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Diving in Sharm el Sheikh
The diving in Sharm el Sheikh
is world famous. This little fishing town has grown solely from divers
taking diving holidays to Sharm el Sheikh. The diving is incredible,
it includes diving in Ras
Mohammed, at the tip of the Sinai
peninsula, diving the straights of Tiran and their reefs, in the Gulf
of Aqaba. Diving
the Thistlegorm is considered by many as the best wreck to dive in the
world. Ras
Mohammed alone has 218 species of hard and soft coral and more than 1,000
fish species. Ras Mohammed was the first established national park in
Egypt , covering 97 square kilometres. This was extended 5 years later
in 1988 to cover 480 square kilometres. 76% of this protected area is
water. Click
here for info about diving in sharm.
Diving in Dahab
Diving in Dahab offers lots of hard coral, colourful
fish, warm water and shore diving
in a very relaxed surrounding. For those of you that
do not like boats and want to go diving in the Red Sea, come to Dahab. Diving
in Dahab with Active is like having a massage at work.
You will find a Bedouin fishing village used by hippies for a while
to relax and dive in. It is now changing into a major new tourist
spot for UK and Irish divers. Click
here for info about diving in Dahab.
“Dahab was so relaxed.
I reckon I got the best of Egypt here, nice people and incredible diving.
I loved the local restaurant you sent me to, and felt safe seeing your
sign there. It was more like entertainment than a meal!” Sarah
Squire
Diving in Marsa Alam
Diving in Marsa Alam offers some untouched red sea diving. If you have dived the red sea, you will know this is nothing to sniff at! With flights at 200 pounds, its a winner! With year-round dolphins at the reef 'dolphin house' it is stunning. You can swim with dolphins and dugongs amongst fantastic vibrant coral. You will soon see that Marsa Alam has it all and more. The location is set as an eco-tourism complex. It is filled with divers and you don't get the usual tourists to annoy you! Diving in Marsa alam is simply majestic. Click here for more diving in marsa alam.
“Dahab was so relaxed.
I reckon I got the best of Egypt here, nice people and incredible diving.
I loved the local restaurant you sent me to, and felt safe seeing your
sign there. It was more like entertainment than a meal!” Sarah
Squire
Diving in Red Sea
The diving speaks for itself and is world renowned.
Diving sharm is a privilege and the holiday is amplified with good accommodation
and a great service. Contact us now for
our diving packages to sharm.
For
More Photos of Red Sea Diving...click here
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Water temperature: |
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20°C
(68°F) in February to 27°C (81°F) from July to October |
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Wet
Suit?: |
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3mm
or 5mm wetsuit (November - April), shorty for rest of the year |
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Visibility: |
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20
- 60 metres (65 - 200 feet), 30 - 40 metres (100 - 130 feet) on average |
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Type
of diving: |
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Reefs,
walls, wrecks |
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Marine
life: |
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Turtles,
blue spotted rays, jacks, snappers, barracudas, lionfish, reef fish,
colourful coral |
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When
to go: |
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Any
time of year, although if you are after really warm water it is best
to visit the Red Sea between June and September. Air temperatures
reach 40°C (104°F) in August and fall to 20°C (68°F)
in the winter, which may also dictate when you travel. |
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Requirements: |
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Entry
visas are required when visiting Egypt. These can be purchased at
the airport itself at a cost of about $25 USD / £15 GBP. Sharm
El Sheikh from the UK - Direct five hour flights from Gatwick and
Manchester on Sundays. Dahab is 90km from Sharm. |
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More Information on Diving in the Red Sea:
Between 20 o C and 28 o C water temperature
Ideal training topographies (sand and reef)
Visibility average 25 metres
Average tidal change of 2 metres
Year-round diving and sunshine
5mm one or two piece wetsuit used by most
Large life around in the Summer (Sharks and Manta rays)
Egyptian and Bedouin local culture
Some of the most diverse marine life on the planet
Common Questions (Answers
below)
Where is the Red Sea ?
Why is the scuba diving in the Red Sea so good?
What fish and ocean life will I see?
What after-diving fun can I expect?
Does it have year-round sunshine?
Is the diving the same year-round?
What equipment will I need to dive in the Red Sea ?
Where is the Red Sea
?
The Red Sea separates the north east coastline of the African
continent from Saudi Arabia and the Middle East .The Gulf of Aqaba
and the Gulf of Suez around the Sinai peninsular come together creating
the northern most point of the Red Sea, and at its most southern
point meets the Indian Ocean . Only 5 hours flight from the UK ,
the Sinai peninsular is surrounded by Egypt , the Gaza strip, Jordan
and Saudi Arabia . The Red Sea also flows past the Sudan , Eritrea
, Djibouti and Yemen coastlines.
Why is the scuba diving
in the Red Sea so good?
The higher salt content and protected topography of the Red Sea
has allowed hard corals to grow over thousands of years. Heat from the
deep Median trench (reaching a depth of 2,850 metres) beneath the Red Sea
, warms the water to a much higher temperature at depth (21 o C at 1,000
metres where normally the Ocean temperature is 6 o C). The high mineral
content, warm temperatures and year-round sunshine have created one of
the most bio-diverse seas in the world.
What fish and ocean
life will I see diving in the Red Sea ?
Hopefully will see: Dolphins,
grey reef sharks, manta rays, white tips, scalloped hammerheads & turtles! Normally
always see: Blue spotted eagle & sting rays, lionfish,
yellow clown fish, napoleon fish, large moray eels, yellow and blue
masked butterfly fish, emperor angel fish, giant triggerfish, steep
headed parrot fish, stone fish, bluespine unicorn fish, shoal surgeon
fish, bluegreen pullers, octopi, blackfin barracudas, large shoals
of jacks, red antheas, lined butterfly fish, nudibranchs, fan corals
and much, much more...
Sighted on occasion: Whale
sharks, tiger sharks and whales.
What after-diving
fun can I expect?
Diving is a social sport. The Red Sea is a very social place, with Sharm
el Sheikh being quite lively and upbeat, and Dahab a more relaxed and laid-back
place. It has plenty of bars and restaurants. Locals and tourists mix freely,
and our divers and instructors often spend time in the evening over a beer
discussing the days dive, and anything that comes to mind! Some divers
prefer time alone, and relax with a nice evening meal watching the sunset.
All rooms have a few sky channels.
Does the Red Sea have year-round
sunshine?
Yes! Being far closer to the equator (on the same latitude as the Sahara
Desert ) it is hotter, and has only two seasons. The Sinai peninsular air
temperature ranges between 20 o C and 40 o C, has an average humidity of
55% and an annual rainfall of 250mm. So, it is hot and sunny year-round.
Is the diving the same year-round?
The visibility is fairly consistent – around 30 metres. During the
winter months you will see less divers, but also less large predators and
Manta rays. The spring season brings hundreds of baby fish, so the visibility
drops a little. The summer is the best time go scuba diving in red sea
and see large marine life, especially for diving in sharm el sheikh.
What equipment will I need
to dive in the Red Sea?
Most divers use anything from a 3mm shorty to a 5mm one or two piece wetsuit.
If you get cold quickly use a 5mm, especially in the winter months. DSMB's
are generally not needed (non-tech diving) but of course it's always safer
if you have one. Torches are great for the many crevices and coral heads.
Adjustable strap fins and wet boots definitely recommended over full foot
fins. Contact us for more information.
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