Red Sea Diving Safari - Wadi Lahami

Located 10km south of Hamata village, Wadi Lahami serves as the most southern coastal destination in the Red Sea. It is a small, intimate lodge designed around a model of sustainable tourism, ensuring that the local environment and the visitor experience remain uncrowded and exclusive.

The centre is perfectly positioned at the doorstep of the Fury Shoals, a massive reef complex known for having some of the most pristine hard coral formations in the world. While many sites in this area are part of the standard Deep South liveaboard routes, Wadi Lahami also provides access to many lesser-known reefs that remain largely untouched by the main safari boat traffic.

As a PADI 5 Star Dive Resort, the centre operates with a professional team of certified instructors and guides. The staff is multilingual, with proficiency in English, French, Italian, German, and Arabic, ensuring clear communication for a wide range of international divers.

The resort is a member of Green Fins, reflecting a commitment to environmentally responsible diving practices. This focus on sustainability extends from their dive operations to the way the village itself is managed within the local ecosystem.

The centre offers a comprehensive range of PADI training, from introductory courses like Discover Scuba Diving and the Open Water Referral to professional levels such as Divemaster, Assistant Instructor, and the OWSI course.

Specialty training is extensive, covering everything from PADI Deep Diver and Night Diver to more technical paths including PADI Tec 40, Tec 45, Tec 50, and Tec Sidemount. They also provide instruction in PADI Gas Blender, Peak Performance Buoyancy, and Digital Underwater Photography Diver. For those interested in non-scuba disciplines, AIDA1, AIDA2, and AIDA3 freediving courses are available.

The centre operates boat and speedboat excursions to reach the offshore reefs. These trips allow you to explore the various habitats of the Fury Shoals, from shallow coral gardens to deeper drop-offs and wrecks.

The shore-based facilities include a fully equipped equipment room for kit hire. For gas blending, the centre utilises a robust compressor setup featuring 13 Bauer Mariner compressors, one Bauer Btrox Nitrox compressor, and several other Bauer units including K180, K14, and K15 models.

Nitrox is available on-site for divers looking to extend their bottom time. For safety, the centre maintains oxygen availability and is linked to the Baro-Medical hyperbaric centre located at the Marsa Shagra village.

The reefs are a vibrant habitat for a vast array of reef fish, including Angelfish (Pomacanthidae), Butterflyfish (Chaetodon), Snappers, and many species of Grouper (Epinephelus). You will frequently encounter Parrotfish (Calotomus), Triggerfish (Balistidae), and various species of Sweetlips (Plectorhinchus).

Large pelagics and iconic species are a highlight of the area. You can expect to see Spinner dolphins in the shallow lagoons of Satayah Reef, as well as Whitetip reef sharks (Triaenodon obesus) and other Shark (Selachimorpha) species. Sea turtles (Cheloniidae) are also common residents of these waters.

For those interested in macro life, the coral gardens host various Nudibranch (Chromodoris willani) and other small invertebrates. The surrounding mangrove areas north of the village also support a rich variety of birdlife, including herons, kingfishers, and various shorebirds.

The reefs in the Fury Shoals region are generally shallow and sheltered, which provides relatively calm conditions for divers and snorkelers. This makes the area particularly well-suited for those working on buoyancy or completing introductory certifications.

While the reefs are often protected, divers should always be prepared for the typical conditions of the Red Sea, including potential drift during certain excursions.