Shilineat - Marsa Alam

Shilineat, just north of Marsa Alam, often gets overshadowed, but we always make a point of diving here. It's not a thundering wall or a wreck; it’s a gently sloping reef, almost like a secret garden. The real magic unfolds close to the sand, where the halodule and thalassia beds create a totally different habitat from the typical Red Sea coral. We always spend extra time here, eyes peeled. This is where you find the stuff that makes other divers scratch their heads. Think Ornate Pitar Venus shells, Snowball Chamas, and the tiny, perfectly camouflaged Highfin Triplefin darting between blades of seagrass. We've often spotted Hairy Scorpionfish here, masters of disguise, waiting for an unsuspecting Variable Stromb to wander by. If you’re lucky, and we’ve been lucky a few times, a pod of Long-beaked or Indian Ocean bottlenose dolphins might cruise past in the blue, occasionally peeling off to investigate divers. It’s a slower dive, best suited for those who appreciate the smaller, more unusual inhabitants and aren't afraid to take their time exploring the details. Our tip? Go early in the morning before any wind picks up; the light filtering through the seagrass is just something else.

Location
Marsa Alam, Egypt, Red Sea & Middle East
Coordinates
24.669924, 35.133320
Type
reef
Maximum Depth
10-25m

Marine Protected Area: Tourism Development Area I

Best Time to Dive in Marsa Alam

The warmest water temperatures in Marsa Alam occur in August, averaging 31.1°C. The coolest conditions are in February at 22.7°C.

Monthly Water Temperatures

  • January: 23.6°C
  • February: 22.7°C
  • March: 22.9°C
  • April: 23.8°C
  • May: 26.0°C
  • June: 28.1°C
  • July: 29.9°C
  • August: 31.1°C
  • September: 30.4°C
  • October: 28.8°C
  • November: 27.1°C
  • December: 25.6°C

Nearby Dive Sites in Marsa Alam

Nearest Dive Centres to Shilineat

Marine Life in Marsa Alam

Home to 39 recorded species including 10 seagrass & algae, 8 whales & dolphins, 8 reef fish, 7 sea snails & nudibranchs, 3 sharks & rays, 1 clams & mussels.

Notable Species

Recommended Packing List for Shilineat

Based on average water temperature of 26.7°C, currents 3 cm/s.

  • Shorty or Rashguard - warm 27°C water needs minimal exposure protection
  • Mask - essential for every dive
  • Fins
  • BCD - buoyancy compensator
  • Regulator - your most safety-critical piece of gear
  • Dive Computer - tracks depth, time, and NDL
  • Surface Marker Buoy (SMB) - essential for boat pickups
  • Dive Torch - useful for crevices and colour at depth
  • Underwater Camera - capture your diving memories