I would love it there was a sticky thread for Red Sea (and the general area)

[DeputyDan]

liveaboards. Being here in the USA we don't really get a lot of information on what's available.

Or alternatively - a web site that would have this information.

Thanks.

 

[supergaijin]

Err... you do realise that there is a wealth of knowledge on this area if you scan the first couple of threads? Even though you are physically in the States, most of the internet is international nowadays.

Threads to look out for: Red Sea Liveaboards, or alternatively Red Sea Safaris.

 

[DeputyDan]

There are lost of suggestions but few details.

 

[large_diver]

Fire away with questions.....

That said, this board has more American members than Europeans.....thus the Red Sea info is more thin. It is reachable in 3.5-4 hours from most of Europe and is relatively cheap....so there is lots more info on European dive boards.

I agree there is plenty of info, you just have to work a little harder to find it.

There are many options for diving in the Red Sea = Egypt being the most popular destination. Options exist in KSA, Israel, Sudan...but these can be harder to get to and without the diversity/multitude of options found in Egypt. I can only speak directly about Egypt-based diving (been there 3 times).

It all depends on what kind of experience you want above and below the water. Below: wrecks? reefs? pelagics? shore diving? Above: night life? quiet/remote? liveaboard? fancy resort? Are you combining the trip with land tours?

My quick $0.02 on the main options:

North-Sinai peninsula = Sharm el Sheik and Dahab. Both have great diving - Sharm has Ras Mohammed national park and the Thistlegorn. Touristy town with lots of big resort hotels, fun night life, Hard Rock Cafe, etc. Dahab is a very small town about 70km (?) north of Sharm with a range of accommodations - basic dive camps all the way up to 5 star. Much quieter than Sharm; lots of decent shore diving, funkier feel to it vs. the Sharm "packaged holiday" vibe. You fly to Sharm airport for both.

Hurghada - on the Egyptian "mainland". Has it's own Int'l airport (lots of flight options from Europe). It is a city, and not very picturesque IMHO. ots of large dayboats operate from here, as well as some liveaboards.

Marsa Alam/St. John's/Fury Shoals = About 4 hours+ south of Hurghada. Much more sparsely populated, many smaller, locally owned dive "camps" along with some larger resorts. The dive camps are comparable to Coco View in Honduras...but in the desert. Basic accommodations, the desert and diving - pretty much as much as you want, when you want.

Liveaboards = many options depending on price range, destination/itinerary, reef/wreck/pelagics, etc.

Take a look at these guys - excellent quality operation. THis will at least give you an idea of the typical Red Sea liveaboard itneraries, where they go and what you expect to see.
blue o two

My 3 trips have been to the Marsa Alam area (shore-based dive camp), Dahab (shore based-5* hotel) and a liveaboard to the southern Egyptian Red Sea. All were great for different reasons. We didn't do much in the way of land tours except when we were in Dahab (trip to Jordan-Petra, hiking in the Sinai mountains, ATV/quad bike riding in the desert).

Marsa Alam: didn't do a formal trip report, but this is the place we stayed at: http://www.redsea-divingsafari.com/

Dahab: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/red-sea/280936-mini-trip-report-dahab-poseidon-divers-meridien.html

Liveaboard - Deep South: http://www.scubaboard.com/forums/re...o-m-y-blue-melody-deep-south-june-2010-a.html

Chris

 

[Tigerman]

You can also check out Red Sea Diving Holidays with Emperor - dive resorts, liveaboards & PADI courses who has centers in Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Nuweiba, El Gouna and Marsa Alam and has a pretty solid reputation or Red Sea diving holidays in Sharm El Sheikh | Camel Dive Club and Hotel
Theres also a whole lot of other dive shops down there, unfortunately bad ones as well as good ones. Id recommend trying to stay clear of the ones advertising specifically against the east-european market for various reasons..

 

[DeputyDan]

Thanks to all who posted and to the folks that sent me PM's.

I was provided with the information that I was looking for!