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Nestled between the well-known Red Sea diving destinations of Hurghada and Safaga, Makadi Bay is made up of just a few small dive centres and hotels peppered along a protected sandy bay. The small resort is just 20km south of Hurghada and has access to most of the same classic dive sites, nonetheless, offers a completely different holiday experience from that of its bustling neighbour.
Although a small area, Makadi Bay offers a good variety of dive sites suited to a range of experience levels. There are shallow, deep, drift and wreck dives all just a short trip on felucca-style boats (traditional Egyptian wooden sailing vessels). For the furthest sites, divers can join half and full day dayboat excursions. Between 8am and 5pm, divers also have the option to stick to shore diving on the marine protected house reef, which offers a great option for beginners and underwater photographers in search of coral life shots.
In 1995, the coral system around Makadi Bay was classified as a protected area, requiring dive centres to adhere to strict environmentally friendly procedures. As well as the protection by local authorities, non-government bodies and USAID (United States Agency for International Development), the Hurghada Environmental Protection Association (HEPCA) continues to ensure the continued presence of mooring buoys on all dives sites.
Some of the best dive sites in the area, include the sea grass area of Abu Hashish, the coral gardens of Gota Abu Ramada and sheer reef wall drop offs of Ras Abu Soma.
Visitors to the resort of Makadi Bay fly to the International airport of Hurghada and travel 20km south. The drive takes around 30 to 40 minutes. Resorts will arrange transfers, but taxis are easily available.
Makadi itself offers little in the way of tourist entertainment as it is all about relaxation here, however, there are a number of excursions easily arranged to interesting places such as the Giftun Island National Park, Luxor and the famous ancient monasteries of St Anthony and St Paul. Non-diving entertainment within the bay includes:
Sail, windsurf canoe: The range of non-diving watersports is growing in Makadi Bay, check with the tour operator or your hotel for more information.
Family fun: Makadi Bay is well suited for family entertainment, with children's clubs at most of the main hotels. Covering most ages, children can do all sorts of holiday activities, including learning to swim, play tennis and snorkel. Included in the all-family entertainment on offer in the bay is a mini-golf course.
Nightlife: Enjoy a boogie to international DJ tunes at the Boiler Disco at Le Meridien. For a more chilled out affair, you can sink a post-dive drink at the Dockers Pub, an English-style bar, while looking out on sea and desert mountain views.
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 The diving industry in Egypt is regulated by the Chamber of Diving and Watersports. For your safety and quality of service, ensure you book with a CDWS member operator. All CDWS members have passed an ISO audit to meet European standards for recreational diving in order to obtain their operating licence from the Ministry of Tourism.
For a full list of legal dive operators in Egypt click here:
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