Sharm Or Hurgarda

[gman]

Hi
I am thinking of a trip to either of these two places around about september.Basically I just want to snorkel.Can any one recomend a hotel.Close to some good snorkeling,preferably from the shore.Oh and I like to go for a beer on a night.So I need something that is not too remote.
Cheers Graham :)

[les]

Graham, went to Sharm last year m8 it was brill for all he things you are looking for. Plenty of night life etc. We went out in a boat most days which was quite cheap to snorkel at different sites like Ras Mohamed amongst others.
Snorkeling off Sharm was also good. A number of the party I took had no real interest in reef keeping but they all loved the place. :wub: I comment on Hurgarda i'm afraid. Les

[Chris P]

Hi Graham

Agree with Les - Sharm is a great place and has all you are looking for ........ but Hrugarda might be better is you are really into snorkling, because the reefs are flatter and you see more.

In sharm most of the sites are stepp drop offs - and if the are not they get lots of shorkel boats which means they are in not such good nick.

If you decide on sharm - in the town I would reccomend the Hilton or just out the Ocean Dive Club - it is about 10 mins outside sharm but has it own beach (shuttle bus) and the snorkling is not bad.

HTH
Chris

[Fishy Dave]

Hi Graham,

Myself and my girlfriend went to Hurghada last February and had a great time snorkelling.

We just booked a late deal for £220 each through teletext (BandB 3star hotel), and ended up in the 'La Perla' Hotel.

The hotel was clean, friendly and mostly family run. The only fault was the view - our balcony looked out onto a half built hotel (of which their are many throughout Hurghada)

Just across the road is a private, sandy beach called 'The Old Vic', snorkelling off here was poor. However their are three brothers who own a a small water sports company here and they are well worth knowing. They took us out to the best reefs in a small glass bottomed boat, including to small and big giftun islands, mahmaya and further south from Hurgahada to the best place we snorkelled called Sharm El Naga.

It is well worth taking a day out to visit Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple etc.)

We went away at the same time as friends went to Sharm, they also expressed having an excellent time , comparing photos afterwards, they saw a couple more larger species i.e eagle rays and Lionfish, whilst we saw more reef species like clownfish.

Their are still plenty of large fish to see in Hurghada like Napoleonfish, huge Parrots and Blue Spotted Sting Rays and Unicorn Tangs.

Oh for somewhere to have a beer try Bulls which is an american style diner about 3 minutes walk from the hotel, beware that alchol is very expensive in Egypt.

We are going to Sharm next February to see what it is like too.

Providing they come out find below a couple of photos.
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/View from Hotel!web.jpg
http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Wrasse close upweb.jpg

Cheers, Dave

[kenneth_halley]

If it was a choice- I think it would be Na'ama Bay (Sharm) . Its a nicer place generally- and some really nice hotels can be got cheaply with a bit luck.
Diving locally is good and your on the doorstep of Ras Muhammed so some nice walls and drop offs as well as decent shore dives. You can also get out to the off shore reefs (Thomas, Gordon etc) on a day trip and be back in time for tea!
You can even get to Thistlegorm on an extended day trip- will prolly miss tea, but though I think this is a well worth it dive, the problem with day boats is that they all follow the same itenerary so all arrive about the same time- and it gets busy!. Better to do it from a live aboard- you get the wreck to yourself, and can spend all day at the different depths. It changes through out the day as the currents change and you see different life each dive.

I personally- and maybe its just been my luck with the sites I dived- don't think Hurghada and its immediate surroundings , are a patch on the Sinai area. If you head further south though things improve immensly but say bye bye to creature comforts! Also Hurghada is very built up now and (in my opinion) no longer that attractive- though it was never earth shattering in early days either!

[ahoy]

I've been to both recently and agree with the consensus that Naama Bay (in Sharm) is a bit livelier but i'm not sure what the snorkelling would be like there. Hurghada, on the other hand, seemed to be a bit more 'downmarket' but the reefs would be a OK for snorkelling, as most of the hard coral structures are only in a few metres depth.

I stayed in the Ocean Club hotel in Sharm, which is about a 15min drive outside Naama Bay. It has a great bar on the roof of the hotel and the food is pretty good too. If you want to stay in Naama Bay, try the Naama Bay hotel - a littel more 'upmarket' compard to the Ocean College and a little more expensive.

September is a good time to go - the water is around 27 degrees celsius and the air temperature can get up to 40.

Aside from that, one question: why aren't you going to dive? ;) ;)
S.

