As per the title, what are Eilat and Aqaba best diving spots? Both in Eilat and Aqaba I search hotels with a home reef because there will be non divers travelling as well. Preferably not public beaches provided some of them are crowded and not clean, and ladies might want to sun bathe with bikini while in some places this is not accepted by locals. Another question, is the area safe?
Eilat and Aqaba diving spots
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I was in Aqaba last September. I stayed at the Mövenpick Tala Bay. The beach is private and the hotel is tailored for families. Sinai Divers Aqaba is based at the hotel. The house reef is good because the dive shop spends much time cleaning the area, there is a wonderful area right off the beach in 7 to 10 meters of water with lots of fish. The problem is that the area is a protected park where the police force assigned to protect the park go out before lunch and dinner every day with spear guns and kill anything they can, except for the lion fish which are plentiful and enormous. I saw more Nestlé 1 1/2 litre water bottles in the water than large fish. I actually only saw one barricuda and no turtles in the 16 dives I made there.
I have not been to Eilat but I was told it was cleaner and had more large fish. The people I dove with went to Eilat soon after I left and they posted some excellent photos of dolphins and turtles.
I have not been to Eilat but I was told it was cleaner and had more large fish. The people I dove with went to Eilat soon after I left and they posted some excellent photos of dolphins and turtles.
Sunn
Contributor
The police in Eilat does not dive for fishing... but the sea is nearly the same, it's a bay with 2 commercial harbours, what did you expect to find ?
If you see pictures of sharks, turtles or dolphins coming from Eilat, it's because they have a huge aquarium in the sea, very interesting to visit, it's probably your last chance to see these animals in this bay.
Anyway, for someone who has never been diving in the red sea, it is still attractive. See Eilat or Aqaba, than go to Sharm or Hurghada, then go on a liveaboard to Al Ikhwan or Zabargad...
If you see pictures of sharks, turtles or dolphins coming from Eilat, it's because they have a huge aquarium in the sea, very interesting to visit, it's probably your last chance to see these animals in this bay.
Anyway, for someone who has never been diving in the red sea, it is still attractive. See Eilat or Aqaba, than go to Sharm or Hurghada, then go on a liveaboard to Al Ikhwan or Zabargad...
JBFG
Contributor
Arab Divers in Aqaba. I can't recommend them enough.
you can stay there from 30JD a night too.
I've done over 20 dives with them and they are class A++++
some of the dives that I enjoyed the most:
1) Cedar Pride Wreck
2) C-130 Wreck
3) King Abdula reef
4) Power station wall dive
5) 7 Sisters reef
I have some videos on youtube. If you are interested send me a PM and i'll send you the link.
They also have their own pool so that you lady can get her sun there. No issues with Bikinis.
you can stay there from 30JD a night too.
I've done over 20 dives with them and they are class A++++
some of the dives that I enjoyed the most:
1) Cedar Pride Wreck
2) C-130 Wreck
3) King Abdula reef
4) Power station wall dive
5) 7 Sisters reef
I have some videos on youtube. If you are interested send me a PM and i'll send you the link.
They also have their own pool so that you lady can get her sun there. No issues with Bikinis.
ontdiver
Contributor
Jordan is very safe. As in any destination, you should mindful of local customs particularly during Ramadan which in 2019 is between May 5th and June 4th.
JasmineNeedsGills
Contributor
Please do post a link. I'm thinking of doing Aqaba next spring, and was looking at Arab Divers.
JBFG
Contributor
JBFG Scuba
Arab divers is top notch. Rooms are great, full dive shop with a pool and they do tec diving too if you want
Arab divers is top notch. Rooms are great, full dive shop with a pool and they do tec diving too if you want
If the diving is important to you, rather than Eilat or Aqaba, I would go the extra mile to Taba or Dahab (even Sharm) in the Sinai. Much better diving, and better prices for hotels, food, .....and diving!
Best,
Rene
Best,
Rene
It makes no sense whatsoever to stay in Eilat/Aqaba for diving, it's enough to have a quick look at a satellite photo to understand why. Taba is slightly better (a few kms away from Eilat harbor) but the hotels and dive centers there are essentially intended for the Israeli day trips (read casinos) and are expensive.
Taba Heights (resort 20km away from Taba proper) used to be a decent option but is now almost a ghost place, except for Egyptian holidays. Nuweiba and the camps around it are also very quiet now, despite some amazing scenery and waters.
In all honesty if you make it to Eilat and are interested in diving you should go to Dahab. The cost would be minimal (bus is like 5$) if it wasn't for the Israel exit tax (30$) and Taba tax (25$). But that's peanut money if compared with the difference between diving/hotel/food prices.
Taba Heights (resort 20km away from Taba proper) used to be a decent option but is now almost a ghost place, except for Egyptian holidays. Nuweiba and the camps around it are also very quiet now, despite some amazing scenery and waters.
In all honesty if you make it to Eilat and are interested in diving you should go to Dahab. The cost would be minimal (bus is like 5$) if it wasn't for the Israel exit tax (30$) and Taba tax (25$). But that's peanut money if compared with the difference between diving/hotel/food prices.
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