Diving in Egypt...

JMAONE · #1 07/02/2005, 03:39 PM

Anyone got any cool diving tipps in the Red Sea or any cool links to share?

Wryknow · #2 07/07/2005, 02:10 PM

Be careful! Stay at a hotel that specializes in working with Western tourists. I wouldn't recommend trying to cut corners in Egypt on accomodations. It's not that expensive to go first class over there and it's worth it for the piece of mind IMHO. I enjoyed Egypt tremendously but there are some bad apples running around in that neck of the woods. That being said, the diving is excellent.

JMAONE · #3 07/09/2005, 08:17 AM

Thanks for the hint of caution!

shullat · #4 07/10/2005, 02:19 PM

Forget being cautious...there is absolutely nothing to worry about. for excellent diving your best bet is to try sharm el sheik or hurghada, both being in Egypt.

If you want excellent diving locations also try saudi arabia but be prepared for a culture shock.

houtendvan · #5 07/11/2005, 08:25 AM

We just got back from Egypt, Sharm el Sheikh. Nothing to worry about in Egypt. A lot of people from scandinavia go to Sharm el Sheikh. We made new friends from Denmark, Finland and Zweden.

Here are some pictures from last year Sharm el Sheikh:

Sharm el Sheikh 2004

Here are 3 movie clips from last week (quicktime):

Swimming with a Manta

I have to upload the 400+ pictures from last week to the server. I will put a link when I did it.

Dennis

Wryknow · #6 07/11/2005, 10:45 AM

Perhaps I should clarify what I'm trying to say. I really enjoyed Egypt. The people I met were very nice and I certainly recommend that you go and visit. All of the locals that I met went out of their way to be good hosts. The only time that I ever felt uncomfortable was when I was in Cairo and I realised that the man in the suit at the back of the bus was an armed, under-cover guard who was there to protect the tourists. It was a sobering thought for me. Go. Have fun. The diving is great.

houtendvan · #7 07/11/2005, 11:01 AM

You can't compair Cairo with Sharm el Sheikh, Hugada, El Cona or what ever. You know there are a lot of crazy people in Cairo, especialy around the piramids. You know they "hunt" for tourists, play with bombs, etc.

If you go to Sharm, Hugada, El Cona or anywhere at the Redsea and you want to make a trip to Cairo (about 55 USD if you shop around) it is organised by a touring organisation. I think it's a good thing this guy was in the bus, he's sitting there for you.

As you said, the Egyptians are very nice and they want to share everything with you, even their food (don't eat "from the street" ).

But be fair, If you went to London last week and your sitting on that bus or in the underground..... Then you should lock yourself up at home and hope the best nothing will happen to you. As I said Cairo is know for these things, just like Amsterdam for his legal grass and redlight district.

Dennis

houtendvan · #8 07/13/2005, 02:03 PM

Dear Wryknow,

Don't take it personal, I was talking in General. I was reading my own reply and it didn't felt good towards you.

Dennis

JMAONE · #9 07/13/2005, 02:15 PM

How would you guys rank the above mentioned diving location with for example Sharm el Sheikh vrs Similan Islands in Thailand?

houtendvan · #10 07/13/2005, 02:35 PM

As promised the photo's from this year + 3 other movies. There is also an threat on the main page.

Pictures Sharm el Sheikh 2005

3 Other movies

Dennis

Wryknow · #11 07/13/2005, 03:20 PM

No worries houtendvan! I didn't think that you attacking me. Over-all I think that we feel pretty much the same way about visiting Egypt. It is just difficult for me to express enthusiasm-with-a-note-of-concern in a bulletin board!

Wryknow · #12 07/13/2005, 03:22 PM

JMAONE - sorry but I've never been to Tailand so I couldn't make a comparison. Egypt was very nice but all the rest of my diving has been in the Carribean.

houtendvan · #13 07/13/2005, 04:59 PM

Same goes for me. I've never been to Thailand. I've been to Aruba last September, half a week after the storm / hurricane. A lot of damaged corals at Baby Beach. Brain corals at 15 meters down (45 feet) from 5 meter (15 feet) across where turned on their sides. Incredible !

Lots of softcorals overthere most brown, green or pink. I didn't saw that much hard corals as in Egypt. I go for Egypt if I have to make a choice between Egypt or the Carribean.

Egypt is much cheaper (for us Europeans, althought for us Dutch people it pretty cheap to go to the Dutch Carribean islands but to be there is very expensive).

Dennis

JMAONE · #14 07/13/2005, 06:55 PM

I must say that I reallly appricate any reply to this thread, cause I try to make the next view be othter than my reefank....

But, still please share... Egypt vrs Thailand.. Any one?

PS. Thank for the shared pix!!