[gman]

Thanks for all the answers chaps.Have got some brochures ordered.Ahoy,I have been diving in the red sea in Eliat,also in the Maldives.But i think I just prefer to do my own thing and snorkel.I am in and out of the water all day,plus the other half will have a go at snorkeling.Dave you say alcohol is expensive.About how much for a beer?.Would I be better off looking for all inclusive?
Cheers graham :)

[ahoy]

The local beer (Sakhara - about 5% and nice stuff) ranges from about 6LE to 15LE depending on where you go - about 75p - £1.80 at the current exchange rate. Other beers are about the same.

S.

[gman]

Allright :D I think i can afford a few of those then :P
Cheers graham :)

[Fishy Dave]

Sorry for delay in reply, not feeling to good at the moment.

I don't drink myself, I just seemed to remember other people saying alcohol was expensive. I guess I was wrong then!

Thanks, Dave

[gman]

Hi Folks
Had a look at the Longwood brochure.We like the look of the Hilton at Sharks Bay,all inclusive.Supposedly 10 mins drive from Nama Bay.Doesnt say much about the location,but it does have a beach bar.So is presumably near the sea.They do have one other hotel descibed as handy for the superb snorkeling in Sharks Bay.Anyone have any knowledge of this hotel or area?
Cheers Graham :huh:

[Cam]

Hi,

I have naver been to Hurgarda but the guy at my LFS has been to both and he says the diving/snorkelling off Hurgarda is not a patch on the Sharm area. :huh:

I was in Sharm again last week on a last minute break (see my recent post in this forum for prices I paid for the trip).

The diving around Ras Mohamad and Tiran Island is brilliant. Many people rave about Shark and Yolanda reefs at Ras Mohamad, and they are truly spectacular, but for stunning rock formations and corals I think you have to go to as site just back down the coast called Raz Ghozlani. There are table acros there that you could park a car on growing on beautiful branching rock formations. For snorkelling all these sites are good.

First time we stayed at the Sonesta Beach resort at the far end of Naama Bay (booked through Hayes & Jarvis, excellent company) and the reefs off the beach there were very good with plenty of coral and fish. Last week we stayed at the Coral Bay Resort about 5 mins from Naama Bay. This was a large resort full of ignorant Italians but it (as well as most places in the area) was very well run and clean if not a little expensive for food and drink.

If you want to go snorkelling then I suggest you go out with the Camel Dive School (http://www.cameldive.com). They are British owned and are an excellent operation. They may be slightly more expensive than some of the other schools but you get what you pay for. Snorkelling off their dive boats will give you a chance to see all the really nice pristine reefs away from the tourist areas. The snorkelling won't cost you and arm and a leg. You could keep the British instructors sweet with packs of bacon and Heinz baked beans from home :lol:

Beer at Camel is about 12LE (Egyptian pounds) which is about £1.50 a bottle, but thay are good sized bottles, much bigger than a bottle of Bud at home, this is about average. Restaurant food is probably a third cheeper than at home

If you can it is worth learning to dive before you go (or even while your there) as you will see soooo much more, but failing that you will not be dissapointed by the snorkelling. At that time of year it will be so warm that you will not want to get out of the water :lol:

If you want any more info drop my a line.

Cheers,

Cam.

P.S. there are many hotels etc. at Ras Um Sid which are offered at reasonable prices but this is a long way from Naama Bay so I would give this area a miss, although there are some good dive sites in that area.

Of course if it all kicks off in Iraq then you chance of getting there will be slim and your holiday insurance wont pay out for wars and acts of terrorism so you may loose out. :(

[Andy Hipkiss]

More of a spin off question. Don't you guys who only snorkel find it most frustrating?

Whenever I snorkel (normally on the last day of a diving holiday when I can't dive) I get so frustrated having spotted something interesting that I haven't got a tank strapped to my back so I can explore it in detail.

That said, there is a number of dives where I'd just happily stay are <10m and explore the reef, but most divers seem more interested in the fish than the corals and inverts near the surface so deeper we go.

Perhaps is just because I can't hold my breath long enough :rolleyes:

[BrianO]

Whenever I snorkel (normally on the last day of a diving holiday when I can't dive) I get so frustrated having spotted something interesting that I haven't got a tank strapped to my back so I can explore it in detail.



Ahhhh Andy ! :)


Surely a man of your diving expertise has mastered the simple but effective art of taking three large lungfulls of air and finning to the seabed to view the object of interest, and remaining there for a reasnoble time ( were not talkin days :) , )


No ?


:D



Brian.

[Andy Hipkiss]

LOL ... no ... I never hold my breath diving ;)

I probably ought to take a weight belt with me I guess. However my BCD has integrated weights and I never remember to take a normal weight belt. I'll try it on Sunday I guess unless we dive ... I'll put the weight belt in my bag now.

