Advice on Red Sea snorkelling destinations?

[rocketandroll]

Dear all


Hi, this is my first post on the forums! Be kind!

Apologies in advance if this is the wrong forum for this query, however it seemed most relevant.

I'm really into snorkelling, I've been on a few short diving courses whilst on holiday over the years, but generally prefer the freedom of underwater swiming without equipment.

I haven't got a huge budget to go too far afield, but I'm desperate to book a holiday where I can really get to see some interesting sealife (I'm trying to get into underwater photography too).

I was recomended a while back to look at the Red sea resorts as a cheap but spectacular diving/snorkeling location...


Clearly it's everyone's wish I guess... but does anyone have any advice on places a little 'off the beaten track' that might be good for snorkelling? I'd prefer not to be dodging inflatable bananas and fending off hundreds of brits abroad, and I'm happy to do some legwork to avoid it :-) I'm a strong swimmer, have been swimming since... well... er, since I was a newborn baby actually :-)


Any suggestions on resorts, locations or possibly times of year (obviously avoiding school holidays will be a good start) that I should consider would be very much appreciated.

Many thanks in advance!


Ben

[Alwassia]

Hi Ben,
here in Jeddah you can snorkel all year around, just watch out for that sun burn. Along the Saudi coast you can find many places which provide vrigin snorkleing. On place to start looking is the web site for Dream diver, Red Sea Diver and Dessert Sea Divers here in Jeddah.

You will find that the places are not as overcrowded as in Egypt.

Khaled

[rocketandroll]

Hi Ben,
here in Jeddah you can snorkel all year around, just watch out for that sun burn. Along the Saudi coast you can find many places which provide vrigin snorkleing. On place to start looking is the web site for Dream diver, Red Sea Diver and Dessert Sea Divers here in Jeddah.

You will find that the places are not as overcrowded as in Egypt.

Khaled


Hi... thanks for the help!

That sounds great, and thanks for the warning on sunburn, made that mistake once, won't do it again (it cost me my honeymoon, 3rd degree burns over 90% of my back, bed-ridden for about a week).

My only concern is.... cost :-(

Getting to the red-sea coast of Egypt is cheap as anything from the Uk because it's such a popular tourist destination... Jedah is much less well known, so I would guess the cost would be MUCH higher.... but I'll look into flight costs.

Thanks again for the advice!


Ben

[Geordie_cy]

Look into getting a rash vest - they block UV and prevent sunburn. Dinghy sailors often use them in warm climes as they prevent sunburn, don't become heavy when waterlogged and dry quickly. Cost about the same as a decent T Shirt.

[Ed Howarth]

Hi... thanks for the help!

it cost me my honeymoon, ..............., bed-ridden for about a week.



Ben

Wow, that takes some energy.:D

[Carol]

Any suggestions on resorts, locations or possibly times of year (obviously avoiding school holidays will be a good start) that I should consider would be very much appreciated.

Ben[/QUOTE]


Hi Ben,
I was in Sharm at Shark's Bay last November and the weather and seas were perfect.
I deliberately chose a hotel which was on the beach and had inflatable jetties so that the reef could easily be reached. The snorkellling there was superb!
I also went out on a Dive Boat a couple of times [avoid the snorkeller only boats - full of kids and old ladies - no adventure :-)) ] Try to do some research on the Hotel you go to - be warned - :rolleyes: the Russians have taken over many of them!
Good luck, :)
Carol

[Ralph Ellis]

Hi rocketandroll
We at Darwen Snorkelling club took thirteen of our members ages 10<72 to the Intercontinental in Sharm el Sheik last october school break,fantastic while not cheap we had access to near,middle and far reefs straight off the hotel beach as well as a short taxi ride to shark bay and elfanar to name two, in 2007 we have a list of 46 people that want to do the some venue so it cant be too bad the hotel was also fantastic

Regards Ralph

[Ralph Ellis]

PS Almost for got we also did a night snorkel which all our members went on and that was realy good too


Ralph

[northoftaynovis]

Hi! From a dive and snorkelling perspective I can highly recommend Dahab. I spent a week there in June a few years ago. A local Egyptian dive company (found on the Internet) provided the dive master (X East German professional cyclist who was superb), (oldest) landrover (in the world) and driver (Bedhuin local). Just me and them and the marine wildlife - brilliant. Stayed in a local Egyptian Hotel (a little out of town) and it was excellent and cheap. Picked up and dropped off everyday and all shore dives so snorkelling is equally possible and would be fantastic.

Obviously, with the recent terrorism issue in Dahab you may wish to give it a miss. However, the locals will be desperate for tourists to return and there is a risk ANYWHERE you go now. I would go again for sure.

Enjoy!

[rocketandroll]

Hi folks!!


