First time Diving in Eilat - need advice

[gkornfeld]

My son and I are going to be in Eilat for at least one full day. He is 14 and we have done around 30 daives - Belize and Cozumel.

I'm looking for a good dive operation that caters to small groups and doesn't mind having a young teen..

Also - if there are some recommendations on lodging (moderately price) and other cool activities for a teenage; let me know. Note, we may be there a 2nd day; though not sure.

Also - we are going to get to Petra for a day too.

Thanks

 

[gehadoski]

I have never been to Elate before but if you want my advice I say go to Dahab or Sharm El Sheikh, more stuff to do and more dive sites.

 

[Jai Bar]

Assuming you are in Israel, and that you have only one day (or two), DON'T waste it on transporting to Dahab or anywhere else for that matter- just go to Eilat. You don't have the privilege to spend additional time on border crossing and taxiing another several hours... I am positively sure that Eilat has more stuff to do than Sharm and Dahab combined (and I DO have been in all of them quite a lot).

Diving is better in Egypt, though, but for your limited time it'll have to wait for another time.

All clubs in Eilat shouldn't have any problem with a teen, as long as both of you provide certification and insurance cards. According to local law, you must provide insurance (can be purchased in every dive club), proof of diving within last 6 months (signed logbook). However, your teenager son might be heavily distracted by bikinied girls on the beach- you'll have to keep an eye on him

If you haven't been diving within 6 months you'll be asked to do a "refresh" dive. If both of you are OW divers (or equivalent) you'll need to either chose a guided dive, or find an additional buddy with AOW/MD/DM etc etc to join you, and max depth limit to 20meters.

So, better make 1-2 dives before arriving, and it's always better to have AOW (or higher) card anyway. If you don't have, then it's time to upgrade your certification level

Dive clubs? You can try any of Manta, Aqua Sport, Siam/Deep, Marina Divers, Udive- all of them within walking distance (crossing the street) one from the other. Just choose the one you find more friendly. Myself, I usually go to Deep/Siam, but most of my friends will choose Manta.

Diving in Eilat is EASY. Most dives are accessible from shore, currents are almost negligible as well as surf- almost like a (warmed) swimming pool all year round. Guided dives are NOT mandatory (unless you feel you'd like to have guidance), so if everything is OK you just buddy up, get geared and plunge in the water. Some of the dive clubs mentioned may also arrange transportation to/from the various divesites at prearranged hours (ask)- some of them free of charge (ask again).

Some of the clubs mentioned have also arrangements with very basic accommodation. For example, I think Marina Divers have ownership of Pierre Hotel (google for it)- not luxury, just a simple room with shower and basic breakfast. Other than that, Eilat has a real wide range of hotels, starting from free camping on the beach (which can be nice in spring/autumn but nightmare or rather "daymare" on summer) ending in luxury-thousand-dollars-per-night hotels.

 

[DevonDiver]

You definitely want to include the Dolphin Sanctuary ( www.dolphinreef.co.il ) on your intinerary. I spent a day there and got a great DVD diving with the dolphins. It is one of my most memorable dives ever.

It's been a while since I was there...and I don't have my log book handy, but I think I dived with Divers Village. They provided tanks, weights and transport down the beach, so my buddy and I could dive the gun-boat wreck (it's a short swim from the shore). Was a great dive... and the dive centre staff were exceptionally friendly and helpful.

There's also Reef Divers Group, which is twinned with the dolphin sanctuary.

Aqua-Sport seemed pretty good also.

I loved Eilat. My trip there was short, as I was also travelling around Jordan and Egypt - but the time spent in Israel was the most memorable. The dive sites are considerably more 'worn' than those over the border in Egypt, but great experiences nonetheless. If you did have time/capability to hop the border to Egypt, then don't consider going all the way to Dahab.... that would be quite a long trek. Just on the other side of the border is Taba/Taba Heights. It's about 15 minutes taxi from the border station. There's awesome, unspoiled diving there. Very beautiful corals and a good selection of marine life. It's all shallow, colorful stuff.... not much in the way of pelagics, turtles etc. Great for beginners and photographers. If you did go to Taba, then you will want to dive with Red Sea Waterworld. That place ranks as one of the most professional dive centres I've ever visited.

 

[gkornfeld]

Here is was our plan.

Day 1 - arrive in Eilat - probably later afternoon. Spend night in Eilat.
Day 2 - 2 dives in the morning; maybe a 3rd - dependig on the timing - then head to Petra. Spend night in Petra.
Day 3 - Petra and then return to Eilat. Fly back to Tel Aviv that evening.

Question - would we be better off spending night in Taba. it seems you are saying it is better diving and the hotels are cheaper. If we stay in Eilat - do you have a reasonable hotel recommendation. Many hotels want more than one night stay.

THanks

 

[DevonDiver]

If I had just a 1/2 day for diving, I'd spend it at the Dolphin Sanctuary in Eilat. The corals/sealife is far better around Taba, if that was your preference.

I stayed in Taba Heights in 2006; it is a complex of several 4-5* hotels, based around a golf course and with Red Sea Waterworld providing the diving. Hyatt, Hilton etc. At that time, the hotels used to be very cheap, given their quality, but that was because I visited when many of the amenities weren't yet completed and they were trying to promote the area. It may well have risen in price now. Worth looking into though... Taba town itself may have cheaper accomodation options.

 

[Crush]

I am in Eilat right now. If you want to dive at your times, at your pace, in an easy relaxed manner use Shulamit: Shulamit's Eilat Diving Adventures - Diving courses and guided dives in Eilat - I dove with her and recommend her highly. A close second is U-Dive: Scuba Diving Eilat - U-DIVE PADI Courses in Israel .

DevonDiver may like Dolphin Reef but I dislike the idea of captive dolphins. Heck, their dolphin's are not even native to the Red Sea. You will be able to get two personal guided dives for less money than one dive at Dolphin Reef.

As for cheap accommodations, I stayed at the Eilat Guest House. The "family room" is two single beds in a small room with an ensuite bathroom with shower. See Eilat Guest House

Enjoy!

 

[DevonDiver]

DevonDiver may like Dolphin Reef but I dislike the idea of captive dolphins. Heck, their dolphin's are not even native to the Red Sea. You will be able to get two personal guided dives for less money than one dive at Dolphin Reef.

When I was there, they claimed that the dolphins were native and were 'semi-wild'. Having been rescued previously, they opt to spend most of their time within the sanctuary (I guess due to the fact they are fed). Are you saying the dolphins are captive imported?

 

[Crush]

A local Eilat resident told me they were taken from the Black Sea and that they cannot leave as the are in a cage, albeit a pretty one.