Sharm or Hurghada / Land-based or Liveaboard

[Inselhuepfer]

Hi,

Long time lurker, first time poster! I am considering a dive trip to the Red Sea over Christmas and the New Year (or thereabouts) for a total of two weeks. I am PADI Open Water qualified with 35 dives and am looking to take my PADI AOW. I will be travelling on my own and can't decide whether I should go for a live aboard or whether I would be better off staying in Sharm or Hurghada and arrange day trips.

Looking at the Blue O Two website, the majority of trips during that time require a minimum of 50 dives and AOW qualification. My previous dives were mostly in Thailand and in the Maldives and I have some experience with drift dives from the Maldives, but do people in the know think that I'd be better off staying clear of a live aboard until I am more experienced?

If I go for land-based diving, regulars seems to very split between Hurghada or Sharm El Sheikh - I haven't dived in the Red Sea before - which one would regulars recommend as a first dive holiday to the Red Sea? Finally, a somewhat delicate question - and I don't mean to offend anyone, but what's the hassle factor going to be for a woman travelling on her own in Egypt?

Thanks very much for any advice!

 

[Red Sea Shadow]

Just for the record, you can do a liveaboard to the northern itinerary with 30+ logged dives.

 

[diverLux]

Island-hopper,

If you choose to go land based go south , Coraya Bay is just 10 minutes from Marsa Alam airport. All of the hotels in Madinat Coraya get good marks especially the Sol Y Mar Dar El Madina . Diving is done with Coraya Divers on site, the 2 house reef in the sheltered bay will keep you busy for a couple of days in case the weather gets rough.

Between here and Hurghada is El Quseir with the Mövenpick, Radisson Blu and Flamenco also excellent shore diving here nearby, the house reef at the Mövenpick is terrific ! I come here regularly and like this very authentic egyptian town.

North of Sharm El Sheikh is Dahab, diving here is also from shore and the town although touristy has a good feel, you certainly won't feel isolated here as a single. Swiss Inn is a good place to stay for the festive days.

It gets cold diving from the boat at year end in the Red - Sea !

 

[Inselhuepfer]

Hello Both,
Thanks very much for your replies - with regard to the live aboard, I understand that I can go on some trip with 30+ dives, but I am more concerned about being the weakest diver who holds up the group. Reading through the posts I get the impression that live aboards cater more for experienced divers, so I will stick with land-based diving.

Is there a big difference in flora / fauna and water temperature between the South and the North? I am quite happy spending time on a coral reef looking at small things and don't need the big adrenaline rush of big fish (although I obviously wouldn't turn my back on a hammerhead shark if it happened to swim past) - what I am trying to say is that I wouldn't select a dive destination because I am guaranteed to see sharks.
Thanks in advance for any further advice people can give.

 

[agarrow38]

I am also looking for a dive location for the Red Sea. Have booked flights for Sharm but not sure if I should stay in Sharm or Dahab. We are going as a family and will stay in a resort hotel. Can anyone recommend any hotels / dive locations for either Sharm or Dahab?

Regarding the hassle factor of traveling on your own, you will be fine. Egypt is not like some other Muslim countries where women may have difficulties on their own. Also, Egypt is a tourist destination. If you have blond hair and/ or blue eyes you will get some looks though. You will not be hassled though.

 

[TSandM]

Is there a big difference in flora / fauna and water temperature between the South and the North? I am quite happy spending time on a coral reef looking at small things and don't need the big adrenaline rush of big fish (although I obviously wouldn't turn my back on a hammerhead shark if it happened to swim past) - what I am trying to say is that I wouldn't select a dive destination because I am guaranteed to see sharks.

From my very limited experience, I would say you will have fun anywhere you go. We went south as far as Daedalus Reef on this last trip. There were really big walls down there, but there were also shallow patch reefs which were beautiful. The water was a couple of degrees warmer than it was in the north on the same trip.

The north, which is more accessible, has a lot of wrecks, as well as reefs, and lots of fun things to see.

I was quite taken with El Gouna, which has a beautiful marina and some very good restaurants. I have no idea what costs to stay there would be. We have stayed in the Marriott Hotel in Hurghada, which is VERY nice and surprisingly inexpensive.

 

[DIVENSNOOZE]

I am also looking for a dive location for the Red Sea. Have booked flights for Sharm but not sure if I should stay in Sharm or Dahab. We are going as a family and will stay in a resort hotel. Can anyone recommend any hotels / dive locations for either Sharm or Dahab?

Regarding the hassle factor of traveling on your own, you will be fine. Egypt is not like some other Muslim countries where women may have difficulties on their own. Also, Egypt is a tourist destination. If you have blond hair and/ or blue eyes you will get some looks though. You will not be hassled though.

Hi - You asked for a hotel near Sharm, we have stayed 3 times at Iberotel Grand Sharm or now called Royal Grand Sharm in Om El Seid Hill. This is a very good area, with its own village with plenty of restaurants. It is a beautiful hotel that also has a dive company attached Cameldive.com They run a shuttle bus everyday to Naama Bay where the boats leave from which takes about 20 minutes. Cameldive also have a hotel right in Naama Bay which is very good so would be worth a look. Their boats are well run and well kept (cannot say for all) and lunch on board is always very good. Good lounge area, usually 2 toilets, sunbathing area etc. The hotel at Om El Seid has a very good house reef with a depth of approx 8-12 metres which is very good to practice photography. There are plenty of dive sites around Sharm which are full of corals and fishes. Word of warning, when searching for a hotel, check many sites and I even use google earth to make sure its on the beach!! Quite a few have names like Beach.... and when you look into them and check position, they could be 2 miles inland!! Taxi from El Om Seid to Naama is about 30 egyptian pounds, so very cheap. Some hotels have free shuttles. You never said what time you are going, so whenever, enjoy....................... Chris