Specific Info on Red Sea Diving

[shadzzz]

Hi All, (*Apologies if this question has been covered)

Going to dive the Red Sea, and can do so anytime between October-January this year. (I'll be in Eastern Europe)

I plan to do about 5 days of diving.

1. If you could choose within my timeframe, what dates would you choose?

2. Where would you base yourself: Dahab or Sharm El-Sheikh? Perhaps some days in both?

Any advice is highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Ben

 

[Solly]

I would go late October till late November... water is still warm and air temperature is nice and not too many wind (hopefully)
The choice between dahab and sharm depends on what type of diving you would like to have, relaxed shore diving would be in dahab... boat diving on strict schedule would be in sharm...
I presonally prefer sharm dive sites than those in dahab ... you can get back to older posts comparing both places and also crowley's blog is a good source of info

 

[shadzzz]

depends on what type of diving you would like to have, relaxed shore diving would be in dahab

Hi Solly,

Thanks for the quick reply and info. I am looking for the more notable sites and don't mind spending all day on a boat. I recently dived Sipadan, which blew my mind, so I am hoping to top that.

Do think more of the "big name" sites are closer to Sharm? Thanks again

 

[Solly]

ras mohamed is an awesome place with lots of really interesting sites... one to mention the shark and yolanda .... you have tiran straight with deep walls and chance of seeing some big fish especially if you head to jackson reef
one of my favorites is ras um elsid though I haven't been there for a while and don't know whether still as good as I remember it or not

I am sure Crowley will give his input very soon, he is the SB sharm expert

 

[diverLux]

Hi,
The Blue Hole with the Bells & Canyon is a good day out in Dahab. Gabr El Bint is a 3 dives all day boat trip. I just got back from Dahab a week ago diving from shores near the Happy Life Village. Diving from the towns promenade is not my thing. Scuba Diving Reviews | Lagona Divers | Dahab | Dive Center Reviews | Scubadviser
Best to go in October it's still hot , I found November to be a bit gloomy shorter days, cooler nights, windy and rough seas., same for April, wouldn't even consider Dec. - Mar. Dahab has more flair over Sharm it's much smaller too, which doesn't mean I wouldn't go to Sharm again.

 

[cooperscuba]

Hi All, (*Apologies if this question has been covered)

Going to dive the Red Sea, and can do so anytime between October-January this year. (I'll be in Eastern Europe)

I plan to do about 5 days of diving.

1. If you could choose within my timeframe, what dates would you choose?

2. Where would you base yourself: Dahab or Sharm El-Sheikh? Perhaps some days in both?

Any advice is highly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Ben

Hi Shadzzz

Would agree with the posts in general about diving October but I'd actually say October - November (I can't recall November ever being particularly cold or blowy, maybe at the tail end). Having said that, most dive centers here shut New Year's Day and New Year's Day only.

I'd also have to disagree about you being on a "strict timetable" with boat diving from Sharm. For sure some of the large centers operate strict timetables, but this is due to the logistical requirements of a large center (if you have 4 or 5 boats out you can't realistically allow them all to set their own return jetty times) whereas a lot of the smaller centers are more flexible (or random?).

Dahab's El-Bells/Blue Hole is a good dive, the Canyon is fantastic and that is all I've ever dived there.

Good sites around Sharm include (as already mentioned) Shark & Yolanda, Jackfish Alley, Shark Observatory and Ras Za'atar (Ras Mohamed National Park), Jackson & Thomas (Strait of Tiran), Ras Umm Sid, Ras Nasrani, Near Garden (Local) and then, a little further a field, you have the SS Thistlegorm & Dunraven (Strait of Gubal).

Personally I'd base myself in Sharm - but then I've lived here for 8 years so I'm a tad bias - and make a day trip to Dahab for the diving.

Yours faithfully,
Sean

 

[Crowley]

Thanks Solly - and so here I am!

Diving wise - the reefs in Sharm are, in general, much nicer than in Dahab, but as for the actual diving experience - depends what you're looking for. Sharm is more spectacular, but it's much busier, which means large groups and in the peak of high season, even Shark and Yolanda can be a thoroughly unpleasant experience when the current is pumping and there are thirty other dive groups in the water.

On the other hand, Dahab is a much nicer place. Chilled, relaxed, and with open access to the sea; unlike Sharm, where the beaches are "owned" by hotels. If you can do both, go for it, but if it's just about the diving then I have to go for Sharm ... and I'm not biased just because I work here!

High Season in the Red Sea is from mid-september to mid-october, because conditions are pretty much perfect. The water is warm enough you can dive in a pair of shorts and a rash vest, the air temperature is mid-30s during the day, not 45 like it is at the moment, but my advice would be to come in late October. It's still busy but not crazy busy and after that then business drops dramatically in the run-up to christmas, peaks again over the holidays and then most of the staff who live permanently in Sharm go on holiday in January and February, because it's so smegging cold here! Really!

Some mention was made earlier of tight boat schedules and this is true to a point. Dahab does not really run to a timetable, everything just sort of happens as and when you're ready, but in Sharm the boats really do have to meet jetty time requirements because guides, boats, captains and their crew can have their licenses to work temporarily suspended if they don't meet them - so - sorry about that!

I hope that helps a bit - I try to be as impartial as possible (doesn't always work!) and the regular Red Sea readers have some excellent advice to give also - I don't really see it from the "outside" any more.

And wherever you decide to go, I hope you enjoy it. I have never dived Sipadan but I did plan a trip there once and so read a lot about the place, and also I've been to some pretty cool dive sites over the years(!) but I don't think you can expect the Red Sea to "top" that, especially if you are looking for big stuff (i.e. sharks), rather, you have to think about it as being on an equal footing, but for different reasons.

Cheers,

C.

 

[shadzzz]

Thank you all for the detailed information and the time spent from your day to answer my questions. I now have exactly what I need and simply cannot wait to get in the water there!

This little thread is a testament to a great forum and even greater people. Much love! :love2:

 

[heavy roller]

I have to say thanks as well having come on the board today for information specifically on the Red Sea diving. Thanks to Shadzzz for the question and to all the other members for the answer. Red Sea here we come!