Hotels near Hamata Islands

The Hamata Islands form a 14 km string of small uninhabited islands south of Hamata harbour - Wadi Lahmi, Mahabis, Showarit, Siyul. Day-boat trips usually visit two or three islands with stops for snorkelling on patch reefs and a beach barbecue lunch on a sand spit. The shallow reef tops at 1-3 metres host healthy hard coral cover and clouds of butterflyfish, parrotfish and Red Sea bannerfish. Larger reef sharks occasionally cruise the deeper drop-offs at the back of the islands. Trips run 2,500-3,000 EGP including transfers, gear and lunch, and depart Hamata at 8 AM. Sea conditions can swing fast off the islands - operators cancel without refund if waves exceed 1.5 metres. October-May is the most reliable window. The islands fall inside Wadi El Gemal protected area boundaries.

Pro Tip: Carry a long-sleeve rash guard - the open-water boat ride and shaded sand stops give little cover from UV at midday and most operators run out of sunblock by 11 AM.