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 By Heba Hassan

Scuba Diving in Egypt

Have you ever dreamed about exploring a sunken shipwreck or swimming alongside vibrant marine life forms? Whether you’re a beginner or an expert, Egypt has some of the world’s best and most affordable diving centers that promise an unforgettable experience. From shore dives to wrecks, drifts, pinnacles, and free dives, there will be something for every scuba diver. Today, we’ll focus on the Red Sea, where the crystal waters are jammed with treasured exotic creatures that swim peacefully along divers. The best way to explore this underwater fantasy land is by visiting one of the wonderful scuba diving centers discussed in this article. Things to Know About Scuba Diving in the Red Sea: 

  • Dives are available for professional and certified divers, as well as first-timers.
  • All these diving centers are certified by PADI and can help you get certified with educational courses to improve your diving skills and qualify you for professional diving.
  • If you have your diving gear, you can keep it at the center where it will be maintained, cleaned, and ready for your upcoming trip.
  • You can also rent and even buy gear that suits you. Before you go on any dive, you must register your name with a certified instructor.
  • We asked Alex Red Sea, and he explained that the Ministry of Tourism requires the inclusion of the names of all people who will go on dives one day earlier. So, you can contact him to have this arranged. Alex has been working as a snorkeling and diving guide since 2000. He specializes in Nitrox and night dives, so you’ll be in good hands.

 

Best Diving Centers In Egypt 

Each of these diving centers offers a unique experience, whether you want a short 2-hour dive, or a safari trip that lasts for several days, you’ll find what you’re looking for.

 

Scuba World Divers – Makadi Bay 

Located in the heart of Madinat Makadi at Jaz Makadi Resort, this diving center provides dives for beginner and professional divers. The diving instructors are certified by the Professional Association of Diving Instructors and speak English, French, German, Italian, Russian, Polish, and Arabic, with trips arranged twice daily. You don’t have to stay at the resort, but it’s an excellent one to consider for a stay in Makadi Bay, with 270 luxurious rooms. Head to the diving center one day earlier to have your name registered. An instructor should accompany you, whether you’re a professional or a beginner,

Scuba World Divers arrange a boat trip that starts at 9 am and ends at 1 pm for professional divers. This trip includes 2 dives and drinks. Then, you can head to the hotel for your lunch break. Beginner divers can begin their boat trip at 2 pm and will be back at 4 pm, including 1 dive that lasts 20 minutes.

This is an excellent spot to explore the coral reefs at Abu Hashish Lagoon, Ras Disha, and Torfa Abu Makadi

  • Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/WPzTCxrzomyyLrS1A
  • Parking Spot: Available
  • How Do You Get There: Makadi Bay is a 45-minute drive from Hurghada Airport. You can take a taxi from the airport.
  • Prices: Depend on the package you book with discounts for groups.

 

Orca Dive Clubs Safaga

Located at the Amarina Abu Soma Resort Safaga, this diving center offers memorable open-water dives where you can explore the shipwreck of Salem Express. The massive ship sank in 1991, claiming hundreds of lives. The exact number of victims is disputed, as it was overloaded.

Diving instructors speak English, German, Italian, and French fluently, and prices differ depending on the time of the year. You should book your dive one day in advance, and you can ask the instructor to customize a diving package for your group. If you’re staying at the hotel, you can head to the diving center and discuss your plan with the diving instructor.

You can watch the shipwreck dive here.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/10qTWq3FKZS0yErTwiXE40rjVNbbglBCU/view?usp=sharing

Here’s a video of Alex drifting with his group near Utopia Island.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yrGJO0fwMUrCjGKxBbVeureFATcDAG2c/view?usp=sharing

  • Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nuwrpd7TJtucnUSF9
  • Parking Spot: Available
  • How Do You Get There: Safaga is a 48-minute drive from Hurghada Airport. You can take a taxi.
  • Prices: Depend on the package you book with discounts for groups.

Ilios Dive Club

Ilios Dive Club is PADI-approved with certified instructors from the Ministry of Tourism. It offers confined water and open water dives in Hurghada at the Small Giftun, Um Gummar, Erg Sabina, and Fanadir.

