MARSA EL NABAA

El Nabaa Bay and Beach

For a half or full day excursion contact Steven@marsaalam.com. More information is given below.

This page is provided for general information only. While every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of the information presented, no responsibility can be accepted for any errors or omissions. Visitors are strongly advised to seek local, qualified guidance before swimming, diving, or undertaking any activity within or around the bay.

Located at approximately 25.06°N 34.89°E on Egypt’s southern Red Sea coast, about 30 kilometres south of Marsa Alam Airport and just two kilometres beyond the well-known Abu Dabbab Bay, Marsa El Nabaa (also known as El Nabaa Bay) is one of the most welcoming and sheltered destinations along this stretch of coastline. Its distinctive U-shaped bay, defined by fringing reefs and a 17,000-square-metre offshore reef lying just 200 metres from the beach, provides a significant degree of protection from the open sea and offers a relatively calm, inviting refuge. Within this protected environment, coral formations, marine life, and coastal ecosystems thrive in a delicate balance.

This distinctive sheltered configuration makes it particularly attractive to both beginning and experienced water enthusiasts alike. To the north and south of the potato shaped offshore reef, the bay opens to the east toward the Red Sea proper, whilst its northern and southern extremities are protected by coral reef formations that expand gradually outward. This protective reef structure significantly moderates wave action and current patterns within the bay itself, creating generally calmer sea conditions compared to more exposed coastal areas.

The bay’s sandy bottom gradually descends from the shoreline, initially remaining shallow and suitable for wading, before deepening to approximately 10 metres and a maximum of 20 metres in the western offshore bay area.² A prominent feature of the bay’s western edge is a significant seagrass meadow that extends into shallow waters, providing critical habitat for several of the region’s most iconic species such as green sea turtles and the occasional passing dugong.

The beach at El Nabaa Bay consists of soft, white sand that remains comfortable underfoot throughout the day, even under the intense desert sun typical of this region. The sand composition contributes to exceptional water clarity in the immediate shallows, though visibility in the deeper central bay varies with tide and seasonal conditions. Access to the water is exceptionally easy, with the gently sloping sandy bottom allowing visitors to wade progressively deeper rather than encountering sudden drop-offs. This accessibility makes El Nabaa particularly welcoming for families with young children and for first-time snorkellers and swimmers.

Ecosystem and Marine Biodiversity

Step into the waters of El Nabaa Bay and you are entering one of the planet’s most vibrant and biologically rich marine areas. The wider Red Sea, where the bay makes its home, holds an astonishing secret: it’s home to the highest variety of coral reef in the whole Indian Ocean! It’s populated by about 1,200 different fish species and 300 coral species, including over 100 types of soft coral and more than 200 types of the sturdy, stone-like (Scleractinian) corals that form the backbone of its reefs.³

What makes El Nabaa Bay so special, however, is the variety of underwater zones it contains. These distinct “neighborhoods” create the perfect environment for this amazing biodiversity to thrive. Along the northern and southern edges of the bay, you’ll find the fringing reef – essentially underwater walls covered in living coral. These vibrant structures provide a safe haven and rich hunting grounds for endless schools of fish and smaller creatures like sea stars and shrimp. The reef itself is a stunning, colourful maze built from hard corals, including branching varieties (particularly acropora) that look like underwater trees and dense solid corals (particularly porites) that form the structural backbone of this entire vibrant ecosystem.

Another vital component of Marsa El Nabaa’s rich ecosystem is its extensive seagrass meadows. These underwater fields, where delicate seagrass species like Halophila and Halodule thrive, are an often-overlooked secret to the bay’s rich ecosystem. They perform a few important tasks that benefit the entire bay.

First, these grasses act as a sheltered nursery habitat where juvenile marine species can mature safely before heading out to the main reef. Second, by holding the sandy seabed in place, the seagrass keeps the water from getting murky, which helps maintain a good average visibility of around 25 metres that divers and snorkelers love.⁴ This thick seagrass distinguishes El Nabaa Bay from some neighbouring sites.

