Red Sea: where to stay and who to dive with?

[Acrobat]

I would definitely say: El Gouna, The Sheraton, TGI diving

TGI is based in the Sheraton. El Gouna is nice and quiet (is has a few bars if you must with good restaurants and a nice new marina (with shops) (Abu Tiq) nearby.
I,ve been diving with TGI now for 6 years and they're great, nice staff, multilingual, nice boats (which leave from a private jetty at the Sheraton) good prices and good fun too.
And...good diving off course (Abu Nahas wrecks, Rosalie Moller)

 

[alchemist117]

Last year at Easter we booked flights and accommodation separately- Justtheflight.com and Camel Dive Hotel. It worked out really well, but since XL went bust, I wouldn't do that again. We would have been screwed had it happened before we went or when we were there.

 

[samaka]

Deep South Egyptian Red Sea. Either you go on a Liveaboard or you go to Hamata, which is a small place just north of Ras Banas and there you dive on world class dive sites like Fury Shoal and Wadi Gamal even with daily oats. There are only two hotels there at the moment so the amount of divers/boats at the sites are minimum. Compared to Sharm and other more well known destinations this s outstanding (so far).

Checdk out info on my website WELCOME TO AZIAB and let me know if you have any questions.

.....a.....

 

[Lord Melch]

Checdk out info on my website WELCOME TO AZIAB and let me know if you have any questions.

Nice site - love the Batman Outfit

How can I order one of your ACE T-Shirts ?

 

[samaka]

Nice site - love the Batman Outfit

Aww... Thanks for that mate...

How can I order one of your ACE T-Shirts ?

Well... as it is now I only have them here in Egypt but there will be someone in UK and someone in Scandinavia selling them soon... The same goes for the Dive Site Guide Books (40 Dive Sites in Hurghada & 40 Dive Sites in El Gouna). The only place you can get them from outside Egypt is Sweden... I know it sucks and many people have told me so but there will be someone in UK selling them soon.

I'll keep you posted.

...a...

 

[Lord Melch]

Well... as it is now I only have them here in Egypt

Easily fixed, I will have to buy in Egypt

 

[Swiss Icebear]

I personally think that some waters around Soma Bay should fit in. Not that many boats from Safaga and Hurghada and some 30 minutes in front of any other dive operater. Try out the Sheraton or the Cascade with the Orca Dive Center. First class with german operaters. As you expect, first class organized and strictly by the book. Therefore no stupid stunts!

 

[Iron Mike]

Hello Jack,

We dove with Emperor Divers in Sharm El Sheikh. The diving was amazing and the staff and boats were all first rate. We stayed at the Hilton Sharm Waterfalls Resort which was also first class. We had excellent snorkeling right off the shore of the hotel. There was a dock that you could swim from. There was also a dive shop on site but we did not use them. I'm quite sure that a beginner would have no problem diving any of the sites we went to. As far as non diving activities there were more shops and restaurants then you could possibly go to. I hope this helps.

Enjoy,

Michael

 

[waxymud]

Hi,
Yet anothe "where would you recommend" post, but I would appreciate any ideas as every person looking for recommendations has a different set of criteria, so here is mine!

Looking to go in Mid May 09.
I have CMAS* which I passed in May 07 but would like to change over to PADI and get my AOW while out there. BTW, my logged dives are only 7 to date.
My wife does not dive or swim that well!
We were looking for 1 week, may be 2 weeks dependant on hotel costs.
Somewhere with non diving visits and tours not too far off.
hotel not too expensive.
Ideally through a tour package operator like Thomas cook etc as I want it all sorted easily with little room for hick ups.
Dive centre needs to be close to hotel or in it, as I dont really want the wife to get pissed off being left alone for ages. Ideally if there is a centre with a beech area she can wait on it would be great.
Bearing in mind the bombs yesterday in Cairo, some where not over populated by tourists and for the wifes peace of mind, away from the capital city.
Dive sites that are not crowded or barren due to over diving. I dont want to have to try to fight my way through shoals of other divers!

Well theres my list of criteria. long I know, but if you want to make a great holiday its worth tailoring to your needs.
Thanks for any pointers.
Waxy.

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Waxy,
CMAS is good and internationally recognized so why do you want to change to PADI? I'd rather save the AOW course price and spend it enjoying more dives

Dahab is a good place for you and your wife. She could even escort you to the dive sites during daily diving trips as no boats are invloved. However, the city is relatively small and simple but more laid back than Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada. Diving wise, the dive sites are world class but if you fancy boat diving them go Sharm or Hurghada.