Ocean View Divers

Blue Ocean is a long-established presence in the Marsa Alam region, operating four distinct dive centres with 14 years of experience navigating the waters of the Red Sea. Their operations are strategically positioned to access a vast array of marine environments, ranging from protected shallow lagoons to exposed offshore reefs.

For those looking to combine their diving with a stay, the centre manages the Abu Dabbab Lodge, an eco-responsible complex of 62 wooden bungalows situated directly on the Abu Dabbab beach. This location provides immediate access to a natural reserve known for its unique biodiversity and calm, shallow reef flats.

The team is composed of experienced guides and instructors dedicated to professional standards and environmental respect. They manage a wide range of diving activities, including daily boat trips, night dives, and specialized excursions via RIB and speedboat.

Safety is integrated into their core procedures, with mandatory check-out dives on the house reef for all divers before they join boat excursions. They also implement competency assessments for those returning to the water after a hiatus, ensuring every diver is comfortable with their skills before heading to more challenging sites.

The training programme is comprehensive, catering to everyone from those taking their first breaths underwater to professional candidates. They offer the full range of PADI certifications, starting with the Open Water Diver course and progressing through Advanced Open Water and various Specialty Courses.

For those looking to turn diving into a career, the centre provides Professional Level training. They also run dedicated Youth Programs and offer Freediving instruction for those interested in breath-hold diving.

The centre utilises a variety of vessels to reach different dive profiles, including speedboats and RIBs for shorter, more targeted excursions. These trips are scheduled throughout the day to allow for flexible itineraries.

For longer journeys and liveaboard-style safaris, the service includes 12L cylinders, food, and non-alcoholic beverages. On these trips, the cost of diving guides is included in the package, allowing for a focused experience on the water.

The marine life here is exceptionally diverse, ranging from large pelagics to delicate reef inhabitants. In the deeper blue, you may encounter hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini), silky sharks, and grey reef sharks (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos). Large schools of tuna (Thunnus), jacks (Carangidae), and barracudas are common, alongside sightings of manta rays (Mobula alfredi) and eagle rays (Aetobatus).

On the reef walls and plateaus, the scenery is defined by a rich tapestry of hard corals (Scleractinia) and soft corals (Alcyonacea), including large gorgonians and sea fans (Gorgoniidae). You will regularly see colourful reef fish such as angelfish (Pomacanthidae), butterflyfish (Chaetodon), and various species of parrotfish (Calotomus), as well as groupers (Epinephelus) and Napoleon wrasse (Cheilinus undulatus) patrolling the ledges.

For macro enthusiasts, the sites offer plenty of smaller treasures. Keep an eye out for nudibranchs (Chromodoris willani), seahorses (Hippocampus kuda), and various species of scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae) or frogfish (Antennarius) hiding amongst the rubble. Octopuses (Octopus vulgaris), shrimps (Caridea), and gobies (Gobiidae) can often be found in the crevices and sandy patches.

In the protected bays and seagrass areas, the focus shifts to unique residents like the dugong (Dugong dugon), green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), and various stingrays (Batoidea). You might also spot the elusive ghost pipefish (Solenostomidae) or small crustaceans tucked away in the reef structure.

Diving conditions vary significantly depending on the chosen site. While many of the house reef and bay dives are sheltered and calm, offshore sites like Elphinstone and the Giftun Islands can experience strong currents that require more experienced divers.

Some locations, such as Erg Somaya, can encounter occasionally strong currents, whereas sites like Shalaniat are generally characterised by gentle conditions. Divers should always be prepared for the varying flow rates encountered when moving from shallow plateaus to deep walls.