Sharm el sheikh info please????

[john anderson]

Hi guys!!
I'm travelling to Sharm on Sept 18th for a week and I'm staying at the dive inn resort. I would like any information regarding the resort , local dive sites , wrecks etc. and any general hints and tips about the area and holidaying there in general.
I would also like to know if my BSAC self cert. medical thingy majig will be acceptable out there or will I need a real diver medical before I go???
Thanx in advance...........
John Anderson (BSAC Dive Leader)

[Steve Walker]

Hi guys!!
I'm travelling to Sharm on Sept 18th for a week and I'm staying at the dive inn resort. I would like any information regarding the resort , local dive sites , wrecks etc. and any general hints and tips about the area and holidaying there in general.
I would also like to know if my BSAC self cert. medical thingy majig will be acceptable out there or will I need a real diver medical before I go???
Thanx in advance...........
John Anderson (BSAC Dive Leader)

I didn't have any problems with the self-cert, and I don't think anyone else would either. As long as you've got some recent-ish dive in (ie within the last 6 months) then there's no problems, if you haven't dived for a while they may charge you for a check-out dive. I managed to get DIN fitting tanks which was a pleasant surprise. Food is cheap and I liked it, beers is not expensive but wine is surprisingly so!


If you're going to be in Na'ama bay, the modern bit of Sharm, it's small enough that you can walk from one end to the other in about 20mins, it's not even far from the airport. "Old town" Sharm is a bit busier and a little further from the airport

From my experiences, make sure when you get there you've got small denomination notes as everybody expects tips, don't be bullied by the ones who demand tips while just standing around while someone else is doing soething (airport is worst for that); get your visa in advance, think it takes about a month;
be prepared to be hasseled every five metres you walk along the street by salesmen.

As for sites and wrecks etc, there's tons of stuff on company and personal websites, see random link
HTH
Steve

[Tony Dwyer]

Hi guys!!
I'm travelling to Sharm on Sept 18th for a week and I'm staying at the dive inn resort. I would like any information regarding the resort , local dive sites , wrecks etc. and any general hints and tips about the area and holidaying there in general.
I would also like to know if my BSAC self cert. medical thingy majig will be acceptable out there or will I need a real diver medical before I go???
Thanx in advance...........
John Anderson (BSAC Dive Leader)

I don't know the resort you will be staying at, but I have been to Sharm el Sheikh on many occasions.

You won't need a medical unless there's something obviously wrong with you. You will probably be asked to sign a medical statement/disclaimer by the dive operation, most likely the PADI one. Take your qualification book and copy of your self cert form with you and your BSAC cert card if you have one.

Your first dive will most probably be a check-out to satisfy the dive operator that you are basically competent. Don't get upset about being asked to do this, Sharm gets 1000's of total planks every year!

There are lots of good dive sites reachable by the day boats. I quite like Ras Katy. On the 2nd or 3rd day, the Straits of Tiran will probably be suggested. There are several reefs across the straits (Woodhouse, Jackson etc). Dives there can be spectacular. They are usually slow drifts along deep walls. The go down a LONG way! Lots of wild life.

The Dunraven wreck is worth a visit. This 100 year old wreck is upside down at 25/33 mtrs.

Be sure to go to Ras Mohammed. Spectacular wall dives with the possibility of seeing large fish. At Ras Mohammed are Shark & Yolanda Reefs, which are next to each other seperated by a sandy plateau. Yolanda Reef is named after wreck that sank there. The Yolanda was carrying a cargo of plumbing stuff. There are toilets there!

You might fancy a trip out to the 'Thistlegorm', which is north up the Suez side of the Red Sea. It will be an early start (4:00 am) and a long day, but can be worth it if the wreck is not too crowded. It will be a deepish (30 mtrs) squarish profile dive. Supplements are charged for the trip as it's a long hike (fuel!) from Naama Bay.

Most dive boats lay on lunch and cold drinks. You will pay a small charge, but it's well worth it.

Take simple spares and a toolkit with you, include O rings, spare mouthpiece, mask strap, fin straps. I always take my own weighbelt (which locks securely). Weights and cylinders will be provided.

Make sure that you drink lots of water (bottled only) as you will get dehydrated very quickly otherwise. Buy your water at any of the supermarkets. Don't expect Tesco's! If you buy it at the hotel, you will pay a premium. Make sure that ALL the bottles you buy are properly sealed.

**BIG TIP** Brush your teeth with bottled water ONLY - under no circumstances use tap water! Regardless of what you may be told about the hotels water being safe.

