Diving Holiday to Safaga, Egypt
This last August a group of divers, both current and old Seadragons, went on a diving holiday together! Nine of us decided to cross the Mediterranean Sea and head further south towards Safaga, Egypt. Safaga is a fairly small town south of Hurghada, where you can find the nearest airport. It is less touristic than the more well-known dive destinations in Egypt, such as Sharm el Sheikh or Marsa Alam.
We had booked our holiday through Diving World, who took care of arranging our flights, airport transfers and accommodation. We stayed at the Nemo Dive Club and Hotel, which is owned by a Belgian couple called Sofie and Bert. The hotel is small and has its private beach and pool, where we spent most of our late afternoons sipping iced coffee and (very cheap) cocktails. All meals were included, which was great: no more thinking about what to cook or where to eat! All we had to focus on was the dives and having fun!
The hotel has its own dive school, managed by Mostafa. The school has its own boat called ‘The Dory’ (you see the theme here?), which takes you out to sea to explore the beautiful reefs in the area. Every morning we were expected on the boat in the harbor at 8:30. After quickly setting up our gear, we had plenty of time to relax on the upper decks while sailing to our first dive destination of the day. The boat provides plenty of shade, bean bags and couches, so more than enough opportunities to take a nap, chill, or play some games together. Or to try and spot dolphins!
Most days we did three dives, usually at 2 different sites, with a max depth of around 30-35 meters (if certified). The reefs in the area are great and the diving conditions are perfect. Super clear water, warm temperatures and plenty of life! We saw many (many) clown fish, anemones, blue-spotted rays, and moray eels on each dive, but also a Napoleon wrasse, snake eel, and a torpedo ray. At one site, the coral stacked almost two meters high, and diving over it was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had as a diver. In between dives we had a delicious lunch, went snorkeling, jumping of the boat or simply hung around talking to each other and having a good time. Of course we also spent a lot of time determining all the creatures we had spotted underwater!
Most days we did three dives, usually at 2 different sites, with a max depth of around 30-35 meters (if certified). The reefs in the area are great and the diving conditions are perfect. Super clear water, warm temperatures and plenty of life! We saw many (many) clown fish, anemones, blue-spotted rays, and moray eels on each dive, but also a Napoleon wrasse, snake eel, and a torpedo ray. At one site, the coral stacked almost two meters high, and diving over it was one of the coolest experiences I’ve had as a diver. In between dives we had a delicious lunch, went snorkeling, jumping of the boat or simply hung around talking to each other and having a good time. Of course we also spent a lot of time determining all the creatures we had spotted underwater!
Besides all the diving, a group of us also took a day trip to the city of Luxor, to explore some of the ancient history that makes Egypt so special. Luxor, formerly known as the city of Thebe, is known for some of the most and oldest Ancient Egyptian sites. It is often described as the world’s greatest open-air museum! Here you can find the Karnak Temple, the largest religious building ever constructed, as well as the Valley of the Kings, which includes the tomb of pharaoh Tutankhamun, and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut. The sites are awe-inspiring, and despite the 46 degree weather (!), we had an amazing time. Thankfully we had a short boat ride on the river Nile to cool down for a bit!
The 10 days we spent in Safaga flew by way too quickly, and before we knew it, it was already time to go home. Back in the cold of Dutch autumn, you can rest assured we are still dreaming of the Red Sea, its warm waters and all its beauty!
