Red Sea next week - where to stay?? Help please!!

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Sandpipa

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Location
UK
# of dives
50 - 99
Hi all,

I'm looking to head out from the UK to the Red Sea on Sept 6th for a week or so... Flights tho' are hellishly expensive!

I'd like to do AOW plus 2-3 days' diving... Would be eternally grateful if anyone can suggest a good place to stay or package deal out of Manchester.

Of course there are loads of possibilities around but the extras (especially as a single person) really tot up.

I have checked out Emperor, Camel etc and though these come with a reputation they are also quite expensive... Do the experts on here think I should go with those, or take a package with much better accommodation and a less well-known dive set-up? Please does anyone have any recommendations?

Was made redundant recently so don't have a lot of cash to splash but can't go for much longer without my diving!!

Many thanks,

Sandpipa.
 
When you get to Sharm you can dive with any center you choose, we all will arrange transfers in the morning, most do in the evening too, from all hotels in Sharm.

Redseaflights.com will give you this price...

Date +/- Flight Depart Arrive Airline Seating Price
Sun 06-Sep-09 TOM546
Manchester 09:05 Sharm el-Sheikh 15:40 Thomson Airways Standard £72.00

Thats excluding 55 pound manchester fees, but thats not bad

I work for cameldive.com so, but dive with us, emperor or ocean college. They are the good ones
Camel hotel have cheap rooms if you share.
 
Or go to Dahab instead. Much cheaper accomodation and diving (and a lot nicer, imho, especially for a solo traveller).
 
Yep. Camel Divers or Ocean College. Both are fantastic. Camel Divers has this great hotel/shop right in Naama Bay at the docks almost. Really a good setup and they are great in instruction adn dives. Ocean College has the same up the coast. I have used both and sent people to both. Pick your choice. Sometimes you can get a cheaper price if you book through their website online ahead of time. Have fun!
 
Hi all,

I'm looking to head out from the UK to the Red Sea on Sept 6th for a week or so... Flights tho' are hellishly expensive!

I'd like to do AOW plus 2-3 days' diving... Would be eternally grateful if anyone can suggest a good place to stay or package deal out of Manchester.

Of course there are loads of possibilities around but the extras (especially as a single person) really tot up.

I have checked out Emperor, Camel etc and though these come with a reputation they are also quite expensive... Do the experts on here think I should go with those, or take a package with much better accommodation and a less well-known dive set-up? Please does anyone have any recommendations?

Was made redundant recently so don't have a lot of cash to splash but can't go for much longer without my diving!!

Many thanks,

Sandpipa.
Believe me, the premium is worth it. The last thing you want to do is end up on a boat stuffed with russians shooting vodka instead of water before, between AND after dives and have your skin crawl as you watch them break chunks off the reef and stuffing it in their BC..

In that regard, Emperor is GREAT as they dont allow any alcohol on their boats and they will litterarilly pull you out of the water if you mess with the reef and sealife - and that goes for people not thats not on their boats as well (Ive seen this happen more than once). Have you checked the in-resort packages?
I cant say for Camel or college, but given their reputation Id assume theire similar
 
Camel are great and the hotel is good as it's right in Naama. Some have said that because it is close to a nightclub the hotel would be noisy but I have spoken to lots of guest who say they cant hear it at night. The have some good packages at the moment and I'm sure you'll have a great time.
 
Or go to Dahab instead. Much cheaper accomodation and diving (and a lot nicer, imho, especially for a solo traveller).

Sharm has better diving than Dahab but its major downside is its sharm - a *********** of a place. Completely lacking in any character or charm and could be any town anywhere in the world with the chain shops, chain fast food etc. And very expensive to boot.
 
Sharm has better diving than Dahab.
Not really.

Sharm has more fish than Dahab, but Dahab has an amazing topological variety. Almost every site is different than the others. Bells is different than the Canyon and they're both different than the Islands, which is different than the Caves and so on.

Another major advantage for Dahab is that it's a great access point to Ras Abu Galoum, Ras Mamlach, and Gabr El Bint. Those are even better diving.

Also Dahab's shore diving makes it more laid back, as no one is rushed to catch the boat, no one is obliged to share boats when it's low season, no guests have sea sickness, etc...

IMHO, one key factor of good diving is the dive guide. When the guide is good the diving is good and when the guide is not good it usually sucks. It's like driving a 4x4 in the desert. A good driver could pass obstacles with a Suzuki Vitara while a terrible driver will get stuck even if he has a Land Cruiser.
 
Not really.

Sharm has more fish than Dahab, but Dahab has an amazing topological variety. Almost every site is different than the others. Bells is different than the Canyon and they're both different than the Islands, which is different than the Caves and so on.

Another major advantage for Dahab is that it's a great access point to Ras Abu Galoum, Ras Mamlach, and Gabr El Bint. Those are even better diving.

Also Dahab's shore diving makes it more laid back, as no one is rushed to catch the boat, no one is obliged to share boats when it's low season, no guests have sea sickness, etc...

IMHO, one key factor of good diving is the dive guide. When the guide is good the diving is good and when the guide is not good it usually sucks. It's like driving a 4x4 in the desert. A good driver could pass obstacles with a Suzuki Vitara while a terrible driver will get stuck even if he has a Land Cruiser.
Hey, dont knock the Suzuki Viagra!
 
https://www.shearwater.com/products/swift/

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