Hurghada Area Recommendations

[JustSurfaceInterval]

Does the resort have its own shore diving that is good for u/w photographer?

There are shore dive options at Fort Arabesque, yes. That looks quite interesting.

I was looking at Ft. Arabesque in Makadi Bay and I Dive, but do they go south to Panorama Reef and Soma Bay/Safaga sites? Their website only mentions 15 local Makadi Bay dive sites...

They also mention that they are diving the Salem Express which is near Safaga. If they do that, they have the capabilities to dive Panorama Reef and Soma Bay. I would assume they dive Salem Express first, and then have a second dive somewhere on the way back, that could be Panorama Reef.

 

[Parlem]

I was looking at Ft. Arabesque in Makadi Bay and I Dive, but do they go south to Panorama Reef and Soma Bay/Safaga sites? Their website only mentions 15 local Makadi Bay dive sites...

For what it's worth, our experience with iDive three years ago was far from positive. While things may have changed now, at the time their boat was extremely old and not in good condition. Possibly the worst I've seen in over 15 dive trips to Egypt.
We also took a PADI Nitrox course which was badly organised and delivered (changing instructors mid-course for no apparent reason, lacking preordered manuals, poor English language skills).
To top it all up, empty tanks were routinely stored with full ones, which led to stress, confusion and time-wasting. The Italian owner-manager seemed friendly but incompetent.

My family and I vowed to never dive with them again.

 

[Helmica]

Hi all,

I am trying to plan a 3 weeks vacation in the Hurghada area at the end of September 2024 and looking at resort and dive operators options... found a few but none seem to tick all the boxes for me, so looking for recommendations from anyone who has been in the area.

My wife is not diving, so we are looking for a nice all inclusive resort with several a-la-carte restaurants and a good dive operator nearby. I am planning on diving at least 10 days, if not more, while she will relax at the beach/pool in the resort. For diving, I'd like ideally a nearby operator that can do day trips to Ras Mohammed in the North and Panorama Reef/Abu Kafan in the South. Wrecks are ok, but not my favorites, looking for colorful sites, with live coral and lots of life.

So far, for hotels, I found the Titanic Palace/Beach complex, which seems to be good for my wife. It is in the range of James & Mac highly recommended operator, but kind of far, about 30 minutes transfer each way... I'm afraid that, whatever hotel I choose, the operator would just go to the nearby sites, and I would never get to the nice ones if there aren't other divers willing to go that far and pay extra. Is James & Mac a good choice in this case?

Should I be looking instead for another resort in the south, in the Makadi or Soma Bay areas? I did a quick check there, but most of the resorts are on the smaller side, so it would get very repetitive for 3 weeks. Or should I be looking to split the stay between 2 areas/hotels? As an example of what worked for us in Mexico, we usually split the stay between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen area, staying at the Iberostars or Barcelo resorts... but I could not find something similar in Egypt, all the resorts seem to be smaller, and even if they are owned by the same company and next to each other, you cannot use the facilities of the other hotel like you can in Mexico.

Thanks a lot!

I highly recommend Aquarius Diving Club, they are located in the wonderful Marriott Beach resort in Hurghada and Also inside Red Sea resorts in Makadi Bay, they have free transfers and wonderful team, new equipment, clean and uncrowded daily boat trips, also they offer all services for divers and non-divers, i believe the will tick all your list, you can check their website and contact them for more details here.

Aquarius Diving Club – PADI 5 Stars| Hurghada | Sharm El Sheikh | Makadi bay | Red sea

Join the best Red sea diving club offering daily diving, Diving courses, Diving Safari and Snorkeling, Enjoy our world class private boat trips around Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and Makadi bay.

www.aquariusredsea.com

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

4 adverts in a row... nice job...

 

[Edward3c]

Hi all,

I am trying to plan a 3 weeks vacation in the Hurghada area at the end of September 2024 and looking at resort and dive operators options... found a few but none seem to tick all the boxes for me, so looking for recommendations from anyone who has been in the area.

My wife is not diving, so we are looking for a nice all inclusive resort with several a-la-carte restaurants and a good dive operator nearby. I am planning on diving at least 10 days, if not more, while she will relax at the beach/pool in the resort. For diving, I'd like ideally a nearby operator that can do day trips to Ras Mohammed in the North and Panorama Reef/Abu Kafan in the South. Wrecks are ok, but not my favorites, looking for colorful sites, with live coral and lots of life.

So far, for hotels, I found the Titanic Palace/Beach complex, which seems to be good for my wife. It is in the range of James & Mac highly recommended operator, but kind of far, about 30 minutes transfer each way... I'm afraid that, whatever hotel I choose, the operator would just go to the nearby sites, and I would never get to the nice ones if there aren't other divers willing to go that far and pay extra. Is James & Mac a good choice in this case?

