Camel Rides at the
Pyramids of Giza
"The trip was wonderful - I have never been on a trip where everything worked out so well. It was even better than I had ever dreamed! I had never traveled alone before so I was a little hesitant - especially about the diving part. But there was no need for worry. Everyone made me feel very welcome and comfortable and I felt included in all events."
-Christine Janson
Palm Desert, California
Vibrant Soft Corals
in the Red Sea
"You could change the name of your company to "Learning Through Seamless Travel" because that's how every transfer and component transpired. All your suggestions re: options proved right on target as well. Our trips to Abu Simbel, the Nile Cruise and Alexandria rounded out the Red Sea liveaboard, which by itself, lived up to its billing a thousand-fold. My notebook and memory card have enough notes and pix to fill a dozen
columns."
-Yvonne Lanelli
Adventure Travel Writer
Alto, New Mexico
| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS |
For a printable PDF version of our FAQ's please click here: Egypt & Red Sea Diving Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ's) Q. What are the benefits of taking a trip to Egypt as a diver? A. Not only are you visiting a country filled with National treasures, including one of the Seven Wonders of the World, but also you will have the opportunity to sail along the Nile visiting ancient temples in Aswan, Edfu, Esna & Luxor. Picture yourself standing in the shadow of the Great Pyramids of Giza or entering the spell binding tomb of King Tutankhamun. Then a short drive, flight, or ferry takes you to an underworld aquarium where you will swim up close with the most wonderful undersea creatures that you can imagine. With its year-round sunshine, the Red Sea is the ideal place to enjoy the sport of scuba diving. The underwater scenery is rich with Coral-covered reefs, famous dive sites such as Ras Mohammed and Elphinstone and Historic wrecks, including the Thistlegorm. You will see exotic marine life in their own environment including turtles, dolphins, soft and hard corals and reef fish of every size, shape, and color. Q. Is it safe to travel to Egypt A. The Egyptian people remain very friendly toward foreign visitors. Few incidences of violence and terrorist activities have been reported in recent years making Egypt as safe as any place as a holiday destination. Even in recent years with the higher levels of awareness of terrorist activities in the middle-east acts of aggression have not increased in Egypt toward western nationalities. The UK foreign Office and the US State Department currently have no warnings posted advising UK or U.S. Citizens against travel to Egypt. Around eight million tourists enjoy trouble free holidays in Egypt every year, so you shouldn't be intimidated by the events of terrorism in other countries. Travel in Egypt is as easy and as safe as it can possibly be, and there will always be friendly Egyptian people anxious to make your holiday a safe and memorable experience. For updated information check with your embassy before traveling to Egypt or any other foreign country. Q. What is the flight time and what is the best airline to use? A. EgyptAir and Delta Airlines offer non-stop flights from New York’s JFK International Airport to Cairo. The flight time is approximately 10 hours. Flights can be booked through Europe using Lufthansa, Air France, and Alitalia Airlines. Domestic flights within Egypt are on EgyptAir. Q. Are the any special rules for entering Egypt? Passports must be valid for six months. You will need a full entry visa which you will receive at the airport from a representative from our Cairo office when you pass through customs. Q. Do I need any special vaccinations? A. No compulsory vaccinations are required for travel to Egypt but Hepatitis A, Polio, Typhoid, and Tetanus are recommended. There are plenty of chemists and dentists in Egypt and most resorts have a recompression chamber not too far away. We strongly recommend that you obtain comprehensive travel and medical insurance before travelling. You should check for any exclusion and that your policy covers you for the activities you want to undertake. Q. What is your advice on malaria? A. Egypt is a desert climate and Malaria is present in some areas of the Nile Valley and therefore cannot be discounted. We suggest you follow your doctor's advice regarding Malaria tablets. Please note some prophylactic Malaria medications are a contraindication to diving. We also recommend that you use anti-mosquito spray on your arms and legs before going out at night. Most of the resort hotels “fog” for mosquitoes at dusk. Along the Red Sea coast there are no recorded cases of malaria. Q. What is the electrical system in Egypt?