[Cam]

Hi,

Here is a link to some pics I have just posted from my trip............

http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.p...=12&t=10076&st= (http://www.ultimatereef.net/forums/index.php?act=ST&f=12&t=10076&st=)

Cam.

[gman]

Thanks for that Cam.Yes i think i will book,but when Im not sure.What with this Iraq thing.As I understand it.If the home office says dont travel,then you are entitled to a refund or another holiday.I did this last year when the
sh*t hit the fan between India and Pakistan,The home office said dont travel but bookings were still on offer at 50% discount.So I went ahead and booked to Goa,got a £870 hol for £515 :P Then when things calmed down,the price doubled again :D I am going to the Maldives in May so might wait until I return and see how things are.Andy no I dont find not diving frustrating.I have done it off a boat at coral island in the red sea and also a cave dive at taba on the eilat side of the border.Once I get my wet suit, fins and snorkel on I am as happy as a pig in the proverbal :lol:
Cheers Graham :)

[jasmine]

Gman-
Shark Bay is a bit isolated from the rest of Na'ama Bay (not really a walkable distance unless you're fit!) and I found the coral there to be disappointing. I do really like Sharm tho' as it has a great atmosphere. Haven't been to Hurghada but am told it is not as good as Sharm.

Hope you have a great time!
Jasmine :P

[gman]

Thanks for that Jasmine.Will wait a bit and see what happens with Iraq.
Cheers graham :)

[Alpha]

Sharm m8, its excellent. I have been the last couple of years (just got back on Sunday in fact) and I would reccomend Naama Bay as it is a good little resort with plenty of restaurants and pubs and the diving is first class.

This is just one of my recent shots, so as not to bore you.

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/Reef4.JPG

Was an excellent week and once again we were exceptionally lucky as we had one dive in the company of a 7 m Manta Ray. Unreal

Alpha

[les]

Alpha. I completely agree about Sharm m8 I can't understand why some people knock it. Ok it is a bit more expensive than other resorts but you pays your money and takes yor pick and within an hours boat ride you have so many wonderful dive sites to visit. Ras Mohamed takes some beating for me.

You lucky sod diving with that Manta, that must have been some experience swimming with such a beautiful animal. :D I just have to go back one of these days. :) Dream on Les :rolleyes:

[Alpha]

Les we were so lucky last year that I didnt expect anything of such proportions again.

Last year we were on the final dive of the holiday when we saw a 2m Manta which we (4 divers) swam towards. As we got closer we saw a much larger animal swiming alongside. This was a baby (laugs) 6M Whale Shark. Bothe of these beasts were feeding on the plancton in only about 6m of water. it was an unreal experience.

When we surfaced (on 20bar ;) ) the guide who has been diving virtually daily in Sharm admitted this was the first they had evenr seen. Such a great experience we didnt expect to be so lucky again.

This time is was the 3rd dive of thre holiday on Woodhouse Reef (Tiran Straights) when the Manta was spotted. I managed to swim with it for about 6 minutes before it started to outpace me.

The biggest gripe I have is that the bloody camera failed to turn on (faulty battery connection) so I didnt get any shots, however this allowed me to focus fully on the experience and just enjoy the moment.

All in all a great holiday, which I would recommend to anyone looking for a reasonably proced diving holiday

All in all I took about 400 pictures and about 100 are worth viewing. If anyone wants to see a few of the better ones just ask and I will upload a dozen or so.

This is my favourite shot

http://www.ultimatereef.net/uploads/P1010029.JPG

Quite a cutie pie

Best wishes (PS Les you got your tank running again ?)

Alpha

[les]

Hi Alpha,
Yeah tank up and running but still got this B***** algea problem to sort out. Not putting much in,in the way of corals as yet but everything that didn't die has come back strong.
I was hoping the algae would just burn itself out but as yet it is stiill hanging in there. That dive with the mantas sounds awsome m8. Nice pic by the way. :) Les.

[xxmattyxx]

Gman, I've been to both places. IMO, although it's a close run thing, Hurghada is best. And this is for one reason and one reason only. From there its possible to do a day trip to a place called Matmaya, which apart from the fantastic steep drop reefs ABSOLUTELY covered in coral life with a huge flat reef area stretching to the beach, is PARADISE on earth. No hotels on that trip in that location superb spot, great food fantsatically clean, just heaven.In general though I've found the reefs of equal habitation etc in either place.
Last time, back in November, we stayed at the Hilton Sharm Dreams in Sharm, the place has its own private beach, shared with Hilton Fayrouz, and the corals start at ankle depth and stretccccccccchhhhh off into the distance.
Make sure you get somewhere with a private beach, the local one is like Hyde Park, but with Russians, on the one sunny day a year we get here.
Off to Hurghada in 5 weeks, Can't wait.