Egypt for a long weekend

Hi all,

Sorry if this has been already been discussed before but I searched and couldn't see anything.

I want to go away to Egypt for a couple of days diving, in a month or two. What dive centers have people used and can recommend? Are there any packages that offer the whole thing (flight, hotel, diving, transfers etc.)? When is best to go?

I really miss diving so want to go away soon.

Any experiences anyone has of a similar trip would be useful too.

Thanks all

Tom

Get in touch with Alun at elite diving in Sharm. He is a british guy out there and I had a great time with them. You would have to book your flights but they could book you in to the hotel where the dive school is and sort all your transfers for you. I have also dived with Camel, Blue O2, and Dive Stars which were all good

I thought about Malta and would like to try it one day. The reason behind Egypt is the weather is better there at this time of year and plus I would like to do live aboard maybe next year so I want to see if I like it over there. The flight time doesn't bother me and I'll go for 4 nights with 2 days worth of diving, maybe 5 nights at a stretch (OK a very long weekend...) with 3 days diving.

Just an idea at the moment so things may change.

Thanks for all your input, I emailed that dive centre - they seem good.

Have stayed at and dived with Camel, great hotel and diving. Oh and fantastic bar and food.

C

Ocean College get my vote.

Just spent a week with Oonas based in Naama and they were fantastic, cant fault them one bit.
As BrindooSteve said Ocean College are also very highly thought of, cant go wrong with either of them

Just keep an eye on the news before committing...things are getting ummm, interesting.

I'm booked away there in a couple of weeks, back to Dahab.

I see reference to crowd violence in Port Said, which may be politically motivated.
Is there more I'm unaware of? That does not seem likely to precipitate a government collapse.

Harry

Yeah, find your own links as I'm too lazy but a French tourist shot dead in old sharm after a bungled raid on a money exchange. Two American woman kidnapped near St Catherine's monastery.

Found the stories, thanks.

Food for thought.

Harry

Camel Dive's website seems to be down at the moment, but I've just read that they're running Winter promotions until 15/3/12. Promotions inc 7 Nights 4* B&B including 5 days diving for 356 euros. Seems a good deal.

Ocean College have a promo on at the moment 4 day dive package £99

We were sat 100m away from that when it happened, German critical in hospital and several locals injured as well.
A couple of the bedouins were killed at the scene and we were told the others were 'dealt with' in the desert..........

http://mideastobs.com/2012/02/01/an...g-crisis-threatens-egypt-israel-peace-treaty/

Not a happy prospect, medium term.

Trip to Dahab is still on at the moment. but I'm watching carefully.

Harry

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/02/10/uk-egypt-sinai-hostages-idUSLNE81901O20120210

Still ongoing I believe.

Update: Hostages released unharmed.

Sadder and sadder.

Harry

I'm of to Sharm next Monday... in my opinion there's more likelihood of me getting a doing over here than getting into any bother in Egypt. Shit happens sometimes, you just have to hope you're not anywhere near when it does!

I'm also off to Dahab in a week.

I agree that the risks are small. The impact on the area will be out of all proportion to the actual events so far.

Minor violent incidences happen all over the planet.

The concern that Suggsy was expressing ( I think ) is the slide towards conflict between the Bedouin's and the Egyptians.

I'd rather not become a pawn in an all out war however, which could be what is brewing here.

Harry

http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/201...overty-alienation-bedouin-egypt?newsfeed=true

From today's Grauniad.

Nothing that's not been in the news as separate incidents, but the newspaper obviously sees a pattern.


Harry