It’s what draws larger, plant-eating marine animals, most famously, the beautiful green sea turtle and the enchanting dugong sea cow —making the bay a prime location for these truly memorable encounters. The combination of clear, sandy areas, green seagrass patches, and scattered coral mounds means you should usually get crystal-clear views, especially with the soft light of the early morning, when the gentle light can make for stunning underwater photos.

Excursion Offer

Steven, a trusted local businessman with over 1,100 excellent reviews (average rating 4.9/5), is offering relaxing half or full day trips to Marsa El Nabaa. Standard excursions are available for any two or more people sharing. You can choose from the following options:

Morning Half-Day (8:00 am – 1:30 pm)
Includes hotel transfers by air-conditioned taxi, use of a sun lounger and parasol, plus unlimited soft drinks.

Afternoon Half-Day (12:30 pm – 5:00 pm)
Includes hotel transfers by air-conditioned taxi, use of a sun lounger and parasol, plus unlimited soft drinks.

Full Day (8:00 am – 5:00 pm)
Includes hotel transfers by air-conditioned taxi, use of a sun lounger and parasol, unlimited soft drinks, and lunch.

Prices depend on your hotel location. Steven will be happy to provide details and can also usually tailor the trip to your precise needs — whether you’re travelling solo, as a large group, or prefer a different time or lunch option with your half-day visit.

Email: steven@marsaalam.com
WhatsApp: +20 102 999 9978
Phone: +20 128 433 2337

Facilities and Visitor Services

El Nabaa Bay’s visitor infrastructure reflects its general positioning as a destination for those seeking a relatively refined and tranquil experience rather than the atmosphere and energy of more commercialised beach resorts. However, that said, with dozens of sun loungers available, the bay can get relatively busy during peak periods. Those seeking even quieter and even less commercialised beaches should check out Sharm El Luli or Qulaan Mangrove Bay, but they are located far to the south of most of Marsa Alam’s main resorts and are relatively lacking in nearby facilities.

The Three Corners Equinox Beach Resort, situated directly on El Nabaa Bay approximately 2 kilometres south of Abu Dabbab, manages most of the bay’s beach access and facilities. This positioning creates a distinctive visitor experience: whilst the beach technically fronts a resort property, access policies and beach activities remain oriented toward day visitors as well as resort guests, creating an inclusive recreational environment.

Beach facilities at El Nabaa include sun loungers, parasols and towel rental through the resort’s beach management. A beach bar operates during daylight hours, offering refreshments, light meals, and beverages. The combination of soft sand, protected waters, and professional beach management creates a high standard of beach comfort and safety. Importantly, the resort maintains active beach supervision through trained staff and lifeguards, enhancing visitor security.

Kitesurfing and Windsurfing at Marsa El Nabaa

For information only. You are strongly advised to seek local, qualified guidance.

There’s a comprehensive kitesurfing and windsurfing centre operated by ProCenter Tommy Friedl, directly on the beach, featuring professional instruction and equipment rental facilities. The staff are normally fluent in German and English and often other languages too and there is a shop selling surfing and kiting accessories and clothing. The centre also employs vigilant beach assistants and a lifeboat which is “always ready for action” should anyone need help.⁵ The bay itself has earned recognition as an outstanding venue for these disciplines, offering distinct zones suited to different skill levels. You can contact ProCenter Tommy Friedl via Tel: +20 100 6672811 or at info@tommy-friedl.de.

To the south side of the jetty, shallow sandy waters extending approximately 50 metres from shore provide ideal conditions for learners and intermediates. The jetty on the left windward side and the offshore “Potato Reef” (see map above) create relatively protected flat-water conditions through wind moderation and wave flattening. Advanced kitesurfers and windsurfers can access rolling waves in deeper water beyond the reef, which do not break and when conditions are moderate can provide a relatively safe introduction to wave riding for those transitioning from flat-water disciplines. Wind conditions typically favour these sports throughout the year, with consistent side-shore winds (“80% side-shore to cross-onshore from the left”) typically of 15-20 knots.⁶

Snorkelling

For information only. You are strongly advised to seek local, qualified guidance.

