Sharm el-Sheikh Dive Recommendations

Hi all, we are travelling to Egypt for 2 weeks and have the Red Sea penciled in.

Looking for recommendations on a PRIVATE DIVE GUIDE to dive with.

My wife only has a few dives on her belt and is more comfortable diving with a Divemaster/Guide. We did this in Bora Bora and she cant dive with a "group" since. Boone for me since a Guide can show us where the critters are for me to shoot!

Any other tips on conditions, temp, things to do topside (restaurants, sites, etc), things to avoid, look out for, at this time of the year in Sharm el-Sheikh would be appreciated!

Regards,

Chris

BTW, Since we are traveling with an infant, I am only bringing one port/one strobe...is it WA or Macro shooting in Sharm?

I don't know of any freelance dive guides but you could try asking around in the Camel Bar, Naama Bay. Sinai divers will hire kit and you can dive from the beach without a guide. It's quite shallow but there's a lot of live there. I'm sure this would be possible at the hotels dive schools.

There's wide angle and macro depending where you dive. If I had to choose one to take I'd go with macro as you will get something on every dive.

Another spot to try would be Oonas Dive Club. They have resident guides of course but also tap into a few guides on an 'ad hoc' basis. Nick, the manager will be helpful.

Another spot to try would be Oonas Dive Club. They have resident guides of course but also tap into a few guides on an 'ad hoc' basis. Nick, the manager will be helpful.

I'll second the vote for Oonas.

I hired a private guide from them last year, principally to be able to dive away from a group - but she was also a videographer and so knew exactly how to pose for shots, so it was a double bonus!

Website here: Oonas Dive Centre I've no connection with them BTW, just used them a few times & found them to be one of the best in Sharm/Naama.

R

Thanks guys for the Recommendation!

I contacted Oonas and we are going to dive on Feb.27th.

Anyone know if Egypt air is strict with their domestic baggage weights?

Hi,

Me and my girlfriend are diving with oonsa for two weeks as well, we get there the 2nd of march. I guess we could well see you there.

Does anyone have good advice on if its far from town, markets restaurants?

cheers

Hi,

Me and my girlfriend are diving with oonsa for two weeks as well, we get there the 2nd of march. I guess we could well see you there.

Does anyone have good advice on if its far from town, markets restaurants?

cheers

Oonas Dive Club is at the northern end of Na'ama Bay (at the end of the beachside promenade) and from there on it is solid hotels and shops to the southern end.......

The 'centre' of town is about a 20/25 minutes stroll - i.e. half way along the bay - and here you will find a concentration of restaurants & bars, with the (in)famous Camel Bar in the middle!

R

BTW About a third of the way along the prom is a restaurant called Tam-Tams, great food and very inexpensive middle-eastern cuisine; recommend you give it a try.

Thanks guys for the Recommendation!

 

I contacted Oonas and we are going to dive on Feb.27th.

 

Anyone know if Egypt air is strict with their domestic baggage weights?

I've no experience of Egypt Air, but have heard several recent reports of divers being hit for excess baggage on their return through Sharm airport. This despite being OK weight-wise on the way out; there has been a suggestion of 'inaccurate scales' at the check-in desks........

Don't forget to have your dive certification on you when you check-in at departure (I'm assuming Egypt Air give the diver 10kg concession) - I got taken to task one time by the 'check-in girl from hel'l as I'd packed my cert card in the hold baggage.

R

Oonas was a great recommendation! Their Operations is top-notch and the people like Steve (divemaster) and Corry (at the shop) are great to talk to.

One great coincidence, Oonas was located right next to the Sofitel where we stayed!

Egypt Air didnt give me a hard time about my luggage, Egyptian security did (so did Security in CDG in Paris as well) They had me take out my Housing/Strobes and had to argue about my Ike Batteries.

If you're doing multiple, long dives every day, pack a dry suit. I'm not kidding. Water will be 20ish degrees C and there will be a chilling surface wind.

/christian

I'm glad Oonas Dive Club worked for you. I have always found it the most accomodating of the Sharm facilities. Steve is a dude, eh? I must remember to turn his gas off one day! Take care Chris.

If you're doing multiple, long dives every day, pack a dry suit. I'm not kidding. Water will be 20ish degrees C and there will be a chilling surface wind.

 

/christian

Try 16 when I was there. They can rent you an "oversuit" over your tropicals if you need to.

Try 16 when I was there. They can rent you an "oversuit" over your tropicals if you need to.

My head wasn't properly screwed on. I just routinely answered the question, without really reflecting on that you had already been... Anyway, that's really cold, the lowest temperature I've ever heard about in Sharm. It do vary a lot. In july it will be a balmy 27-28 C.

/c