Brayka Bay Housereef North

Overview

Brayka Bay Housereef North is the northern section of the house reef fronting the Royal Brayka Beach Resort in Marsa Alam, managed by Coraya Divers. The bay’s geography — narrow and steep-sided with high surrounding terrain — shields the northern reef from prevailing winds and swell, making it diveable virtually year-round from the beach. The reef features healthy coral architecture with walls, overhangs, coral gardens, and pinnacles descending to around 40 metres. The north reef is particularly noted for its well-vegetated coral structure and calm conditions, and a free zodiac shuttle ferry runs daily to help divers reach different sections. This is a relaxed shore dive suited to all experience levels, and also serves as a training site for beginners due to the easy sandy entry.

Marine Life

Permanent residents include hawksbill turtles, moray eels, and squid. Reef species found throughout include angelfish, butterflyfish, surgeonfish, wrasse, and clownfish in anemones. The site stands out in the area for its abundance of larger fish — snapper and grouper schools are commonly reported. Scorpionfish and lionfish are well camouflaged on the reef structure. Blue-spotted stingrays are seen on sandy patches between coral heads.

Dive Profile

Shore entry from the beach via a sandy bottom that allows easy entry for divers and snorkelers. The reef wall begins at a shallow slope before dropping to around 40 m on the outer edge. Most recreational dives are conducted at 10–25 m. Current is generally absent on the north side, giving long bottom times. Visibility typically 10–30 m. The north side is protected from wind and high waves, which makes it suitable for all conditions.

Entry and Exit

Shore entry from the Brayka Bay beach. Equipment preparation area (diver pergola) approximately 80 m from the dive centre. A zodiac shuttle is available to reach the southern housereef section. Separate jetty steps provide access to the speedboat for day trips to offshore sites.

Tips and Recommendations

The north housereef is ideal for evening and night dives — the reef comes alive with invertebrate activity after dark. Morning dives tend to have the best turtle encounters. Use the zodiac transfer to combine a north reef dive with an afternoon south reef dive for variety.

Safety Considerations

Visibility can be temporarily reduced during strong wave action and low tide near the entry point. Fire coral is present on the reef structure; avoid contact. Stay within recreational depth limits on the outer wall. Water temperatures are warm year-round (23–30°C); a 3 mm wetsuit is adequate for most of the year.

Site Information

• Location: Brayka Bay, Marsa Alam, southern Red Sea
• Entry Type: Shore entry
• Site Type: Reef
• Difficulty Level: Intermediate
• Maximum Depth: 40 m

Sources: Coraya Divers — Brayka Bay House Reef, Divers Guide — Brayka Bay North. Last updated 2026-05-17.