El Nabaa Bay ranks among Egypt’s premier snorkelling destinations due to the combination of easy access, exceptional marine life diversity, and varied underwater topography. The bay’s reefs offer exciting opportunities for snorkellers even as they descend to depths reaching and occasionally exceeding 10 metres, creating landscapes that transition from shallow sandy patches studded with coral heads to vertical coral walls.

The bay teems with marine life. Green turtles are regular visitors, while rays drift silently along the seabed, and on rare occasions, snorkelers may glimpse a dugong grazing on seagrass. Those same seagrass meadows also shelter an entirely different world of small, fascinating species—such as seahorses and other tiny sea creatures that live on or just above the sea floor (often called “benthic invertebrates” by marine biologists).

Except during rare periods of rough sea or poor weather, the clear, tranquil waters of El Nabaa Bay make it an inviting spot for everyone to enjoy. Children and first-time snorkelers can wade into knee-deep or waist-deep water whilst observing the spectacular marine environment through snorkels from the surface. More experienced snorkellers can progress to deeper areas, reaching the coral walls and spending extended periods observing reef fish behaviour and hunting dynamics.

The bay’s typically light currents and general calmness make snorkelling comparatively safe compared to many other Red Sea sites. Equipment rental, mask, snorkel, and fins, should be available through the diving centre, any other official beach operators or other local shops, although bringing your own mask, snorkel and fins is always a good idea if you have them.

Scuba Diving

For information only. You are strongly advised to seek local, qualified guidance.

Accessing the dive sites at El Nabaa Bay is straightforward. Divers can either wade in from the sandy beach, starting in shallow water and descending gradually, or begin their descent directly from the jetty, which extends to the edge of the offshore “potato” reef (see map). For beginners taking their first diving course—such as the popular PADI Open Water Diver—the bay’s normally excellent visibility, sheltered conditions and the conveniently located professional dive centre (at the southern end of the Three Corners Equinox Resort) make it a perfect place to learn. Depths typically range from about 5 to about 18 metres, offering a comfortable, relatively protected environment ideal for training.

More experienced divers also appreciate the bay, using its reefs to practise skills or simply enjoy relaxed, scenic dives without the stronger currents found further offshore at sites like the renowned Elphinstone Reef. Divers can explore coral formations, small caves, and reef walls alive with colourful fish and crustaceans. Beyond the reef, the seagrass meadows at around 10–12 metres reveal a quieter but fascinating world, where turtles feed and smaller, camouflaged creatures thrive among the waving grass blades—an intriguing contrast to the brightly coloured coral gardens closer in.

Best Times to Visit

The optimal season for visiting Marsa El Nabaa depends upon your specific activity preferences and comfort requirements. Early to mid-spring (March-April) and mid to late-autumn (October-November) offer exceptional conditions characterised by more moderate maximum air temperatures (26-32°C) relative to the summer, but still offering reasonable water temperatures (typically 22-23°C in early spring and 26-27°C in autumn) and, like the other seasons of the year, clear skies. These two periods provide ideal conditions for all beach and water activities with relatively minimal thermal stress, making them particularly
suitable for families.

Summer months (May-September) experience significantly higher daily maximum air temperatures (typically 32-35°C though temperatures can reach as high as the mid 40s°C) and maximum water temperatures (26 to 29°C), sometimes offset by stronger winds and reduced crowds in early summer. Winter months
(December-February) bring milder daytime maximum air temperatures (23-24°C), though cool (but still swimmable) water temperatures (22 to 24°C).

From a reef and marine life perspective, Marsa El Nabaa’s coral reefs demonstrate consistent health throughout the year, with no particular seasonal advantage to reef viewing, though thermal stress periods (typically late summer) have historically sometimes shown some variable impact on coral condition along Egypt’s Red Sea coast, which is currently usually temporary, although if present rates of global warming continue, climate change is likely to make the damage more permanent at some time in the not so distant future.

Respecting the Reef’s Fragility

Visiting El Nabaa Bay responsibly requires understanding the fragility of coral reef ecosystems. The following practices represent best-practice environmental conduct:

Snorkellers should maintain distance from the coral itself and avoid standing on or even touching the coral.

