Sharm!Sharm!Sharm! What about Hurghada or Dahab?

[evilclown]

if i've never been to the red sea and i only have 3 days to dive then what should it be?
Sharm!Sharm!Sharm! Is all i hear. What about Hurghada or Dahab.
Also mostly likely will not go back for at least 2 years.
thanks

[ArthurGerla]

Sharm is a big destination for sun and fun seekers, so naturally you'll get lots of information about it. Dahab is more laid back, much smaller and the diving isn't quite as spectacular, though still very good. Having been to Sharm many times and seen it deteriorate, I would choose Dahab now.
Avoid Hurghada. It's a dump.

[Air One]

And don't forget Safaga, Quseir and Marsa Alam.
There is an international airport in Marsa Alam, so it's getting more and more busy. But it's quite a nice place for diving, Elfinstone is close from this small city.
Safaga is 2 or 3 hours driving from Hurgada ( edit : much shorter in fact...) . The Salem Express sank there.
Quseir is about 3-4 hours from Hurgada, so it's probably too far for your 3 days trip.

[Red Sea Shadow]

Dahab is more laid back than Sharm and Hurghada. The majority of diving there is shore diving. The advantage over Sharm and Hurghada is that almost every site has its own topology. The number of fish is less than Sharm and Hurghada though.

Hurghada is the same as Sharm; a big city. However, diving wise, Sharm is better.

BTW, Safaga is only 60 KM south of Hurghada so it's like 45 minutes not 2 or 3 hours.

[Air One]

Safaga is only 60 KM south of Hurghada so it's like 45 minutes not 2 or 3 hours.

Yep, sorry...
I haven't been to the Red Sea since 5 years now ( Brothers Daedalus Elfinstone : wow !).
3 hours to Quseir and 5 to Marsa Alam. Is this correct ?

[Red Sea Shadow]

Yep, sorry...
I haven't been to the Red Sea since 5 years now ( Brothers Daedalus Elfinstone : wow !).
3 hours to Quseir and 5 to Marsa Alam. Is this correct ?
Marsa Alam is almost 300 KM from Hurghada. Quseir is around 200 KM from Hurghada.

However, it's not about distances. It's about operation and the requested vacation type. If you're a hardcore diver (which is what I suggest :)), then you choose live-aboard trips like the one you mentioned.

[Lord Melch]

+1 for Dahab,

Awesome dives, and small enough to be cool and laid back..:balloons:

[gorcio]

+1 for Dahab too. For dives, food and the laid-back, relaxed holidays.

[MartinNorway78]

Sharm: Garbage atphomsere, ****ty food, russians everywhere, but good boat diving and chances of spotting bif things even in the local sites. Normally very good visibility. Since you will the most of your time on the diveboat (08.00-17.00 incl transport bla bla) after a shower and a beer, it will be 19.00 before you go down to naama and eat. By 23.00 you will be sleeping. Thay way you avoid the crappy atmosphere anyway.

Atmosphere: ****
Dives: good to very good
Prices: a bit steep, but mostly due to higher operational costs
Overall: 3rd choice in the red sea

EL Gouna: Disneyland-feeling. few expensive resorts with reletively high standards. Not alot of hasssle, due to the fact that the hall "town" is closed for outsiders so to speak.
Boat dives all day (08-17) with a wast variety of good divespots that are not as busy as sharm/hurghada. Mostly for older people and couples. (Not a big party-scene, just ome pubs... the irish pub i guess is the most lively)

Atmosphere: Quiet and "up market"
Diving: Very Good.
Prices: As sharm

Dahab: Small, "everybody knows everybody". A bit more affected by religion. BAckpackers (none of the big tour operators send people here. Small independednt hotels/restaurant (except for one hilton). More young people, majority from USA, Canada, Australia. Some Egyptians on holiday, scandinaivians, germans, dutch. Small but good nightlife, 3-5 good restaurants.
Diving: Good Value, shore dives, nice rocks, walls, coral gardens, blue hole. LAcks big marine life though. Big unicorns, trioggers, blue sp. stingrays, crocs... but I have never seen eagle ray, manta ray or shark there. El Gouna and Sharm is better for these things.

Atmosphere: layd back, "backpacker light", young, nice mix of nationalities, hippie.
Diving: Shore, great geologi, normally goood vix, but can be windy and create surface currents, bad viuz and exclude some of the sites due to entry/exit.
Prices: Great value.

My favourit is Dahab condiering all factors. But I would easily go to Sharm and El Gouna aswell. Its hard to compare....

But: For you: (only a couple of days, not going bacj for 2 years....) I would say: Sharm if you want to go mainstream, and Dahab if you like to be alittle "off track"...

