Chris Coplans discovers the Red Sea has something for divers of all abilities
The Red Sea has long been a hotspot for divers and with good reason. There’s an array of wrecks, reefs and marine life to discover, and dive sites to suit all ability levels.
There are also a range of liveaboards for the serious divers who don’t want to stray too far from the water.
Here’s our pick of what’s on offer, highlighting the wide-ranging appeal of this destination.
Best for beginners: Eilat
Although the diving in Eilat can’t compare with the diving further south in the Red Sea, it is an ideal destination to learn to dive as there are some first-rate dive schools like Aqua-Sport and protected reefs for beginners.
Eilat is a full-scale resort with a large choice of top hotels and is ideal if some of the party are not diving. It also has some easily accessible attractions like the Negev Desert and the Dead Sea and day trips to Petra in Jordan can be arranged.
Sample package:Longwood Holidays offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at the four-star Isrotel Yam Suf in December from £590 per person, including return flights from Stansted. A PADI Open Water Course at Aqua-Sport is £155 including equipment.
Best for luxury: Four Seasons, Sharm El-Sheik
The beautifully designed Four Seasons hotel oozes class and has a number of excellent à la carte restaurants.
The resort is located north of Sharm, close to the fabulous dive sites of the Straits of Tiran, and has its own high-spec boat that will whisk you out there in 10 minutes, while other hotels have to ferry their divers down to the port in Sharm and take a day boat to Tiran, which can take over two hours.
Sample package:Abercrombie and Kent offers seven nights’ in a Superior Village View Room in October from £2,098 per person, including club class flights on bmi and domestic flights on Egypt Air and transfers. A three-day diving package (six dives) costs from £175.
Best for variety: Southern Red Sea Liveaboard from Marsa Alam
If clients want to see a wide variety of sea life then a liveaboard (you live and dive from the boat) is the way to go.
Many of the more remote dive sites, where you are more likely to see the large pelagics like sharks, are to be found in the southern Red Sea, which has some stunning reefs and a far wider variety of corals than further north, with a few good wrecks thrown in. Try and pick an itinerary that includes Fury Shoal and St John’s Reef.
Sample package: Blue o Two offers a seven-night Northern Wrecks and Reefs liveaboard safari on a full-board basis, departing from Hurghada in November for £999 per person. Prices include flights, transfers, accommodation on board, visa and all dives.
Best for wrecks: Hurghada
Located on the mainland coast of the Red Sea, Hurghada may not be the most attractive of Red Sea resorts but it’s the best positioned for wreck diving.
Guests have the choice of staying in the resort, on a liveaboard, or a combination of the two. There are some world-class wrecks in the Red Sea, the most famous being the Thistlegorm, which is best dived from a liveaboard as doing it as a day dive entails leaving your hotel in the middle of the night.
A number of other superb wrecks are within easy reach of Hurghada, and Luxor and the treasures of the Nile are just a couple of hours’ drive away.
Sample package:Regaldive offers seven nights’ bed and breakfast at Sunrise Holidays Resort in Hurghada for £449 per person in June, including flights and transfers. A five-day dive package costs £151 per person.
Best for pelagics: Liveaboards from Hurghada and Marsa Alam
As the large pelagics (species that inhabit the open ocean) tend to hang out in strong currents on the open water reefs, a liveaboard is probably your best bet.
However, many reputable liveaboard operators will only take experienced divers to top dive sights such as the Brothers as currents can be ferocious. This usually means having over 50 logged dives and being certified to PADI Advanced Open Water Diver level.
Another good bet is Elphinstone reef, which can also be accessed by day boats from Marsa Alam. As well as sharks, these reefs are home to other big boys such as napoleon wrasse, turtles, whale sharks and barracuda.
Sample package:Libra Holidays, in association with Goldenjoy Dive, offers the Brothers itinerary, with seven nights full board on board Snapdragon from £899 per person.
The price is based on twin-share and includes return XL Airways flights from Gatwick to Sharm el-Sheikh, in July, transfers, free Nitrox for two dives a day, free soft drinks on board; and some equipment.
