Unrest? Really?!?

[Steve A]

I am still considering sharm as I love the diving there. The only concern I have is my wife and two children (in their 20's) will be coming with me (also diving).
It seems that the travel agents are still taking bookings and it is business as normal.
Everyone who has recently been and come back is saying u wouldn't know anything is going on so I am not going to strike it off my list.
Its about the best place to dive in September with the weather and conditions nearly guaranteed. It will be a sad day if I decide its not worth the risk.
I personally think at this moment in time, from the reports I have been looking at, Sharm is as safe as it was when we went in March.
I don't think there will ever be 'no' risk but it depends how you assess risk. Diving has its risks and that's why a lot of people choose not to do it. That's also why a lot of people miss out on the pleasure, excitement and thrills I get from diving. So decisions decisions?

 

[Tigerman]

I've been considering a trip to the Red Sea (probably Hurghada) for the last year. I spoke with an Egyptian friend recently who had been back in the country. He said that the western news reports are (as always) saewnsationalized and that I should have no trouble diving in the Red Sea as long as I fly direct (via Europe for example) and don't go through Cairo. Of course I am not a single female.

I was in Sharm during the actual "coup" and my main worry was wether the dive days would get cut short because of the (peacful and very festive) "demonstrations" that was held in the evenings. Fortunately that only happened on the anniversary of Mursi getting elected which was the day I flew in so that I was too late to go diving anyways..
People who have not actually been spending some time in the red sea tourist areas have NO IDEA how sheltered they are from the rest of Egypt.

Something I suspect to be a serious issue though when it comes to US citizens with US travel insurance travelling to said tourist areas is that unlike european countries, the US governments travel advice cover egypt in general and does NOT exclude the tourist destinations, like i.e. the UK and norwegian governments travel advice. That could be a issue if you should need to use said insurance as they tend to have some kind of clause saying the insurance is void if you travel to areas considered unsafe by your government..

EDIT: I actually did have another worry - when to meet the rest of the guys at the bar..

 

[Jai Bar]

As this is a scuba board, I'll quote one of my favorite scuba books (Vance Harlow's Oxygen hackers companion):

"One way or another, it seems clear that there are a lot of people doing partial pressure mixing of nitrox who are not using professionally 02 clean tanks or hydrocarbon free air and appear to be getting away with it. Does that mean you should?
Don't expect me to tell you it's OK. It's one of those things that you may get away with ten or a hundred times, but if on the thousandth time it blows up in your face you're going to feel pretty stupid in those last micro-seconds."

 

[Tigerman]

As this is a scuba board, I'll quote one of my favorite scuba books (Vance Harlow's Oxygen hackers companion):

"One way or another, it seems clear that there are a lot of people doing partial pressure mixing of nitrox who are not using professionally 02 clean tanks or hydrocarbon free air and appear to be getting away with it. Does that mean you should?
Don't expect me to tell you it's OK. It's one of those things that you may get away with ten or a hundred times, but if on the thousandth time it blows up in your face you're going to feel pretty stupid in those last micro-seconds."

What's the connection? As I see it, the whole middle east is an 100% Oxygen environment, and right now, Egypt is not an O2-clean tank...

And most governments disagree with you and their general advice against travelling to Egypt does NOT include the tourist areas along the red sea..

During the bombing in Kosovo, did people stop going to Greece? No, they didnt, but the distance from Greece to Kosovo where the bombs where landing is shorter than the distance from Sharm El Sheikh to Cairo. To Alexandria by much more so..

 

[pocketpeter@blueyonde]

Ask yourself which nation has the greater number of tourists visiting Egypt- UK or USA?
Right, which government says it is OK to travel to the Red Sea?
That's right, the UK says fine to go to the Red Sea, and we will be back there in just over 2 weeks.
The Red Sea is the most popular warm water destination for UK divers, and the vast majority of those going on diving holidays are still going and having a fantastic time. This will be our second trip in just a few months, and I have been taking advice from my Egyptian friends who live in ghe tourist areas as to the how safe tourist areas are. What do they say? Go to the Red Sea but do not go to the big cities.
My wife and I have been to Egypt more than 20 times and love the country and people. There are problems with fundamentalists is certain areas of country, but as has been pointed out, this is not unique to Egypt.