Q. Is there crime in Egypt A. The incidence of crime is very low in Egypt yet occasional incidents of petty theft do take place once in a while. Tourists should not leave their valuables, documents, jewelry and cash in their hotel rooms during their absence. Use safety deposit boxes if available and exercise caution as you would anywhere. Q. What's the Dress Code for Travelers in Egypt? A. Egypt is an Arab country and although much less observant in Muslim traditions of dress than some of the other Arab states, visitors should try to respect their customs. Many Egyptian women no longer abide by the Islamic custom of wearing a veil, especially among the younger generation and in larger cities. In recent years Western dress has become very fashionable in most parts of Egypt. In the hotter months loose cotton clothing is the most comfortable thing to wear. If you burn easily it is wise to cover all exposed skin when out in the sun. A hat or scarf to cover your head is essential to protect you from the heat. A good pair of sunglasses will protect your eyes from the glare and it is usually a good idea to have a spare pair because these are easily lost. Comfortable shoes are a must if touring the antiquities. Shorts, short skirts and bare shoulders are not allowed while visiting mosques and churches. It is advisable to keep shorts and sleeveless dresses for boats, beaches and pools and dress conservatively when in the towns and cities away from the resort areas. Q. Are there any special customs that should be observed in Egypt? A. Egypt is a conservative society and visitors should respect local customs and sensitivities. Religious customs should be recognized, particularly during the month of Ramadan when eating, drinking and smoking during daylight hours is forbidden in the Muslim culture. Guests should be discreet or choose to partake in the custom themselves when out and about. Photography of military installations is prohibited. The captain and the crew of Red Sea dive boats are Egyptian and by local custom shoes are not allowed to be worn when on a dive boats in the Red Sea. Q. What is the Local Time Zone in Egypt? A. Egypt is two hours ahead Greenwich Mean Time (GMT +2) and seven hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time (US EST + 7) and adheres to the daylight savings time (+1 hour) from the last Friday in April until the last Friday in September. (In 2008, due to Ramadan, summer daylight savings time will end on the last Friday of August). Q. What type of food is available in Egypt? A. Egypt is a meeting point between Africa, Europe and Asia and this meeting point is clearly reflected in her different dishes - and yes McDonalds, Pizza Hut and KFC have made an appearance recently. Still there is something very Egyptian going though the diversity of the local cuisine with roots back to Ancient Egypt. In the villages in the Luxor area you'll see the traditional round sun bread (Aysh Shamse) and in the Tombs of the Nobles or the Royal Tombs you will find depictions of the same bread painted on the walls. The range of food in Egypt is very wide and cosmopolitan. Mostly you'll find dishes are a cross between Middle-Eastern and Mediterranean cuisine. The traditional Egyptian breakfast is 'fool' which is a kind of bean stew and extremely filling, but larger hotels and liveaboards will offer a buffet breakfast with just about anything you could possibly imagine, including a wide range of breads and cakes. Pork is rarely seen in Egypt as it is considered unclean by Muslims. Bread accompanies every meal and there are many types of breads in different regions. The common 'Aysh balady' or local Egyptian bread is an unleavened circle of coarse dough a little like pita bread. In general Egyptian food is a pleasant surprise for most visitors and with a wide variety of dishes to suit vegetarians. It is advisable to avoid tap water. Always drink from properly sealed drinking water and beverages. Always eat freshly prepared food and avoid raw, cut street side fruit stalls. Generally, in the resorts and on the liveaboard dive boats salads are rinsed with filtered or bottled water and are safe to eat. Q. Is alcohol available in Egypt? A. Beer was as basic as bread in ancient Egypt and the beer of today will most likely surprise many. Egyptian wine was also the favorite wine throughout the Roman Empire. Traditional Muslims don't drink alcohol although they are tolerant of visitors drinking in moderation. Alcoholic drinks are usually confined to the bars of larger hotels and restaurants and onboard the liveaboards. The local beer is Stella or Sakkara, and is readily available in many places. There are several types of reasonable Egyptian wines. Imported beers, wines and liquor are expensive. Q. Can I take duty free goods into