Alexandria diving

[cayal]

Hi guys,

Planning on a big African trip next year which takes us to Egypt.
We are spending some time in Alexandria and I was wondering if any knew if it is possible to do recreational diving there? I've read that it has some great historical significance however I am not sure if it is possible to dive recreationally there.

Can anyone confirm if possible and if so, recommend some dive sites and dive companies to go with.

Thanks

 

[ElChe]

As I know it's possible to dive in Alexandria but the visibility is usually quite bad. My friends dived the Cleopatra City, but they said the boat was quite small, there are several big rocks which can be the remains of buildings and some broken statues, but the archeologist took the nicest ones to the surface years ago. And don't forget, it's the Mediterranean not the Red Sea, the water is colder and there are much less life. (It would be surprising to see too much in the harbor of a huge city, by the way.)

 

[tajkd]

I can tell you that was easily one of the best dives I've ever done. You can do Cleopatra's Palace and, more than that, because the city does not have money to pull items from the bay, everything is still in place. The viz is not great but you can still see stella, sphinxes, columns, steps. It was wonderful. Don't pass it up. Check out the new library too. It is more beautiful than the library of congress even if it is only the number two repository of printed material in the world.

http://tajkd.smugmug.com/Photography/Scuba/i-cf3DP5C/0/S/5670832659-S.jpg

 

[RJP]

I can tell you that was easily one of the best dives I've ever done. You can do Cleopatra's Palace and, more than that, because the city does not have money to pull items from the bay, everything is still in place. The viz is not great but you can still see stella, sphinxes, columns, steps. It was wonderful. Don't pass it up. Check out the new library too. It is more beautiful than the library of congress even if it is only the number two repository of printed material in the world.

Having been Dave's buddy in Alexandria (and being the guy who took the picture he posted) I would have to agree with what he says above. To be clear though, it's one day of diving. No more. I would not go there without doing those dives... but I would not go there TO dive.

I will look up the name of the dive op we used when I get home. There's only two, maybe one?

 

[cayal]

I would appreciate the name of the dive op you used.

It sounds pretty cool. I am fascinated by the ancient world and it would be pretty cool to explore what remains they have there.
Since we are there for a couple of days, a dive definitely seems worthwhile.

How deep are the remains?

Thanks for the info!

 

[RJP]

I would appreciate the name of the dive op you used.

How deep are the remains?

Thanks for the info!

Diving is in the 25-30ft range. Can't seem to find the name of the dive shop. They gave us some sticker, which I have on a wall in the basement... but they don't have the name of the shop on the stickers. Doh!

ray

 

[cayal]

That's alright, I'll have a look around. I'm not going til next year anyway.

Thanks though!