Makadi Bay

The modern beach resort of Makadi Bay is situated in a beautiful natural bay that boasts long sandy beaches and a quiet and relaxed atmosphere. The facilities in Makadi Bay are mostly hotel-based, although the brighter lights of Hurghada are just 30 minutes' drive away. Makadi Bay is a great choice for those looking for a tranquil location with the superb convenience of some lovely house reef diving, plus a wider choice of the best of the Hurghada and Safaga dive sites.

Learning to Dive

The gently shelving sandy beach directly in front of the dive centre offers the perfect place to practise diving skills for beginners. (Confined water training may also be undertaken in the swimming pool.) A number of beautifully covered coral blocks and the remains of an old wreck provide plenty to explore in shallow 5m depths.

The main house reef is situated around 15m and from here until 30m you can find plenty of marine life including eagle rays, whip tail rays, turtles and even sightings of a bow mouth guitar shark. RIB rides are offered for those who want to save on swimming time (approx. 15 minutes) and air consumption. There are several different ways that you can navigate the area giving plenty of scope for different dives and extending diving skills.

A variety of sites suitable for novice divers can also be reached by boats from Makadi Bay. The Tobia reefs, or the Seven Pinnacles as they are often known, are particularly stunning and boast beautifully coloured corals and a huge variety of fish including schooling juvenile barracuda, stingrays, trigger fish, puffers and groupers. Tobia Soraya offers depths of 15m and is classed as an easy dive and suitable for all levels.

Qualified Divers

This area of the Red Sea offers some exciting and less discovered dive sites ideal for more experienced divers. Makadi Bay is superbly located for divers looking to combine some of the best of Hurghada and Safaga diving, or those looking for a fresh take on the Red Sea.

Ras Abu Soma is located to the south of Makadi Bay and this reef can be dived as two separate plans. To the north, the depth is up to 25m with a drop-off at the end of the plateau and some caves that lead a bit deeper. The south has a sandy plateau with a gradual slope between 10 - 30m. This is a great area for the chance to see reef sharks.

Abu Ramada South is further north than Makadi Bay. This dive site offers a wide variety of corals and marine life including crocodile fish, moray eels and trigger fish. There is also the bonus of a small wreck (not a lot left of it now) in the shallow water at about 5m.

Special Trips focus on the highlights of this area including the renowned wreck of the Salem Express. An Egyptian passenger ferry that sank on its return journey from Mecca in 1991, this wreck claimed the lives of 300 victims in one of the greatest marine tragedies of all time. This is a stunning site but a dive that is generally considered one for reflection rather than pleasure. Experienced divers visiting the exposed sites of Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan will be rewarded with some superb drift dives along stunning walls and coral gardens, plus the chance to see pelagics cruising out in the blue.

AQUARIUS DIVERS MAKADI

Aquarius Divers Makadi is a well-established dive centre located on the beach a few minutes’ walk from the Fort Arabesque and the Sunrise Select Royal Makadi Resort. With a well-placed location in Makadi Bay, this centre is able to access a large variety of dive sites in the southern Hurghada and Safaga area.

The centre operates house reef diving daily, which offers ideal conditions for try dives, diver training, and snorkelling. Zodiac diving is offered directly from the beach to sites within the bay itself, allowing divers to explore a wider area. Twice-weekly diving from the day boat is in offer with the sister dive centre at the Marriott Beach Resort to discover offshore sites including Panorama Reef and the Saleem Express wreck. 

A full range of PADI courses are available, as well as rental equipment, 15L tank, and nitrox at supplement cost. A typical 5 day, 10 dive package of shore diving costs £200, marine park and permission fees are paid on site along with addition cost to join the Zodiac or day-boat.

The modern beach resort of Makadi Bay is a satellite of the larger resort of Hurghada and is very quiet in comparison to its bustling neighbour. Situated along a beautiful natural bay that boasts long sandy beaches, Makadi Bay is ideal for those looking for a relaxed, hotel-based holiday.

The location of Makadi Bay, off the road south between Hurghada and Safaga, means that divers staying here can take advantage of a wider choice of diving from some of the best sites in the area. Makadi Bay also offers a superb fringing house reef which stretches along the bay. 

For those looking for nightlife, shopping or sightseeing, the bright lights of Hurghada are a 30 minute bus or taxi ride away. Tours are also available including the historical sites of Luxor and Karnak, as well as boat trips, sunset cruises and jeep safaris into the desert, closer to resort.

Getting Around

The hotels within Makadi Bay are mostly within walking distance of each other. Most hotels offer a transfer bus service to Hurghada and taxis are readily available.

Climate

The hottest time of the year is July and August with air temperature of over 30 ºC. The coolest time is January with the temperature at around 20 ºC. Rainfall is negligible and it is invariably sunny but breezes can be cool.

Time

Egypt is 1 or 2 hours ahead of GMT depending on the season as Egypt does not operate Daylight Saving Time.

Currency

Egyptian pounds or LE. Approximately £1 = 20LE

We recommend that you take some money in cash to Egypt. There is a currency exchange desk available at the hotel.  Please note that Scottish notes and Australian Travellers Cheques are not accepted in Egypt.

Tipping

Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to travellers for personal recognition of the services offered. We would advise that you allow approx. £10 for gratuities for local staff for the duration of your stay.

Rough Price Guide

•    Local beer: 35LE
•    Snack meal  (pizza / sandwich): 40LE
•    Bottle of mineral water: 10LE
•    Soft drink: 15LE

Flight Information

Flights are available to Hurghada (HRG) from a number of UK airports. Please refer to the tables below for typical direct flight schedules, or speak to our friendly travel consultants for the latest information.

Typical Annual Schedule

HRG = Hurghada Airport, updated Aug 2024

Key: * = Winter only (November to April), ** = Summer only (May to October), *** = Irregular schedule, ask for more information

NB: Please note that flight schedules may be subject to change by the airlines at any time. Full and up to date flight details will be provided with any holiday quotation.

Flight duration: Approx 5 - 5½ hours

Transfer times: These vary according to the hotel choice. Minimum transfer time is approx. 20 minutes, certain more remote destinations require longer transfers. 

Departure tax:  N/A

Passports

Passengers travelling to Egypt must have six months valid on their passport from the date of departure from Egypt.

Visas

A single entry tourist visa for Egypt is required for all nationalities. For British passport holders with British citizenship, Egyptian visas can be obtained conveniently and inexpensively on arrival at Hurghada airport, or in advance via the new e-visa portal - Visa2Egypt.

Other nationalities should check with consular office.

Vaccinations

There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to Egypt, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio. Though malaria does exist in Egypt, it is generally not present in the coastal resorts.

Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure.  For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic.

Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.

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Sunrise Select Royal Makadi Resort