Should I be looking instead for another resort in the south, in the Makadi or Soma Bay areas? I did a quick check there, but most of the resorts are on the smaller side, so it would get very repetitive for 3 weeks. Or should I be looking to split the stay between 2 areas/hotels? As an example of what worked for us in Mexico, we usually split the stay between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen area, staying at the Iberostars or Barcelo resorts... but I could not find something similar in Egypt, all the resorts seem to be smaller, and even if they are owned by the same company and next to each other, you cannot use the facilities of the other hotel like you can in Mexico.

Thanks a lot!

I stayed at the Sunrise Holiday Resort (no children) with its on-site dive operator.

 

[Warwick "Duck shorts"]

Kalawy Club magic life has an excellent dive center and house reef.. also they run very good dive trips out of Safaga they go further south to Marsa if you want.

 

[Helmica]

Hi all,

I am trying to plan a 3 weeks vacation in the Hurghada area at the end of September 2024 and looking at resort and dive operators options... found a few but none seem to tick all the boxes for me, so looking for recommendations from anyone who has been in the area.

My wife is not diving, so we are looking for a nice all inclusive resort with several a-la-carte restaurants and a good dive operator nearby. I am planning on diving at least 10 days, if not more, while she will relax at the beach/pool in the resort. For diving, I'd like ideally a nearby operator that can do day trips to Ras Mohammed in the North and Panorama Reef/Abu Kafan in the South. Wrecks are ok, but not my favorites, looking for colorful sites, with live coral and lots of life.

So far, for hotels, I found the Titanic Palace/Beach complex, which seems to be good for my wife. It is in the range of James & Mac highly recommended operator, but kind of far, about 30 minutes transfer each way... I'm afraid that, whatever hotel I choose, the operator would just go to the nearby sites, and I would never get to the nice ones if there aren't other divers willing to go that far and pay extra. Is James & Mac a good choice in this case?

Should I be looking instead for another resort in the south, in the Makadi or Soma Bay areas? I did a quick check there, but most of the resorts are on the smaller side, so it would get very repetitive for 3 weeks. Or should I be looking to split the stay between 2 areas/hotels? As an example of what worked for us in Mexico, we usually split the stay between Cozumel and Playa del Carmen area, staying at the Iberostars or Barcelo resorts... but I could not find something similar in Egypt, all the resorts seem to be smaller, and even if they are owned by the same company and next to each other, you cannot use the facilities of the other hotel like you can in Mexico.

Thanks a lot!

If you're planning a diving trip to Hurghada or Makadi Bay along Egypt's Red Sea coast, I highly recommend checking out Aquarius Diving Club. I recently had the pleasure of diving with them, and it was an incredible experience.

Expertise and ProfessionalismAquarius Diving Club really impressed me with their professionalism and expertise. The instructors are top-notch and made me feel completely safe and well-prepared for every dive. Whether you're a beginner or advanced diver, they cater to all levels with patience and skill.

Equipment and FacilitiesTheir equipment is modern and well-maintained, and their facilities are clean and organized. The boats are comfortable, and they ensure that everything runs smoothly from start to finish.

Dive SitesThe dive sites they offer are stunning! I saw vibrant coral reefs, swam alongside sea turtles, and encountered a wide variety of marine life. They have options for all preferences, whether you prefer shallow reefs or more adventurous deep dives.

Customer ServiceWhat really stood out to me was their exceptional customer service. They were friendly, helpful, and genuinely passionate about diving and conservation. It made the whole experience even more enjoyable.

Overall ImpressionsI can't say enough good things about Aquarius Diving Club. They not only provide an unforgettable diving experience but also prioritize safety and sustainability. If you're looking to dive in Hurghada or Makadi Bay, definitely give them a try—you won't be disappointed!

here is their website link Aquarius Diving Club – PADI 5 Stars| Hurghada | Sharm El Sheikh | Makadi bay | Red sea


Happy diving!

 

[JustSurfaceInterval]

Oh, come on.... Are you really going to post your always same advert in every single Read Sea Thread?

 

[Sure Squintsalot]

I stayed at and dived with the ORCA dive club just south of Soma Bay, which appears to have been razed. Worth noting:

They cater primarily to German clientele (as did the next door resorts). When you're not underwater, expect to get lung cancer on the boat decks. God help you if it's cold and you're forced inside.

The reefs are just far enough apart, that you'd only get in 2 and rarely 3 dives per day. Plus the lung cancer.