 

[Crowley]

Thank you PocketPeter!

I'm no longer going to participate in this discussion. I tell people it's fine because I lived there and worked there and still have really good friends there - and it's fine. Sorry, but a link to the US state department's rhetoric does not scare me off, not even a little bit. Same way that I didn't believe them about certain other topics in recent history! Would I bet people's lives on it? I am not playing games - I would bet my OWN life on it, no hesitation. Until somebody who is THERE, somebody who can categorically tell me that Sharm or Hurghada or wherever is not safe, then yes, I will recommend the Egyptian Red Sea resorts to all travellers, with the understanding that if you do not wish to go due to concerns about violence then this is fine, even if those concerns are misplaced.

Toodles.

C.

 

[DenaGirl]

Update!

Thank you for all of your input. When I started this thread I was returning from a week long camping safari with no access to wifi or media. So I was surprised to hear about the uprisings. My first thought was to continue with my travels but the more I thought about it I decided to cancel.

It has been over a month since I canceled my diving trip to the Red Sea. I follow several Red Sea diving pages on facebook and they have been posting lots of pictures and positive updates. I don't regret canceling my trip even thoughI think I would have been fine. I canceled because my itinerary included an overnight stay in Cairo for both arrival and departure. I was concerned that the protest would escalate. I also cancelled because my friends and family wereconcerned for my safety and I didn’t want to put them through 10 days of grief. I imagined my parents glued to the American media worried and not being able to contact me for a week while I enjoy the awesome diving in the southern Red Sea.

I did get a full refund on my flights!
Ethiopian Air -Dar Es Salaam to Cairo
Egypt Air - RT Cairo to Marsa Alam
United Air rerouted my Cairo to LAX flight to depart from Dar Es Salaam and changed the date at no cost or fees under a "political waiver"!

I exchanged several emails with the diving company (Dive the World) asking for a refund or an alternative option. I told them that I was not able to continue with my trip due to the political uprisings. They refused to honor a refund.They said that my only option was to go on the liveaboard or to file a claim with my insurance company. I contacted the insurance company on July 4 (before the US issued a travel warning) and the insurance company said I was not covered since I did not enter the country. I did file a claim when I returned home (world nomads). My case is listed as "closed" but I still have not received a"final decision" notice. I am hoping since the US did issued a travel warning right before I was suppose to travel that they will cover my losses. I had made a direct deposit to “Dive the World” for a week long liveaboard to Southern Red Sea out of Marsa Alam. I would have considered postponing or diving at another region but those options were not offered.

I will post another update once I hear back from the travel insurance (world nomads)

Did anyone else cancel and get a refund or were covered by travel insurance? I'm wondering what my next move should be just in case the insurance comapany does not cover my losses. I understand it was a "personal decision" to cancel but in my case I feel like it was more than just a personal decision.

Thank you for your replies!

 

[Jai Bar]

I have been to Marsa Alam and Hurghada seven times in the last two years.
Apart from fuel shortage in the south and a temporary shortage of luxury goods such as butter there were no signs of problems in Kairo 700km farther north.
The egyptians were friendly and polite as ever and I will return this autumn for some relaxing dives in great scenery. I still am in contact with people living in Marsa Alam and the tell me nothing has changed.

Looks like maybe these friendly people know nothing about what's going on?

Or maybe it's just the western media exaggerating just so they can sell more newspapers?

Nah, probably it's the best time of the year to plan a travel to Egypt. Where else you can nowadays see the army and extremists massacring one the other, street shootouts, helicopter gunships firing at crowds, curfew (and maybe being shot on the spot if violating it), the army declaring emergency state (which means "forget about the law, we shoot first ask questions later") ... human rights?? what's that?

And then after a good dive, you relax on the beach with a cold beer and the friendly people. With luck, you get kidnapped by some nice beduins to enhanced.experience, or the airports are closed and can stay there for lots of diving. yeah.

Unrest? nah, it's just media conspiracy, friends tell me everything is okay. Besides,.it can't get worse,.eh? from here must get better, right? after all it's a democracy, not the middle east, yah?

Good luck.

Sent from my GT-I9000

 

[deeper thoughts]

updated

Bloodiest day since revolution marks new 'beginning' for Egypt - CNN.com

 

[warmwaterturner]

Things turning a bit uglier today!