You can see the incredible coral reef formations, Napoleon fish, morays, stingrays, and on a lucky day, a sea turtle, with

The instructors offer try dives for first-time divers, in addition to customized courses for those who want to get certified. Ilios staff can offer diving gear and equipment for rent if you don’t have any. If you have your gear, you can keep it in the center where they will clean and maintain everything for multiple-day dives. With 30 years of experience in the business, Ilios can create a customized trip and course for you. The diving center contains 2 multimedia rooms for educational purposes, a filling station for air and Nitrox tanks, and wheelchair-accessible showers and toilets.

Day trips start at 9 am and last until sunset, with a lunch break included. You can plan your stay at Steigenberger ALDAU Resort, one of Egypt’s most luxurious coastal resorts, or book a day use to access the diving center.

  • Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LS2k5Yni4kGQn9t79
  • Parking Spot: Available
  • How Do You Get There: It’s a 3.3 km drive from Hurghada Airport, and you can take a taxi.
  • Prices: Depend on the package you book, with discounts for groups.

 

Red Sea Tribe Dahab

Have you watched The Deepest Breath? This documentary talks about freediving, featuring Barracuda, the owner of Red Sea Tribe Dahab.

Barracuda is a Dahab native who started diving when he was 15. He established his diving center in 2019, collaborating with one of his friends. We can see him standing here behind the counter.
At Red Sea Tribe Dahab, the instructors can teach you from scratch, even if you haven’t seen any diving equipment in your life. The center will help you get certified and the staff arranges diving trips at the Canyon, Lighthouse, and Ras Mohammed.

We asked Joe, Barracuda’s assistant, about the most popular diving spot, and he said that it was the Blue Hole. It’s one of the world’s most popular spots for free diving because of the lack of currents, but it’s also one of the most dangerous ones.It’s reported that more than 130 divers died between 1997 and 2012 due to nitrogen narcosis. Beginners aren’t allowed in but can watch the amazing view from the shore.

The Red Sea Tribe Dahab diving center is located at El Fanar Street, right after the Lighthouse Camp. Here’s a video showing the exact location.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1kkX5Vcog5F1INjQEHT8Qo_91DYYY9ZUX/view?usp=sharing

  • Location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/LCX1nmzt8rFB2trc7
  • Parking Spot: Available
  • How Do You Get There: It’s a 1-hour drive from Sharm El Sheikh Airport, and you can take the bus, a taxi, or arrange a private transfer.
  • Prices: Depend on the package you book, with special discounts for groups.

 

Divers & Co.

Divers & Co. is a luxurious choice for those who want a one-in-lifetime experience. It offers a unique safari diving experience on the 33-meter Serenity Liveaboard, which accommodates up to 22 guests. When you head to the website, you can customize your trip if you book the whole liveaboard for your group.

Serenity is a boutique hotel that arranges multiple-day safari diving trips in Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada, with a crew of 10 people. It’s a perfect choice for groups and special events, equipped with super silent generators, air conditioners, safety equipment, first-aid kits, and everything you’ll need for a memorable trip.Serenity is a 4-deck liveaboard with two speedboats to move to nearby diving spots. The first deck contains 8 cabins and the engine room, and the second deck contains the dining area, kitchen, salon, dive deck, and two wheelchair-accessible cabins.

The third deck contains the captain’s cabin, sun deck, outdoor lounge, and two suites. And the last deck is where the sunbeds are located.

This 5-star PADI IDC dive center is located in Cairo and Hurghada, offering training for all experience levels. The Cairo location has been operating as a teaching facility since 2018 to teach diving theories.

It’s an excellent spot to plan your trip in advance if you’re visiting Cairo, with screens, whiteboards, educational videos, and books. Divers & Co. is affiliated with several swimming pools in Cairo to offer hands-on training before heading to the Hurghada location.

Divers & Co is an official distributor of ScubaPro, XDeep, Cressi, and Suunto diving gear. You can rent equipment or buy your gear if you’re a fan of safari and leisure diving.

When you visit the website, you will find the minimum requirements listed for every trip. If training and certification are required, Divers & Co. will have this arranged, as per Adham, the co-founder.

Diving enthusiasts are fascinated by Divers & Co’s trips to Thistlegorm and Abu Nahas wrecks, Ras Mohammed National Park, and Gubal for viewings of sand eels.

 

Final Thoughts

Regardless of your budget, time availability, and experience level, there will be a diving trip that suits you. Freelance divers and diving instructors along the coast of the Red Sea are more than happy to arrange something that suits your needs, knowing that you’ll be back for more.