator’s programme, not a universal difficulty rating.

Fury Shoals dive-site reference map

These CDWS reference positions locate seven named reefs, not entries or navigation instructions. There is no implied route or guaranteed order.

• Abu Galawa Soraya — yacht wreck reef.
• Abu Galawa Kebir — tugboat reef.
• Claudia — coral and canyon system.
• Maksour — exposed outer reef.
• Malahi — reef channels.
• Sataya northwest and southeast — reference positions for the large reef.

How to dive Hamata?

Land-based RIB diving or a liveaboard?

Red Sea Diving Safari’s Wadi Lahami programme uses RIBs. Its classic schedule offers two guided morning dives in Zones 1/2 plus up to two unguided afternoon dives in Zone 1 at fixed times. Zone 3 and Sataya are optional extras; the published Sataya snorkelling speedboat excursion requires at least four people. Site selection changes with conditions and the group.

This suits divers who enjoy repeated boat outings and a lodge base. A liveaboard offers a different rhythm and potentially a wider southern route, but confirm the actual reefs, port and dated itinerary. Fury Shoals is not a promise of St John’s, Daedalus or a particular shark site.

I usually use this website to book my Red Sea liveaboards. I like its easy booking system. This is an affiliate link: Divezone may earn a commission. Compare the full fare and extras for your departure.

Where to stay?

I usually use this website to book in advance my hotels in Hamata as they usually have the lowest rates I find. I like it because it's free to cancel and change the dates.

Best time to dive in Hamata

It is possible to dive all year round. Warmer-water months appeal to divers who dislike cold surface intervals, but summer heat on land is part of the trade-off. Winter is cooler and wind can make the boat rides uncomfortable. There is no month that guarantees calm seas or every offshore site.

For regional context, LiveAboard.com’s Red Sea season guide gives winter water temperatures around 21–23°C, while Aquarius’s summer guide describes roughly 26–30°C through summer. These are Red Sea seasonal ranges, not a Hamata daily forecast. Ask your centre about recent temperatures and exposure protection for several dives a day.

Dive courses

Local operators offer training as well as guided dives, so newer divers need not rule out the region. Match the course to suitable sites instead of expecting it to include exposed Maksour or Claudia’s enclosed sections. Red Sea Diving Safari lists a computer, delayed surface marker buoy and alternate air source as required equipment, with rental available; ask about sizes and prices before arrival. Its refresher requirements are operator-specific. Nitrox availability, certification requirements and supplements should be confirmed for your chosen package.

Scuba Diving conditions

The sea condition is affected by the wind. Current can range from little movement in sheltered areas to strong flow on exposed reefs; the entry, exit and pickup plan should be part of each briefing. Clear water does not make a deep or exposed profile suitable for every diver.

RIB travel is a real part of a Hamata holiday, not just a few minutes between beach and reef. Tell the operator about concerns affecting boat comfort or diving fitness before booking, and seek qualified medical advice where needed. Keep depth and overhead limits within your training. Confirm oxygen, communications, evacuation arrangements and insurance cover for the actual programme.

Snorkelling in Hamata

Travelling with a non-diver?

Red Sea Diving Safari welcomes snorkellers on most Wadi Lahami speedboat outings, where suitable reefs have shallow, sheltered sections. Confirm the actual trip, supervision and fare: acceptance does not mean every scuba site is appropriate for a swimmer, and a complete current non-diver excursion price has not been verified.

A shore-based companion can also choose beach time, birdwatching or separately arranged kitesurfing. Lahami Bay Beach Resort offers direct sandy beach access to its bay and house reef. Our Hamata travel guide has a dated accommodation example and the practical differences between these bases.

Sataya is a wildlife outing, not a guaranteed dolphin swim. Follow the HEPCA dolphin code: give resting animals space, never chase or touch them, and follow local access restrictions and your guide’s instructions.

Fishes and Coral

Hard-coral landscapes give Fury Shoals much of its character: gardens, pools, channels and reef edges offer different ways to explore. Sataya’s spinner dolphins are one possible highlight, while exposed outer reefs can offer pelagic encounters. Neither dolphins nor sharks are guaranteed, and the coral scenery should make the outing worthwhile in its own right.

Beyond the reef: Wadi Lahami’s mangroves

Randi Gitz’s In the mangroves of Wadi Lahami, published in March 2021, looks at the life in this coastal habitat and the litter washed into it. It complements the offshore-reef experience with an environmental perspective. The film is not a suggested entry route or confirmation of current visitor access; ask the local operator about permitted activities and protect the habitat.

Film and preview: Randi Gitz · In the mangroves of Wadi Lahami on Vimeo.

Diving Safety

If you are planning an upcoming dive trip or travelling to Hamata, it is a really good idea to invest in travel insurance for scuba diving, because you never know what could happen and when you might need it (because accidents do happen!). I recommend this diving insurance as they offer worldwide coverage and focus on providing scuba divers a quality insurance and medical assistance service.

Hamata diving questions

Do I need a liveaboard to dive Fury Shoals?

No. Wadi Lahami offers land-based RIB diving; the reefs reached depend on the booked programme, sea conditions and group.

Is all Hamata diving advanced?

No. Sheltered reef dives and training are available, while outer reefs and overhead environments need a different level of preparation.

Is the water 28–31°C all year?

No. Winter is substantially cooler; plan thermal protection for the season and repeated dives.

Are Sataya and Samadai the same Dolphin House?

No. They are separate reefs. Check the exact name on your excursion confirmation.

Does skipping afternoon dives reduce the package price?

Not automatically. Red Sea Diving Safari’s published Wadi Lahami conditions state that not taking afternoon or night dives does not reduce the package fare. Other operators have their own terms.

Operator information and sources checked 24 October 2026. Confirm requirements, site access and prices for your dated booking.

Photos Hamata

Travel Guide

Now that you know all about the underwater world, you might want to start planning your scuba holiday! Check out our Hamata Travel Review for information about how to get there, activities and excursions, where to stay, and more.