Egypt? A. Guests arriving in Egypt do not have to pay customs duty on 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200g tobacco; alcoholic beverages up to 1 liter; perfume for personal use and 1 liter of eau de cologne; and goods for consumption to the value of LE 100. A further duty free allowance of up to three (3) liters of alcoholic beverage can be purchased from the Duty Free shops within Egypt within 48 hours of arrival. Prohibited items include narcotics and drugs. Q. How do I pay for things in Egypt? A. Local currency during your land tour in Egypt is in Egyptian Pounds. You can pay by Visa / MasterCard (billed in Egyptian Pounds) or draw cash from the ATMs and exchange currency at the local banks that are located in most major hotels. Dive operators at Red Sea resort locations such as Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada operate on the Euro. Dive charters, gear rentals, park fees and dive shop purchases at Red Sea resort locations and on Red Sea liveaboards boats are in Euros. Currency Exchange Rates: Egyptian Pound or LE: $1.00 = 5.4 LE. Euro: $1.00=$1.6 Euros (approx as of July 1, 2008). Note: Tour packages purchased through our company are priced in US dollars and include the dive charters as specified in the highlights of each tour program. Q. How much should I tip for services in Egypt? A. For tours, guides and drivers gratuities are left entirely to your discretion. Basic tips are not included in the price of land tours or diving services. Tips are a major portion of income for many Egyptians working in tourism. While any amount is appreciated, tips often range from 5% to 10% of meals or trip costs and are to be split among those who provided the service. Tipping (baksheesh) is considered a way of life in Egypt. You should keep plenty of small notes on you at all times. Again, the amount of tip is entirely up to the individual and how much you value the service you had. As a general rule a tip of 5 to 10 Egyptian pounds is usually acceptable. This is a small amount to the tourist but is often a large portion of income to an Egyptian. Egyptians usually have large extended families to support on very little money. Nearly everyone who offers services expect some form of tip including hotel staff, taxi drivers, shopkeepers and ‘bohabs’ (guards) at the tourist sites. Our company will provide you with a comprehensive tipping guide with your tour program. Q. What's Egypt's nightlife like? A. There are bars and even clubs in the larger hotels along your land tour of Egypt. In large Red Sea resort cities like Sharm El Sheikh and Hurghada there is an array of bars, discos, restaurants and shops. Souks (street markets) come alive at night selling Egyptian produce such as gold, silver, spices, cotton, leather and countless Pharonic trinkets. Be prepared to barter! In the quieter resorts there are more limited number of restaurants and bars and in Port Ghalib there are no facilities outside the hotel, however, the new Port Ghalib marina is developing the Corniche by the marina. Q. What’s the diving like in Egypt? A. The Egyptian Red Sea offers some of the world's best diving with superb visibility, countless varieties of hard and soft coral, and incredibly diverse underwater topography, with spectacular wall and wreck dives. The Red Sea has an abundant and diverse fish life including various types of grouper, stingray, parrotfish, angelfish, butterfly fish and turtles. The Red Sea is also the seasonal home to Whale Sharks, Manta Rays and a large variety of Sharks. The comfortable water temperature means that diving is popular year-round, but guests should note that outside temperatures can reach 106° F in July and August. Q. When is the best time of year to dive in Egypt? A. Apart from the Mediterranean coast Egypt experiences a desert climate, which is hot and dry in summer and warm and dry in Winter. The Red Sea diving season is year-round with visibility averaging 100 feet. Water temperatures range from 70º F in the winter months to 88º F in summer. Divers can use 3mm suits during late spring, summer and early autumn. During winter divers usually bring a 5-7mm two-piece suit to remain comfortable. The topside air temperatures range between 74º F in winter to 106º F in summer. Winter months are usually accompanied by a breeze. For outside activities bring light clothing and don’t forget swimsuit, suntan lotion and sunglasses. For winter evenings a light sweater or a jacket is recommended. Q. What is the best area to dive? A. The Northern Red Sea has the most popular land based diving at Sharm El Sheikh on the southern most tip of the Sinai Peninsula. Sharm was recently awarded the “Top Dive Destination in the World,” by the World Travel Awards. Every dive is spectacular, with a variety of