Sorry for russurecting a long dead thread :-) I started this thread a few years back and FINALLY made it to the Red Sea for the first time in September.

My wife and I had a great time (well, ok, I had an amazing time and she managed to stand on a sea urchin, but that's another story).

I have to admit, despite seeing pictures and reading other people's reports I was not prepared for the Red Sea snorkelling experience :-) All the things I thought you could only sea when diving were right there just off the beach! I saw lots of the blue spotted sting rays, four or five giant moray's a couple of Lion fish and even a 6ft wingspan spotted eagle ray... all about 100ft off shore in Naama bay would you believe!! :-)

Anyway, excitement aside, I want to go back.... BUT (and it's a big but) I spent so much of the holiday angry and fuming because of the way the other tourists (and sorry to be specific but) especially the Russians, treated the reef (walking across it, feeding croisants to the fish, chasing fish, encouraging their children to catch fish) that it was almost enough to put me off ever going back.

So... my question is... where and when can I go to the Red Sea to enjoy snorkelling there without wanting the punch some ignorant moron for breaking pieces off the reef as a souvenir every five minutes? Is that an impossible dream?


I'm happy to pay a lot more money than the trip to Sharm cost in order to find a quieter and more civilised part of the coast, but I do want some advice from those who know the area as to where would be best?

Someone suggested that the Jordanian coast (what there is of it) is much quieter and less touristy because it's a much more expensive destination? Is that a good bet, or are there quieter parts of the Egyptian coast?



Many thanks in advance for your help folks!!!


Ben

[Diana S]

Hi, I discovered the Forum whilst investigating somewhere to go Diving in the Red Sea, but also a hotel with snorkelling close to the beach.
I was wondering if you ever found anywhere, Ben? I think we are looking for something similar to your requirements!!
Happy to pay more for a place with a good diving outfit as we are in our 60's and haven't dived for a couple of years. But also being able to walk into the sea and snorkel is important - but not running into people all the time!!
What was the name of the hotel you wnet to? Also, does anyone have suggestions as the best time to go in either September or October - I imagine U.K. half term is to be avoided?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Di

[Eddie Clamp]

Hi, I discovered the Forum whilst investigating somewhere to go Diving in the Red Sea, but also a hotel with snorkelling close to the beach.
I was wondering if you ever found anywhere, Ben? I think we are looking for something similar to your requirements!!
Happy to pay more for a place with a good diving outfit as we are in our 60's and haven't dived for a couple of years. But also being able to walk into the sea and snorkel is important - but not running into people all the time!!
What was the name of the hotel you wnet to? Also, does anyone have suggestions as the best time to go in either September or October - I imagine U.K. half term is to be avoided?
Thanks in advance for any advice.
Di

Loads of advice in our BSAC Travel section to be viewed here: http://www.bsac.com/findit.asp?cat=tripreports&section=0001000100150047&view=list&glat=&glng=&gzoom=&keyword=Egypt&subcat=0001300000010002&submit.x=38&submit.y=14

Albeit much of it is for divers not so much for snorkelling :o

One of my reports from Dahab is also there and details our stay at the Tropitel Dahab Oasis Hotel. Had a nice jetty to snorkel off but there was a question mark over the food in the hotel IMHO.

[Diana S]

Many thanks for the advice - will check out the link you gave me.

[goldenoriel]

Hi Ben,

I worked as a Kids' Club Suprvisor at one of those big busy, full-of-russians-hotels in Sharm el Sheikh for 3 months a few years ago, so I quite understand that you want to avoid all that... Sharm also has no culture at all. Thed old town is really used as digs for all the hotel staff (all male) that work there only for the tourist season, then go back to Cairo or Alexandria to their regular jobs.

I'm also planning to go to the Red Sea, but just for snorkelling, as I'm not allowed to dive for medical reasons.

I'm going to avoid Sharm like a pit of rattlesnakes, but I remember going briefly to Dahab. The Blue hole that I snokelled in, was like something out of a Jacques Cousteau documentary. Cliffs of coral in an infinity of colours and billions of different fish.

Look ot for the Hump-headed Wrasse. They look like an oversized parrot fish, with a deep indentation on their forheads and are really quite ugly - all head, no body... They are harmless, though look pretty scary the first time you see one as they can be as big as 2mt long!
They are very curious and will follow you by swimmimng at an angle to watch you.

Dahab is quite quiet and there aren't that many hotels.

I'm planning to go on my own (quite daunting) towards the middle of september.
Let me know when you're planning to go...

Chiara

[Mseenee]

Hi Ben,

Did you make it to Egypt for a 2nd time? It would be great to hear your experiences. I've been to Nabq, Sharm and stayed in Jaz Mirabel Park Hotel. Highly recommended aand some fab snorkelling.

We're looking to go again this year but this time to Marsa Alam...Am still researching...

Thanks