I take a Travellers Medical Emergency Pack with me whenever I go abroad. This included dressings, needles and an intravenous set. Probably not necessary in Naama Bay as there are pharmacies, but it might be useful. It was once when one of our party contracted Amoebic Disentry - very nasty!
As well as the sealed kit, I take Imodium, aspirin and a basic first aid kit. I also take the highest factor sunblock I can find (30+) as I burn very easily.

Take as little clothing as you can get away with. Shorts are the order of the day at most places in the evening. During the day I wear very light long cotton trousers when walking about and my arms and shoulders are also covered. I also wear a floppy hat!
On the boat it's swimming shorts and a T shirt, but I stay out of the sun. Watch out for reflected UV (off the sea) it can still get you.

While on the boats, you will not wear shoes, but go barefooted. The crews usually live on the boats and they are regarded as homes.

Naama Bay has lots of places to eat and drink, most are pretty good. Local, international (even Mongolian) quisine is on offer. There is a Macdonalds, KFC and even Pizza Hut, if that's your fancy. They are good value. The Pizza Hut is much frequented by locals. There are also the Hard Rock Cafe and Planet Hollywood which cost outrageously and frankly in my opinion are a waste of time. You however, might feel otherwise.

There are some bars that sell British beer, but mostly you will be offered local lager. The local 'Stella' (not to be confused with the stuff you buy here!) is total kack, the so called 'Stella Import' is pretty much the same. I reckon it's the same booze with a different label. Sakara beer is OK, but it costs more.

Make sure that you visit the Camel Bar in Naama Bay. Great atmosphere and cheap grub, especially peanuts (which are free).

If you do ANY shopping, other than the supermarkets, remember you must HAGGLE. Any price that an Egyptian shopkeeper will agree to sell at, still makes them a healthy profit. Their first offer will be outrageous, but they can expect to catch a mug every so often.

Take a camera! If you have an underwater one, use it!

Enjoy your holiday.

regards

Tony

[john anderson]

Thanx for the response guys!
One more question though pls.
What type of wetsuit(mm thick etc.) should I take for Sharm in Sept??? (presuming the waters pretty warm then!)
Many thanx
John Ando

[john anderson]

Thanx for the response guys!
One more question though pls.
What type of wetsuit(mm thick etc.) should I take for Sharm in Sept??? (presuming the waters pretty warm then!)
Many thanx
John Ando

[Tony Dwyer]

Thanx for the response guys!
One more question though pls.
What type of wetsuit(mm thick etc.) should I take for Sharm in Sept??? (presuming the waters pretty warm then!)
Many thanx
John Ando

I generally use a 3 mm full body wetsuit. I've never been cold. But then I'm not small! A skin suit will not be adequate at depth. I know others that dive in 3 mm shorties though.

I prefer a full body suit as overall protection. Last year in Dubai, someone very close to me was badly stung by a jellyfish that she did not see drifting into her while she was on the descent line. She still has the scars on her arms. Unfortunately she had left off the detachable arms of her wet suit.

[Steve Walker]

Thanx for the response guys!
One more question though pls.
What type of wetsuit(mm thick etc.) should I take for Sharm in Sept??? (presuming the waters pretty warm then!)
Many thanx
John Ando

I used a shortie 5mm in December, it was fine. wind chill on deck was sometimes a little bit cool though.
Cheers

[Vero Heyes]

Thanx for the response guys!
One more question though pls.
What type of wetsuit(mm thick etc.) should I take for Sharm in Sept??? (presuming the waters pretty warm then!)
Many thanx
John Ando

You may have your answer already but in September and October the water should be the warmest in the high 20's celsius or mid '80s F.

I have dived Sharm in October with a full length 3 mm steamer which was absolutely fine even on long dives (I am a photographer and basically don't fin hard anywhere either). During the winter and early spring, the water is cooler, low 20's C, and a 5 or 7 mm semi-dry is to be considered, I have seen some wearing thin hoods then too, though I did not feel the need myself.

On the matter of shortie or full body, I can only endorse a previous comment. Both will be adequate, however, I would recommend a full body suit to protect against accidental brush with fire coral, of which there is plenty about, any rusty bits of wreck, also covered in fire coral, a brush with lion fish on night dives can give more than a serious jolt, and all the teaming microscopic critters which have only one purpose, to get lunching on your tender exposed parts! I have a story of a guy in our group diving in a shortie who to this day does not know what happened to him but came out of a dive with a knee the size of a melon and had to be hospitalised for a couple of days. He recovered quickly, but missed 3 days of seriously good diving. Better safe than sorry!

Enjoy!

Vero