Have a nice trip anyway

[MartinNorway78]

Sharm: Garbage atphomsere, ****ty food, russians everywhere, but good boat diving and chances of spotting biG things also on the local sites. Normally very good visibility. Since you will spend the most of your time on the diveboat anyway, (08.00-17.00 incl transport bla bla), after a shower and a beer, it will be 19.00 before you go down to naama and eat. By 23.00 you will be sleeping. Thay way you avoid the crappy atmosphere anyway.

Atmosphere: ****
Dives: good to very good
Prices: a bit steep, but mostly due to higher operational costs
Overall: My 3rd choice in Egypt

EL Gouna: Disneyland-feeling. few expensive resorts with reletively high standards. Not alot of hasssle, due to the fact that the hall "town" is closed for outsiders so to speak.
Boat dives all day (08-17) with a wast variety of good divespots that are not as busy as sharm/hurghada. Mostly for older people and couples. (Not a big party-scene, just ome pubs... the irish pub i guess is the most lively)

Atmosphere: Quiet and "up market"
Diving: Very Good.
Prices: As sharm
Overall: My 2nd choice in Egypt.

Dahab: Small, "everybody knows everybody". A bit more affected by religion. Backpackers (none of the big tour operators send people here. Small independent hotels/restaurants (except for one Hilton). More young people, majority from USA, Canada, Australia and tthe UK. Many expats that lives in Cairo comes here for diving/hangigng out. Some Egyptians on holiday, scandinaivians, germans, dutch. Small but good nightlife, 3-5 good restaurants.
Diving: Good Value, shore dives, nice rocks, walls, coral gardens, blue hole. Lacks big marine life though. Big unicorns, trioggers, blue sp. stingrays, crocs... but I have never seen eagle ray, manta ray or shark there. El Gouna and Sharm is better for these things.

Atmosphere: layd back, "backpacker light", young, nice mix of nationalities, hippie.
Diving: Shore, great geologi, normally good viz, but can be windy and create surface currents, bad viz, and exclude some of the sites due to entry/exit.
Prices: Great value.

My favourit is Dahab condiering all factors. But I would easily go to Sharm and El Gouna aswell. Its hard to compare....

But: For you: (only a couple of days, not going back for 2 years....) I would say: Sharm if you want to go mainstream, and Dahab if you like to be alittle "off track"...

Hurgahda and Marsa Alam: I havent been there, but I have never heard anything good about Hurghada.
Have a nice trip wher ever you choose to go :)

[Lord Melch]

LAcks big marine life though. Big unicorns, trioggers, blue sp. stingrays, crocs... but I have never seen eagle ray, manta ray or shark there. El Gouna and Sharm is better for these thingsI'd have to disagree

On my last trip a few weeks ago I saw a Silver Tip Shark - twice, , Huge Turtles, A massive Feather tail Ray, Some huge eels.. err how big to you want... Blue Whales ? :D :D

Also there the other lads saw a Whale Shark, Dolphins.. Duuuude Sweeeet

:sharkattack:

[MartinNorway78]

He He... Yeah I know you were very very lucky!!!

I've only did about 50 dives here in Dahab, so maybee I havent done enough... But for someone who will only stay for a couple of days, I think chances are bigger for seeing bigger marine life further south...

BTW: Did Caves yesterday, no sharks :( But it was cool to dive a new site anyway. Hopefully we manage to gather enough people for a botrip to Gabr el Bint tomorow and I will cross my fingers that the ocean white tip is still around...

Saw the biggest giant moray in my whole life here the other day at umm sid. It must have been 3 meters long and his neck was massive!

BR
Martin :)

[Lord Melch]

Good luck with the Silver Tip. He/she/it was a good 6 ft.

Also some awesome Turtles (one a real reef wrecker !) at Gabr el Bint.. Reef 2000 go there every Wed I believe if that helps.



He He... Yeah I know you were very very lucky!!!

I've only did about 50 dives here in Dahab, so maybee I havent done enough... But for someone who will only stay for a couple of days, I think chances are bigger for seeing bigger marine life further south...

BTW: Did Caves yesterday, no sharks :( But it was cool to dive a new site anyway. Hopefully we manage to gather enough people for a botrip to Gabr el Bint tomorow and I will cross my fingers that the ocean white tip is still around...

Saw the biggest giant moray in my whole life here the other day at umm sid. It must have been 3 meters long and his neck was massive!

BR
Martin :)

[String]

Hurghada is nice in the resorts but the town centre itself is pretty horrible. Grimy, busy and full of very irritating sales people. Not a nice place. Absolutely jam packed with russians.