Taba or Eilat - i only have one day

[gkornfeld]

I need some advice. I only have one day to dive.... We will be in israel arriving in Eilat w/ a rental car....the next morning i want to do 2-3 dives.....and then I need to head to Petra for the evening.

I hear the diving is better in Taba? But is it easy enough to get there etc..

What do folks think?

Thanks
Gregg

 

[iztok]

Yes. I did two days of diving one in Eilat and other in Taba (3 tank boat dive).

There are videos of both at YouTube - ‪iztoku's Channel‬‏

(This is first time I really did videos so blame poor quality on me, but you will get the just of difference.)

Go with Taba. You park on Israeli side near the shop. They take you and dive gear in a car then you walk across and board the boat.

 

[Jai Bar]

Taba is just near to Eilat. No problem getting there, but the rented car cannot go with you- you'll have to leave it parked in Eilat.

Is it worth? I am not sure. If you don't carry any stuff like scuba gear then it is not that bad to cross the border, otherwise I think it is just a hassle. And then, you want to cross the border to yet a third country (Jordan) on the same evening...

Petra- I am not sure what altitude the road goes to, but you may better take a good meal and a couple of hours rest after the day's last dive. And I guess that the rented car will have to stay near the border.

 

[koralrev]

As Jai Bar says. Be aware of the altitude of the way to Petra. I remember that we went to at least 1500 meters above water.

 

[gkornfeld]

Thanks...i have some more questions.....this is very helpful.

1. We will drop off the car as soon as we get int Eilat.
2. We have no equipment with us. So traveling very lite.
3. We need to spend a night before diving the next morning..... I guess I'm hearing we can stay in Taba or Eilat. If we stay in Eilat, the dive companies will pick us up at the border. Is that right? If we stay in Taba - then we don't have as many border crossings in one day.
4. If we do a 3 dive on a boat in Taba; when do they finish; and will we have time to get to Petra? We have to meet a guide at the Jordan border.
5. lastly - any recommendations on dive oeprations in Taba or Eilat.

Thanks
gregg

 

[scubadiveilat]

If you renting a car in Eilat! stick to Eilat as you don't need to run around for scuba diving sites.

In Eilat there are excellent venues to dive. Over 10 Dive sites including wrecks, coral reefs, nature reserve, amphibians. Also there is a dive site within Eilat accessible by boat only departures within Eilat. Which is near the Underwater Observatory about a 20m so dive.

You can do even four dives while staying in Eilat Rent equipment and get a dive buddy drive around yourself to the dive sites.

When are you planning to go?

Excellent diving year round enjoy!

P.S. If diving without a guide or instructor. You need to have a log book stamped with a dive within the past six month.Otherwise you'll require to do a refresh. Which costs about $40. Covering basic skills, a dive and includes one tank; Equipment use for the day.