Divers at Marsa El Nabaa should learn to master buoyancy control to avoid accidental contact with the coral, which can suffer lasting damage from even brief physical contact. To minimize the risk of damage, maintain neutral buoyancy while at your target depth, using fine breath control for small adjustments rather than constantly using your BCD (buoyancy control device). Equally important, use small, controlled BCD adjustments as you descend and ascend to ensure you do not sink onto or accidentally strike, as you are ascend, any part of the fragile reef.

Marine Life Interaction

Observe the rich variety of marine animals at Marsa El Nabaa, particularly megafauna such as sea turtles and dugongs, from respectful distances. Avoid pursuing any species of sea life, attempting to touch them, or creating excessive disturbance through rapid movements or loud noises (particularly relevant for divers using air-powered equipment). Photographs should never be obtained through invasive proximity or behaviour modification of the subject animal. Also, besides sea life being negatively affected by touch and invasive proximity, some marine species can bite or sting if you approach too closely. Seeing marine animals in their natural habitat represent encounters by privilege, not entitlement.

Pollution Avoidance

Waste Minimisation: Avoid single-use plastics entirely and dispose of any rubbish carefully in designated waste bins. Ensure you leave nothing on the beach at Marsa EL Nabaa when you leave. You should also be aware that sunscreen and personal care products represent recognised threats to coral health; consider reef-safe formulations or physical UV protection (clothing) rather than chemical sunscreens. However as the term “reef safe” when used to describe sunscreens may still be merely a marketing term in some countries, you should always carefully check the ingredients.

According to sunscreen advice from the US National Ocean Service, the following chemicals in sunscreens can harm marine life – oxybenzone, benzophenone-1, benzophenone-8, OD-PABA, 4-methylbenzylidene camphor, 3-benzylidene camphor, nano-titanium dioxide, nano-zinc oxide, octinoxate and octocrylene. Some, if not all, of these chemicals may damage the DNA and induce bleaching in coral as well as negatively impacting the the fertility and reproduction of fish.⁷ A sunscreen which is relatively “reef safe” is a mineral-based product that uses physical filters like non-nano zinc oxide or non-nano titanium dioxide instead of chemical filters like oxybenzone and octinoxate.

Practical Preparation

Visitors to El Nabaa Bay should bring adequate clothing for sun protection, including high-SPF sunscreen (choose relatively reef-safe formulations whenever possible) and a hat preferably with a wide brim. It is also important to consider wearing flippers or water shoes to protect your feet from sharp coral fragments, sea urchins (which can cause very painful injuries that should receive immediate appropriate treatment) or a life-threatening sting from a stonefish. Stonefish are masters of camouflage, looking exactly like a rock or piece of coral. They are not aggressive; the danger comes from accidentally stepping on them.

If you wish to dive or snorkel at Marsa El Nabaa, consider wearing a light wetsuit (3mm) which will provides comfort for extended water immersion during winter months and offers some degree of abrasion protection. Dive certification or willingness to obtain entry-level certification (typically the PADI Open Water course available through the diving centre) enables recreational diving access. If possible bring your own personal mask and equipment, though it should usually be possible to buy or rent correctly sized equipment.

Cash in Egyptian pounds is often necessary for small purchases and may sometimes (but not always) result in paying less than using foreign currency or international cards.

Environmental Challenges

El Nabaa Bay exists within a complex environmental and conservation landscape reflective of the broader challenges along Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The region is experiencing the impacts of climate change, manifested through rising sea surface temperatures and changing sea current patterns (both of which are negatively impacting coral reefs), alongside other pressures from high levels of tourism, waste and sewage management challenges, evolving maritime traffic, marine pollution and overfishing.

The Egyptian Red Sea Initiative is a six-year programme, launched in September 2024 and backed by $14 million in funding. It is supported by the Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and United States Agency for International Development (USAID).⁸ It specifically targets reef protection along Egypt’s Red Sea coast. The initiative supports marine protected area expansion, active coral restoration efforts, waste management, and sustainable livelihoods for coastal communities, who are dependent on reef-related tourism and fisheries.

