ORCA Dive Club Shoni Bay

ORCA Dive Club Shoni Bay is situated in a beautiful bay near Marsa Alam, approximately 25 kilometres from the airport. The centre is positioned just steps away from the Shoni Bay Resort, making it a convenient base for those staying in the immediate area.

What distinguishes this location is its exceptional house reef, which allows you to begin your dives from the shore without the need for a boat. This provides a relaxed way to explore the local marine life, whether you are looking for a morning reef flat session or a full day of exploration.

Established in 1991, the centre carries over three decades of experience in the Red Sea. The team focuses on providing high-quality education across a wide spectrum of diver levels, from children starting their journey to professionals working towards advanced certifications.

The centre is equipped to handle a variety of training needs, offering courses through several major diving organisations. Whether you are working towards a Divemaster qualification or exploring the technical depths with a Tec-Diving course, the instruction is designed to be thorough and professional.

The training programme is comprehensive, covering everything from the initial Open Water Diver course through to Advanced and Rescue certifications. For those looking to professionalise their skills, Divemaster training is also available.

Technical divers can access specialised training through their Tec-Diving modules. Additionally, the centre offers Freediving courses for those interested in breath-hold diving.

The centre organises full-day boat excursions and fast boat trips to explore the wider Red Sea. These trips allow you to move beyond the house reef to discover more remote sites and deeper walls.

The shore-based facilities have been recently renovated and include dedicated equipment rooms, sinks, showers, and toilets. A boutique and an office are also available on-site for your convenience.

For those needing to hire kit, the centre maintains a complete range of equipment in all sizes. They stock a variety of cylinder volumes to suit different diving styles, including 12 and 15-litre aluminium cylinders, as well as 8 and 10-litre cylinders specifically for children or sidemount divers. Powerful compressors are on-site to ensure a steady supply of both air and Nitrox.

The house reef and surrounding waters are home to a vast array of reef fish, including various species of snapper, grouper (Epinephelus), and wrasse (Labridae). You will often see schools of fusiliers, jacks (Carangidae), and colourful anthias, alongside butterflyfish (Chaetodon) and damselfish navigating the coral structures.

Larger pelagics frequently pass through the area. Divers may encounter various sharks, such as the whitetip reef shark (Triaenodon obesus), grey reef shark (Carcharhinus amblyrhynchos), and silvertip shark. You might also spot eagle rays (Aetobatus), stingrays, or even larger species like the manta ray (Mobula alfredi) and hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna lewini) depending on the conditions.

The seabed is rich with life, including green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), hawksbill turtles (Eretmochelys imbricata), and loggerhead sea turtles (Caretta caretta). Look closely in the crevices to find octopuses (Octopus vulgaris), moray eels (Muraenidae), and scorpionfish (Scorpaenidae), or search the sandy patches for seahorses (Hippocampus kuda) and various species of rays.

The reef structure itself is built upon a vibrant foundation of hard corals (Scleractinia), soft corals (Alcyonacea), gorgonians, and sea fans (Gorgoniidae). These are complemented by a variety of colourful sponges (Porifera) and sea anemones (Actiniaria), which provide essential habitats for smaller creatures like shrimp (Caridea), gobies (Gobiidae), and clownfish (Amphiprion).