Hurghada (Red Sea)

We'll be in Hurghada, Egypt for a week this October. Our tentative plan is
to do 3 or 4 days of 2-tank diving from a shore-based operation. I have a
few questions:

1) Is Ras Mohamed accessible from Hurghada? (How far is it by boat?)

2) Do you have any recommendations on dive centers or tips on which to
avoid?

3) Should we trust the rental gear?

We are visiting other places after Hughada, so we're unsure how much gear we
want to bring. If we bring a BCD, is the regulator we rent likely to have
the right sized hose connector? One idea we've had is to bring our gear,
then ship it home after we're finished diving.

Tips are greatly appreciated.

-Brien

The water is cold and generally the rental suit is not enough. If you want
to bring something with you bring your regulator but not your BCD.

"Brien" <brienSpam@Spam.rand.org> a écrit dans le message de news:
e33l91$o8e$1@sm-news1.rand.org...
> We'll be in Hurghada, Egypt for a week this October. Our tentative plan
> is to do 3 or 4 days of 2-tank diving from a shore-based operation. I
> have a few questions:
>
> 1) Is Ras Mohamed accessible from Hurghada? (How far is it by boat?)
>
> 2) Do you have any recommendations on dive centers or tips on which to
> avoid?
>
> 3) Should we trust the rental gear?
>
> We are visiting other places after Hughada, so we're unsure how much gear
> we want to bring. If we bring a BCD, is the regulator we rent likely to
> have the right sized hose connector? One idea we've had is to bring our
> gear, then ship it home after we're finished diving.
>
> Tips are greatly appreciated.
>
> -Brien
>

Brien a écrit :
>
> We'll be in Hurghada, Egypt for a week this October. Our tentative plan is
> to do 3 or 4 days of 2-tank diving from a shore-based operation. I have a
> few questions:
>
> 1) Is Ras Mohamed accessible from Hurghada? (How far is it by boat?)
>
> 2) Do you have any recommendations on dive centers or tips on which to
> avoid?
>
> 3) Should we trust the rental gear?
>
> We are visiting other places after Hughada, so we're unsure how much gear we
> want to bring. If we bring a BCD, is the regulator we rent likely to have
> the right sized hose connector? One idea we've had is to bring our gear,
> then ship it home after we're finished diving.
>
> Tips are greatly appreciated.
>
> -Brien

Some clubs in Hurghada can organize a day-trip to Ras Mohamed, but
it's rather expensive... In October, the journey will be fair.
The distance is about 70 kilometers.
There is also a ferry between Hurghada and Sharm el Sheik, but the
quality of service can change a lot, without any reasons ...

I always travel with my own equipment, but the rental material does'nt
look better or worse than in many other countries ...

Hope that help,

Benoît.

Brien,

The dive sites accessible from Hurghada already require a fairly long
boat ride, so I am not sure it makes sense to dive Ras Mohammad from
Hurghada. However, you may want to dive the wreck Thistlegorm, which is
really spectacular (advanced divers only, due to crazy current). The
sites around Hurghada are actually surprisingly good, and in my
opinion, not that much different from Ras Mohammad.
As for gear, the quality is usually very good, since the shops
obviously cater to Europeans and not locals. But, of course you get
what you pay for! If you decide to go to Sharm El Sheik to dive Ras
Mohammad, you may want to avoid Anemone Divers, as the are known for
being the only company that will take you to the outer reefs without
requiring one day of local diving first. IT IS indeed a silly rule, but
these guys put 30 divers on a big boat with one dive guide, and really
care only about making money. An example: My buddy ran out of air, but
I was allowed to stay down. Eventually, I was the only one left, even
the guide had surfaced. My buddy later told me that they were about to
leave when he told them I was still down there. So, don't worry about
the gear, worry about the dive operator.

Have a good trip,

Mads

On Sun, 30 Apr 2006 17:44:51 -0700, "Brien" <brienSpam@Spam.rand.org>
wrote:

>I forgot to include one more question. Do I need to get a visa in advance
>in order to dive Ras Mohamed? Any tips on getting one?

appears to depend upon your nationality

http://www.rasmohamed.com/rasita12b2.html

appears to be a good start


--
refillable drysuit talc bag $10.95 ppd
http://www.underwaterusa.com

"Brien" <brienSpam@Spam.rand.org> schreef in bericht
news:e33l91$o8e$1@sm-news1.rand.org...
> We'll be in Hurghada, Egypt for a week this October. Our tentative plan
> is to do 3 or 4 days of 2-tank diving from a shore-based operation. I
> have a few questions:
>
> 1) Is Ras Mohamed accessible from Hurghada? (How far is it by boat?)
>
> 2) Do you have any recommendations on dive centers or tips on which to
> avoid?
>
> 3) Should we trust the rental gear?
>
> We are visiting other places after Hughada, so we're unsure how much gear
> we want to bring. If we bring a BCD, is the regulator we rent likely to
> have the right sized hose connector? One idea we've had is to bring our
> gear, then ship it home after we're finished diving.
>
> Tips are greatly appreciated.
>
> -Brien
Lovely
Hurghada is quite crowded, there are less crowded places to the
South..........
But, Hurghada can be nice too.
Ras Mohamed would be a quite long boatride from Hurghada, and I think it
will be difficult to find a boat that is willing to take you there. They
have an easier job catering divers at the local dive spots.
We have very good experiences with Greenforce (www.greenforce.be) but they
only do daytrips in Hurghada when they are not on a safari.
No doubt you can contact them and ask about other dive operators if they are
not day tripping in HRG and they'll give you some good advice.
We alway carry our own gear, and from what I've seen on the boats, the
equipment is looking good. Maybe you want to take your own reg and computer.
Water temp in October should still be a nice 24-25 degrees C.
Have a nice time!
Leo

In message <e33l91$o8e$1@sm-news1.rand.org>
"Brien" <brienSpam@Spam.rand.org> wrote:

> We'll be in Hurghada, Egypt for a week this October. Our tentative plan is
> to do 3 or 4 days of 2-tank diving from a shore-based operation. I have a
> few questions:
>
> 1) Is Ras Mohamed accessible from Hurghada? (How far is it by boat?)
>
I would say its impractical on a day boat

> 2) Do you have any recommendations on dive centers or tips on which to
> avoid?
Emperor Divers are good - I have dived with them and they also have a
good repurarion

> 3) Should we trust the rental gear?
From a good place - yes

Regards

Rocky


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