HEPCA’s Bleach Watch Egypt monitoring programme provides ongoing assessment of coral health and recovery capacity through a “volunteer network that regularly visits reefs and report on their health.”⁹ Fortunately, recent data offers some optimism: reefs along Egypt’s Red Sea coast, including those at El Nabaa, have recovered surprisingly well from an intense but relatively short bleaching episode in 2024 which impacted 84% of Reef systems globally and between 10 and 56% of Egypt’s coastal reefs (the highest levels occurring to the south of Marsa El Nabaa and Marsa Alam).

Between 15 and 30 per cent of the affected coral did not immediately recover but the recovery rate of 70 to 85 per cent was the best level recorded globally.¹⁰ This relative ability to rebound points to a significant level of natural resilience when the thermal stress is over a brief period.

When corals repopulated Marsa El Nabaa after the last ice age, the larvae that established the reefs had to migrate north from the Indian Ocean. To do this, they had to pass through the southern Red Sea’s “thermal barrier”—some of the hottest sea water on Earth.¹¹ Only the most heat-tolerant individuals survived this journey. These “super-coral” ancestors then settled the (relatively cooler) northern Red Sea. Their long-term survival, however, still depends on keeping them as healthy as possible. That means reducing pressures such as pollution and physical damage, which can weaken a reef and make it far more vulnerable when heat stress occurs.

When you look across the beautiful coral reefs at El Nabaa Bay, it’s sobering to remember that with careful protection these could be among the last surviving of all the world’s reefs, with the best chance of coping with the catastrophic impact of climate change over the next fifty years. If anyone questions the importance of the Red Sea’s coral reefs, including those at El Nabaa, ask them to reflect on the conclusion of Mahmoud Hanafy, professor of marine biology at Egypt’s Suez Canal University –

“There’s very strong evidence to suggest that this reef is humanity’s hope for having a coral reef ecosystem in the future.”¹²

Footnotes

1. Approximate calculations using Google Earth’s distance and satellite measurement tool.
2. The typical depth of 10 metres is based from the figure given by snorkeling-report.com and the maximum depth figure of 20 metres is based from the maximum depth for El Nabaa Bay given at divers-guide.com
3. Regarding the number of fish species see Lafi S. Alsolami et al, “An ecosystem-based fisheries assessment approach and management system for the Red Sea,” Fisheries Research, Volume 227, July 2020, Najeeb M.A. Rasul and ‎Ian C.F. Stewart, “Coral Reefs and Associated Marine Fauna Around the Arabian Peninsula,” CRC Press, July 2024, Section 1.2.2. Fish  and also Khaled Mohammed-Geba1 et al, “Editorial: Current genetic diversity in the Red Sea and related aquatic environments,” Frontiers in Marine Science, 1 August 2024. Regarding the total number of Red Sea coral species see Laura Gajdzik et al., “Using species connectivity to achieve coordinated large-scale marine conservation efforts in the Red Sea,” Marine Pollution Bulletin, Vol 166, May 2021.
4. The 25 metre figure for average visibility is derived from the figure given for Marsa El Nabaa at divers-guide.com
5. Spot Windsurfing El Naaba ProCenter Tommy Friedl.
6. Spots4Kite.com Marsa El Nabaa and Spot Windsurfing El Naaba ProCenter Tommy Friedl. Short (“quotation”) within brackets from Spot Windsurfing El Naaba ProCenter Tommy Friedl.
7. Skincare chemicals and coral reefs, National Ocean Service, NOAA.
8. Hadeer El-Hadary, “Threats to Egypt’s Coral Reefs,” Ahram Online, 27 June 2025.
9. “Bleach Watch Egypt,” HEPCA.
10. Hadeer El-Hadary, Op. cit..
11. Bob Berwyn, The Red Sea could be a Climate Refuge for Coral Reefs,” Inside Climate News, 31 January 2023.
12. Mahmoud Hanafy cited in “Red Sea Reefs Offer Last Stand For Corals,” China Daily, 11 October 2022.