Roots Red Sea
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Overview
- Charming boutique dive resort in Egypt’s remote eastern desert
- Enjoy unlimited shore diving on the biodiverse house reef
- 80 dive sites within reach and trips to Elphinstone and the Salem Express
- Accommodation to suit all guests, including accessible options
Tucked away against a mountain backdrop along Egypt’s eastern coast, Roots Red Sea offers a rustic retreat into the desert, making guests feel truly at one with nature. This remote location guarantees peace and tranquillity, while the resort’s friendly, laid-back atmosphere and boutique accommodation is perfect for a relaxing holiday, creating intimate escapes for travellers of all kinds. And, with Egypt’s most spectacular shore diving right on the doorstep, including its own spectacular house reef, Roots Red Sea comes well-equipped to deliver unparalleled underwater exploration.
Amenities
About
About Roots Red Sea
Roots Red Sea is situated on Egypt’s Red Sea coast, some 80-kilometres south of Safaga and 14-kilometres north of El Quseir. Drawing on more than 25 years of experience working in the Red Sea, the owners of Roots Red Sea have developed a winning formula and a distinct no-problem approach to hospitality, where absolutely nothing is too much trouble. Once a rustic eco camp, Roots Red Sea has evolved into a beautiful boutique getaway with an outstanding location, chic accommodation, and premium facilities. Today, the resort features a mix of accommodation designed to suit all visitors, from the simple eco huts with minimal facilities to family-sized boutique rooms and accessible room options.
El Quseir has gained a reputation as being home to the very best shore diving in the Egyptian Red Sea, making this resort a top spot for divers - in fact, Roots Red Sea has its own spectacular house reef. Managed by the British owned-and-operated Pharaoh Dive Club, the PADI 5-Star IDC dive centre boasts an unsurpassed reputation for its highly-personalised service and friendly staff.
Explore the resort
The facilities at Roots Red Sea are charmingly rustic, yet comfortable. A traditionally-built reception welcomes guests with inspirational architecture, while a chillout lounge and bar provides a quiet haven for relaxing and serves refreshments to the freshwater pool just outside. Across the courtyard lies the main restaurant and open-air terrace where sumptuous buffet meals are served. Meals are crafted by an expert chef who it happy to cater for most dietary needs.
The remote Roots Red Sea boasts its own section of secluded private beach, equipped with everything needed for whiling away the hours, including sun loungers, parasoles, washrooms, and a beach cafe. Back at the resort itself, the idyllic sheltered pool features a shallow paddling pool for children as well as sections deep enough for dive training, and is surrounded by a large patio furnished with thatched gazebos and sunbeds. In the evenings, the covered campfire area takes over as the resort’s social hub, with plenty of comfortable seating and a shisha corner. The resort’s 24-hour front desk can also help guests with organising excursions, tours, and any other requirements.
Diving from Roots Red Sea
Diving at Roots Red Sea is through the onsite Pharaoh Dive Club. This 5-Star Instructor Development Centre is expertly equipped to deliver a wide range of underwater experiences, including recreational, technical, and training dives. Full equipment rental can be organised through the dive centre and nitrox32% is available at an additional cost.
Diving around El Quseir is extremely varied with pristine coral gardens, challenging wall dives, seagrass meadows, extensive cavern systems, and a resident pod of dolphins - and you’ll likely have your chosen site entirely to yourself. Guests can make the most of unlimited house reef diving, as well as additional zodiac and hard boat diving. There are even opportunities to take excursions to visit world-renowned sites such as Elphinstone and Salem Express. Abu Sanatir is Roots Red Sea’s outstanding house reef, where over one third of the Red Sea’s fish species have been recorded. Shore access ranges from a few simple strides on the sandy beach and out into the colourful fringing reefs, to more challenging entries including descending through a hole in the reef, followed by a ten-minute swim through caverns.
Top tips
- Healing massage services are available by appointment.
- Guests can easily access El Quseir from the resort using a taxi or shuttle transfer.
Diving
Diving in Marsa Alam, Brothers Islands and Elphinstone
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Hammerhead sharkMay - October
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Oceanic whitetip sharkYear round
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DugongYear round
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DolphinsYear round
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WrecksYear round
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Thresher sharkSeptember - Febuary
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Soft coralsYear round
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Healthy coralsYear round
Resort checklist
Number of rooms
29
Official dive center rating
PADI 5-Star IDC
Courses offered
Discover Scuba Diving, Scuba Diver, Open Water, Advanced Open Water, Rescue, Divemaster, IDC, Specialities, Tec 40, Tec 50