Hi,
I don't know about hiring kit, and doing independant diving, it is very organised out there now, I think, with the very slim chance of Dahab, all the diving is done in organised groups. I would avoid Hurgada, I was there for a day on the way back from a Southern liveaboard last year and it is a bit of a #### hole. Certainly all the diving in Sharm is done by boat trip. It is possible to travel there and organise your diving whilst there. But, to be honest, if what you wnat is to go there and dive, then, it is easier and cheeper to just book a package trip, i.e. contact a company like Explorers
www.explorers.co.uk or Regal
www.regaldive.co.uk and arrange a trip through them. You tend to do the same sites year in year out. But for a nice way to spend a hassle free week diving in warm water you just can't beat Sharm in my humble opinion. Personally, I wil be there in March and can't wait.
On a personal note, Explorers have really pi**ed me off this year, so Regal seem a fantastic alternative as they were very helpfull for the Livaboard last year.
On that note, livaboards are fantastic, you get more and better diving, but I have to say you get a better holiday if you dive a day boat.
I guess it just depends on what you want
Enjoy where ever you choose.
Andrew