Question Egypt Safety due ongoing War in the region

[Scubajeg1]

2 week trip , Royal Evolution-- Daedulus and Elba reef system,
1 week trip , Emperor divers 1 week , 7 seas - Brothers, Daedulus, Elphinstone

 

[divezonescuba]

I would still feel comfortable diving in/out of mainland Egypt but would perhaps avoid Sinai for the time being.

Since cancelling our trip to Dahab this year, the situation on the Sinai has only gotten worse. Back in 2019, we had to wait for a police escort to go from Sharm to Dahab. Most recently there has been the discovery of the 50 or so tunnels under Rafah between Egypt and the Gaza strip. Now I understand why there is so much security in the Sinai outside of Sharm and why there is the huge wall surrounding Sharm. In 2023 and probably before, there were major checkpoints in St. Catherine's and before you could go in the tunnel under the Suez canal. They were completely unloading and searching vehicles that wanted to go thru. The Sinai north of Sharm is currently a 4 Do Not Travel with the U.S. State Department.

When we were in the Cairo airport on the way back in 2023, a young child had an nerf gun in his luggage, the airport police went beserk. I don't think that would have happened if things were not so serious.

We do hope to return to the Sinai in the future as it is such a wonderful place.

 

[makar0n]

Since cancelling our trip to Dahab this year, the situation on the Sinai has only gotten worse. Back in 2019, we had to wait for a police escort to go from Sharm to Dahab. Most recently there has been the discovery of the 50 or so tunnels under Rafah between Egypt and the Gaza strip. Now I understand why there is so much security in the Sinai outside of Sharm and why there is the huge wall surrounding Sharm. In 2023 and probably before, there were major checkpoints in St. Catherine's and before you could go in the tunnel under the Suez canal. They were completely unloading and searching vehicles that wanted to go thru. The Sinai north of Sharm is currently a 4 Do Not Travel with the U.S. State Department.

When we were in the Cairo airport on the way back in 2023, a young child had an nerf gun in his luggage, the airport police went beserk. I don't think that would have happened if things were not so serious.

We do hope to return to the Sinai in the future as it is such a wonderful place.

Egyptian police and military loves checkpoints as well as gazillion of paperwork - it makes them feel important I suppose. Nothing new there, no matter any other situation. Never driven through the tunnel as that was always problematic as a foreigner, at some point they even banned 4x4s in the north parts. Did rides Cairo-> 900km+ south without any issues.

Was in Dahab last week, traveled alone, 0 issues, no major police/army presence other than the usual checkpoints that's been there for decades, though on the way back and entering Sharm there seems to be now some kind of a car scanning device thingie. No convoys or anything, just your standard minibus transfer. All relaxed on the airport as well, other than picking on sorb/cylinder but that happens about anywhere.

Lots of people in Dahab, though mostly Egyptian tourists who have now discovered it as a new "cool" place. Not so many foreigners as many appear to be scared by the very mention of the word "Sinai" hence quite a few cancellations. Still few expats around, mostly English but also met US one who just traveled there decades ago and liked it so much that he has never left. And most importantly Blue Beach and The Furry Cup are still open and running
Other than that I suggest checking the map - Sinai is huge, and places like Rafah are about 350km away...in a straight line through huge mountains and harsh climate.

 

[BoltSnap]

Egyptian police and military love checkpoints, as well as gazillion of paperwork, as it makes them feel important I suppose, nothing new there, no matter any other situation. Never driven through the tunnel as that was always problematic as a foreigner, at some point they even banned 4x4s in the north parts. Did rides Cairo-> 900km+ south without any issues.

Was in Dahab last week, traveled alone, 0 issues, no major police/army presence other than the usual checkpoints that's been there for decades, though on the way back and entering Sharm there seems to be now some kind of a car scanning device thingie. No convoys or anything, just your standard minibus transfer. All relaxed on the airport as well, other than picking on sorb/cylinder but that happens about anywhere.

Lots of people in Dahab, though mostly Egyptian tourists who have now discovered it as a new "cool" place. Not so many foreigners as many appears to be scared by the very mention of the word "Sinai" hence quite a few cancellations. Still few expats around, mostly English but also met US one who just traveled there decades ago and liked it so much that he has never left. And most importantly Blue Beach and The Furry Cup are still open and running
Other than that I suggest checking the map - Sinai is huge, and places like Rafah are about 350km away...in a straight line through huge mountains and harsh climate.

Is Dahab diving good for the recreational UW photographer diving and not just the technical diver?

 

[makar0n]

Is Dahab diving good for the recreational UW photographer diving and not just the technical diver?