extremely colorful fish and coral life. Due to the presence of ‘cleansing’ currents, consistently warm water and plentiful sunlight, the corals in this area are particularly healthy and colorful. The visibility is also exceptionally good at between 100 and 200 feet. The Red Sea is a flooded rift valley, which means it is very steep-sided and deep. Either most dive sites are fringing reefs with coral drop-offs to virtually unknown depths or isolated coral heads on a sandy bottom, occurring where there is a coral 'shelf' between the land and the drop-off. For those who enjoy wreck dives, one of the most spectacular wrecks sits at the bottom of the Red Sea: The Thistlegorm: a Britsh transport carrier sunk in WWII fully intact with war armaments. Also in the same area, it is possible to dive right inside a former British steamer called ‘Dunraven’, which sank in 1878. The Jolanda is another well-known wreck because she is at the famous site of Ras Mohammed National Park. The Jolanda sank recently and her cargo of toilet bowls litters the surrounding area, creating new homes for a wide variety of fish! There are several other wrecks in the area, and in such a region of 'virgin' reefs, the chance of discovering 'new' wrecks is always a possibility! Northern Red Sea liveaboards are available from Egyptian ports of Sharm el Sheikh and Hurghada. The Southern Red Sea is more known for large pinnacles, pristine reefs and more advanced diving with significant currents. The Southern Red Sea dive sites such as The Brothers, Elphinstone, Dadelus and St. Johns are best visited by liveaboard boat that departs from the Egyptian ports of Marsa Alam (Port Ghalib), Safaga or Hamata. Q. What are the differences in a liveaboard and daily dive program? A. The live aboard program is good for those divers that prefer to be out on the sea and do not mind not having the amenities of a hotel. All meals are prepared on board ship. If you choose a daily dive option, you will be based in a superior deluxe beachfront hotel. All your meals will be included, however breakfast and dinners will be at the hotel or a local restaurant. Liveaboard boats often visit sites inaccessible by traditional day boats. For example, The Brothers, Dadelus and other remote pinnacles of the Southern Red Sea are only accessible via a liveaboard dive boat. Q. What types of boats are used? A. Our company has contracts with some of the best dive companies in Egypt. Our first preference is the Emperor Fleet who offer a range of liveaboards for one or two week itineraries to both the Northern and Southern Red Sea, covering an impressive choice of routes including Ras Mohammed, Thistlegorm and Rosalie Moeller, Elphinstone, Brothers, Fury Shoals, St. Johns, and Daedalus. Emperor Divers offers Platinum, Gold, Silver and Bronze fleets, which are all custom designed and fitted to the highest standards with air-conditioned cabins and salons (some with double-bed master cabins). In addition, all the equipment and safety features you would expect from an award winning company. Emperor Fleet also offer free Nitrox on Gold and Platinum class boats and free Nitrox courses. Your dive guides will take you to the best sites and share with you their passion and knowledge - and give some of the most informative dive briefings! The food on board is great, too! In addition, Emperor Divers liveaboards range from comfortable to simply luxurious. You can choose to sail from Sharm El Sheikh, Hurghada, Safaga, Marsa Alam (Port Ghalib) or Hamata. Q. Can divers be certified for SCUBA diving in Egypt? A. Yes, Emperor Divers Schools include PADI 5 Star CDC (Career Development Centers). Emperor Divers are certified by PADI as providing the highest standard of education and professionalism, earning the 'PADI Excellence in Dive Centers Award. Q: How soon after or before my flight can I dive? A. There is no wait time for diving after flying. Travelers can de plane and go right to the dive boat. Emperor Divers advocate a wait time of 24 hours after multiple dives/days of diving. A 12 hour wait for 1 single dive is sufficient. Q. How many dives per day do we get? A. There can be options of 2, 3 or 4 dives per day depending on whether you are on a live aboard or doing daily dives. In certain areas you can do night diving as well. Q. What about taking dive equipment? A. If you choose to bring your equipment and you are taking a full tour of Egypt, our company will have your gear shipped by van to your dive embarkation port or hotel before embarking on your dive adventure. You will take your land tour of Egypt free from dragging your dive equipment for hotel to hotel. Scuba equipment must be within the weight allowance allowed by the airline – usually 50 pounds but check with your airline. Note: Some contents/pressure, depth