chs8084
Contributor
You can also dive the underwater archeology museum in Caesaria. Not the Red Sea but an interesting outing just north of Tel Aviv.
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Does one require guide when diving in Eilat/Israel? Or can you just rent tank and go diving (after few guided local dives) on your own (i.e. I am traveling alone, no buddy). (I am just interested in legal side, not the solo vs. team diving discussion.)
From legal point of view, solo diving is forbidden by goverment law from 1979. Some clubs may actually ask to see your buddy before renting you gear, and ALL clubs will ask to see c-card, insurance and proof of diving in last 6 months.
Even if you do manage to get gear and solo dive, in many places you will be harassed by people on the beach and by divers underwater, and you may get legal prosecution!
Best thing for you is to team with buddy in any of the several clubs at walking distance like deep-siam, manta, aquasport etc. You can dive with buddy only- guided dives are not mandatory..
From legal point of view, solo diving is forbidden by goverment law from 1979.
Israeli Law or Egyptian Law? (Sorry, I don't know where you live)
I did 8 dives on my trip to Israel. 2 in Tel Aviv. Water is warm, practically no current (for North Carolina standards that is) and low visibility. I was diving with Jordan from Dive Tel Aviv. He is professional and while I really do understand that as an instructor and a guide he has certain responsibilities and this was a mixed group I don't like baby sitting. It is just me really. I can see how some divers actually see this as a benefit.
Then I did two dives in Eilat with Jordan and his friends. Visibility was not as good as in Tel Aviv (just kidding! it was great viz!). This time group was less formal. This was a fun dive for them but poor Jordan can't get out of the instructor mode it seems (it is a good thing as he seems to be born for it!). I was loosely attached to the group and did roam around a bit and take video. Thank you Jordan for letting me do that! I really appreciate it!
Unfortunately the group returned to Tel Aviv after two dives and I grabbed lunch. Dive center helped me finding me a dive buddy for my 3rd dive that day. It was another nice dive on the reef and it was fantastic as well.
Saturday I took the Sinai boat to Taba for 3 dives. Ahmed was our under water guide and he was very flexible on diving as long as he could see us. It was good reef diving. Saw red, green, and yellow frog fish, giant moray eel, plenty of lion fish and clown fish as well as decent size octopus.
Overall great dives. However I still think that best dives I had in my life were of St. Catalina Island (part of the Channel Islands outside Los Angeles, CA).
Glad to hear that you enjoyed which dive centres you used in TA and eilat ?