Hmm that strongly depends what you are looking for Definitely nowhere near places like Komodo, you wont be clicking hundreds of photos a dive.
Dahab was always more of a whole package - super easy diving (literally no currents and a swell of more than 20cm high is called "bad weather"), plethora of dive sites, regardless whether you want to go 2 or 200m, lots of dive centers, great support at all levels and when you are bored of diving, kitesurfing is also a thing, if you like to see how much of a cheese grater the reef table feels when you are being dragged on it.
Important was also the general vibe - a rarity of a place that was more comparable to a hippy colony, where Egyptians, Bedouins, expats and tourists all happily mixed together, where you stayed at some tiny camp or a tiny hotel and went out all the time - unlike the usual all inclusive dump experience where the only time you leave is when being whisked by an air conditioned bus to some tourist trap.
Yeah the vibe has changed a bit, with different demographics the main town is definitely more glitzy and louder now, but the north part is still more "normal". Even the orc infestation, lingering since the turbulent years, was less.

I have not been in Dahab for a while, since 2016/17 or so - last time there was a definite sign of big recovery underwater life wise. This time it was a bit emptyish, with little variety. Saw some fishing even from the shore in the northern (less lights at night) part of the town, which could have contributed to that.
BUT
This time I pretty much dived the deeper regions on the north of the town (Abu Talha, Tiger Reef, Three Valleys, Arch, Canyon) etc hence perhaps that is normal there - lots of hard corals still, and on some sites absolutely stunning (albeit rare) soft corals - depth 43-55 though.
What was absolutely amazing was the general scenery - endless, canyons, holes and whatcha not, lots of WA opportunities, though in the deeper regions. But could also try upper Canyon (30m, sandy bottom) at full moon (night dive) for some fun. Or do fluro diving - that was one of the first places where the craze started.
From main rec sites went to Mashraba once (bay, mid town) and it was like I remember - sea grass with anemonies and lots of squids. I did not visit any more recreational sites, especially in the bay, nor the ones that were always pretty good and reachable via day boat/safari like Gabr el-Bint or Ras Abu Galum - so it could be totally different picture there. This time trip focus was training a bit so camera stayed home.
Also first time there so close to the summer - air temps there were 37-40, perhaps fish also decided it is too warm and legged it.

Frankly hard to tell, whether it was really empty this time indeed or did I just go to the wrong sites at wrong times Kinda reminds me visiting Fury Shoal deep south - first time I was absolutely wowed, second every 2nd dive site was meeeh - sea can be very finicky depending on the time of the year.

 

[BoltSnap]

Hmm that strongly depends what you are looking for Definitely nowhere near places like Komodo, you wont be clicking hundreds of photos a dive

Thank you for your help.

I was asking for comparison with dives sites at Sharm and Hurghada.

 

[makar0n]

Thank you for your help.

I was asking for comparison with dives sites at Sharm and Hurghada.

Hmm can't help you there - I've stayed away from both. Only dives in Sharm was on a day trip from Dahab to Thistlegorm, and closest I've got to Hurghada was Safaga - so so, though Salem Express was real nice, coral growth was amazing there (years ago though).
Might wanna consider heading completely down to just above Berenice i.e. the Fury Shoal reef, probably best on that side of the Red Sea and accessible from the shore boats (i.e. not just liveaboards). But as mentioned earlier, that place can also be temperamental ;]
Very easy on rec side though - usual depth is about 20m and can only go deeper if you bring a shovel with you.

 

[MB NZ]

I wasn't overwhelmed by Dahab, but I visited at a time when I was doing a lot of liveaboards in the southern Red Sea, so probably made an unfair comparison. It was reasonable inshore Red Sea diving. Some sites like the Blue Hole and the Canyon had interesting topography which I like. Otherwise, it was very average. If I was going to land-based in Egypt, it would be Marsa Shagra or the other desert villages as I enjoy the freedom of self-guided diving.

 

[LFMarm]

Blue Hole and Canyon are great technical dives but agree that in general Ras Mohammed and Tiran have nicer reefs.

 

[Helmica]

Hello everyone,

I have a Liveaboard booked for next year in Hurghada, Egypt. Obviously, I have DAN insurance and added trip insurance for this trip, which would cover 75% in case of cancellation for any reason.

My question for my friends here is, considering everything that is happening in the region, what are your thoughts regarding safety?
If you have been there recently, could you share your experience, especially in light of the ongoing war?
What brought me this concern recently was reading that a US Navy Destroyer has shot down missiles in the Red Sea and how this has been perceived locally.

I am considering cancelling this trip and going to Cairns in Australia instead.

Thank you,

The Red Sea in Egypt is the safest place on earth to dive right now, that's very very far from all the Mess