gauges and computers can be affected by low pressure. As with cameras, these should be carried as part of your hand luggage. If you don’t want to carry your equipment a vast array of good quality rental equipment is available for a fee at all the resorts. It is recommend that you request rental gear well in advance of your trip departure date to ensure the availability of the needed dive equipment Q. What special gear do you need to dive the Red Sea? A. The most famous sites of the Red Sea are deeper dives on walls or wrecks and often with currents. The dive sites are often accessed via drift diving via dive boat or dive tender. All Red Sea dive operators require divers to have an inflatable SMB (Signal Marker Buoy) with a reel or tether line so divers can inflate the SMB at safety stops. Red Sea dive operators support Enriched Air/Nitrox, technical diving and rebreathers. Larger 90 cubic inch tanks are available for an extra fee for divers who use more air during deeper dives. Q. What if companions of travelers/divers do not dive? A. In this case, it would depend upon which program you have chosen. If you have chosen to do a land program where you visit Cairo and cruise the Nile or visit Luxor and then take a live aboard, we suggest that you companion continue with their exploration of Egypt by visiting other areas of Egypt including the Suez, the Sinai, and Alexandria. If the companion snorkels, they can take the live aboard and snorkel in the areas that are capable of snorkeling. If you have chosen a program which includes daily diving from Sharm El Sheikh, there are many activities for the non-divers: a day trip to Petra, Jordon, a half day excursion to St. Catherine’s Monastery and Mt. Moses, a glass bottom boat or snorkeling excursion and more.. Q. What type of fish will we see? A. The Red Sea, a long narrow body of water stretches from the Sinai Peninsula all the way down to the Gulf of Aden. It is the richest sea in the world and you will see a colorful assortment of animals and plants. A 'typical' dive normally includes many varieties of soft and hard corals, gorgonians, sea anemones with attendant clown fish, many small colorful fish such as butterfly fish, angelfish, rainbow wrasse, parrotfish, gold fish, lionfish, surgeonfish, glassfish, sergeant major fish, and some larger fish such as groupers, napoleon wrasse, sharks, and barracuda. Then there are the occupants and sights that make individual sites distinctive - such as the semi-tame napoleon wrasse fish at Ras Muhammad and Ras Umm Sidd, the sleeping sharks at Shag Rock, the table corals at Near Garden and the amphora at The Museum Whalesharks Your best chance for spotting a whale shark is when there is a plankton bloom, usually May to September in the Northern Red Sea and January or February in the South. The best sites in the North are Marsa Bareka (Ras Mohammed National Park) and Ras Nasrani (Sharm El Sheikh) and as far North as Thomas Reef. In the south specimens have been spotted at Shona Soraya near Port Ghalib and at The Brothers Oceanic White Tip Sharks Carcharhinus longimanus, is a large pelagic shark of tropical and warm temperate seas. It is a stocky shark, most notable for its long, white-tipped, rounded fins. Diving with Oceanic white tips is a hit or miss affair some Red Sea sites where they have been seen regularly by divers including Ras Mohammed and Elphinstone. Hammerheads Dolphins Manta Rays Turtles What is the cost to travel to Egypt and dive the Red Sea? Unlike many of the other dive destinations, Egypt offers a diverse range of accommodations and unlimited choices of itinerary stops both for a land tour and dive excursions. If you choose to do a land and dive package with international and Egypt domestic air flights, costs can range from $3695.00 and up. Our company offers numerous affordable set date land tour and dive packages and we also can customize a trip for you and your clients based on your budget and expectations. The following essential Arabic phrases can be used in your day-to-day conversation:
Foreign Embassies in EgyptUnited States Embassy, Cairo: +20 (0)2 2797 3300. Egypt EmbassiesEgyptian Embassy, Washington DC, United States: 1 202 895 5400 For a background history of Egypt and travel guides, click on the link below. Egypt History and Helpful Information and Recommend Reading List For more information on our Egypt-Red Sea travel programs, please click on the picture thumbnails below: Egypt-Red Sea Itineraries Groups Click Here Individuals Click Here
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A. The power supply in Egypt is 220V 50Hz and utilizes European twin round pin plugs. For US travelers, an adapter will be needed to adapt from the US 110 V system.
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