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Back to Egypt (And Loving It)

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Egypt

Egypt’s recent troubles are having a devastating effect on tourism. After watching daily news reports on TV, reading the national newspapers and surfing the web for more information it is easy to see why Foreign Offices across the globe are warning against all but necessary travel to Egypt; airlines are reducing the number of flights or, in extreme cases, cancelling all flights to the country. But are these measures really necessary – or even justified? After all, the troubles are confined to small pockets in some cities and some parts of the Sinai Peninsula. Southern regions of the country remain peaceful, remote and unaffected by the unrest of the revolutions.

Egypt

As an avid supporter of Egyptian tourism and a Red Sea veteran, with over 20 diving tours to date, you can imagine my surprise when, on a recent flight to Egypt in the April school holiday, I got up to stretch my legs and found many empty seats. April marks the start of the holiday season here in the UK and as such this would normally be one of the busiest periods of the year with holiday makers bustling to part with their hard earned cash to reach the diving capital of the world.

EgyptIt is no secret that divers have for decades classed Egypt’s Red Sea as their second home. It’s a safe bet that any diver with over 50 dives in their log book would more than likely have registered half of them in one of the many resorts dotted along the Sinai’s coast.

Most surprising, however, was the fact that when we landed at Marsa Alam International Airport we noticed that our plane was the only plane on the tarmac. As soon as we had disembarked and were in the arrivals terminal our group of six managed to purchase the necessary visas and pass through immigration and the baggage hall in record time. Security at the airport was, as usual, evident but relaxed. There are, as you would expect, armed guards but those can be found at every airport across the world.

Egypt

EgyptOnce out of the terminal we were warmly greeted by our tour Rep and driver and then it was all aboard the minibus for the two hour scenic journey to our destination, Red Sea Diving Safari’s eco village Marsa Nakari.  With the Red Sea mountains to the right and the Red Sea itself to our left we headed south. I should point out that at no time did we have, or was it necessary for us to have, an armed guard or escort. We passed many large hotels standing empty and construction sites, with partially built structures, lying idle. Our driver told us that the Egyptian Tourist Board can no longer gauge the holiday seasons. Before the troubles began it was possible to accurately estimate how many guests would arrive at any one time; now there’s just a trickle of guests arriving each month. This is a far cry from the thousands of travellers from around the world who would have descended on this land of historical and natural beauty every week.

The quietness of the area became even more obvious when we reached our holiday destination Marsa Nakari. This particular eco village can cater for 160 guests, and offers every conceivable diving adventure possible; truck dives, day boat diving, zodiac dives, shore dives on its outstanding house reef as well as more demanding technical dives. However, because of Egypt’s troubles and international concern for the safety of travellers to the country, our group of six divers were, for part of the week, the only guests on site.

EgyptWe had a fantastic time: the service was second to none, the food was delicious and plentiful and the diving out of this world. I suppose the one positive to come out of all of the uncertainty, is that the reefs have had time to rejuvenate and are absolutely teeming with marine life. Also, divers aren’t tripping over each other while trying to take those all important shots of a clownfish or flamboyant nudibranch. I imagine that the diving here is now much like it once was back in the 1980s with just a few divers exploring an unknown reef at their leisure. This resonates along the entire length of the Red Sea. No longer are the reefs a victim of their own success – bleached white, damaged by fins or overcrowded with divers. They are, once again, vibrant, colourful, living underwater landscapes.

EgyptEgyptUnlike other hotel complexes Marsa Nakari isn’t surrounded by a fence and there are no security guards patrolling its perimeter. In fact the whole Egyptian population could have popped in at any time of day or night for a cup of coffee and a slice of cake and yet not once did I feel threatened or afraid for my, my wife’s or our fellow holidaymaker’s safety. We enjoyed truck dives, visiting deserted beaches and diving with fan tail rays and guitar sharks. We took advantage of the unlimited diving on offer, squeezing in as many dives as possible throughout the week. And at the end of the stay a unanimous vote by the four novice divers in our group revealed that they would return in the very near future.

So why are you staying away from the Red Sea? I couldn’t say, but while you sit at home contemplating the answer, I will be busy booking my next trip so that I can, once again very soon, enjoy the warmth, hospitality and superb diving that this fascinating country, with its warm and hospitable people, has to offer.

Fancy winning a dive holiday to Marsa Nakari in the Red Sea? Scubaverse.com has teamed up with Oonasdivers and Red Sea Diving Safaris to give one lucky diver the chance to do just that! To enter this awesome competition, click here.

To find out more about Patrick visit www.exclusivelyscuba.co.uk.

Patrick Shier is an experienced diver who is a regular contributor to both UK and international SCUBA diving magazines. He is also the author of the UK Dive Guide, which promotes diving in the UK and encourages newly qualified divers to discover the delights of diving in UK waters. Patrick’s passion for the marine environment is not limited to the UK; he has dived, and photographed, many superb dive sites around the world including Samoa, Grenada, Mozambique, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Malta and the Red Sea.

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GEAR REVIEW: JOBY SeaPal Underwater Housing for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy (Watch Video)

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In a video shot exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman reviews the JOBY SeaPal underwater housing for iPhone and Samsung Galaxy phones.

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Four opportunities to go pro in 2024 with Dive Friends Bonaire

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Dive Friends teaches the Instructor Development Course (IDC) several times a year to students who are eager to share their passion for diving with the world.

Dive Friends is known for the personal approach throughout the course. Their in-house course director will lead the students through every essential step, mentoring them to achieve their fullest potential as a dive instructor.

Applications for the following IDC start dates are now open:

  • 12 April
  • 5 July,
  • 20 September
  • 29 November

Partnership with Casita Palma

If the student opts for the IDC-Deluxe or IDC-Supreme package, their accommodation will be arranged for them at Casita Palma. This small and quiet resort is within walking distance from Dive Friends Bonaire’s main dive shop location and has everything you need to relax after an intense day of IDC training. Breakfast is included, so the student will always be fuelled and ready for their day.

Contact Dive Friends Bonaire’s Course Director Eddy for more information: coursedirector@divefriendsbonaire.com.

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Experience the Red Sea in May with Bella Eriny Liveaboard! As the weather warms up, there’s no better time to dive into the crystal clear waters of the Red Sea. Join us on Bella Eriny, your premier choice for Red Sea liveaboards, this May for an unforgettable underwater adventure. Explore vibrant marine life and stunning coral reefs Enjoy comfortable accommodation in our spacious cabins Savor delicious meals prepared by our onboard chef Benefit from the expertise of our professional dive guides Visit our website for more information and to secure your spot: www.scubatravel.com/BellaEriny or call 01483 411590 More Less

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