What suit and genaral advice for Sharm at the end of the month?

[Ivon]

I have just booked 2 week to Sharm at the end of the month, fits in very nice with the dive show

What suit would people recomend between a 7mm semi dry or 3mm shortie.

This will be the first time to Egypt so any other advice you think may be of use will be greatly recived.

I am more interested in the wrecks and any advice on getting the best out of the area will be great, my girlfriend does not dive but is going to give it another go.
She is more than willing to go out on the boats if they are a long way off, do you still have to pay for a passenger?

Also has anyone stayed at the Creative Mexicana?

Thanks in advance

Ivon

[onthetrain]

IMHO a 7mm would be a bit ott at this time of year.

You will have no problem taking SWMBO on the boat, but you will have to pay. Best bet is probably to take her as a snorkler.

My top tip is to take enough euroes to pay for your diving and a small amount of egyptian £. Nationwide do not charge you to withdraw cash from auto banks abroad and this is the best way to get a great exchange rate. If you don't have a nationwide account open one.

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by NarkedOFF

What suit would people recomend between a 7mm semi dry or 3mm shortie.

If you have one then take a 5mm wet. If not then it's a call based on how badly you feel the cold. I feel it quite badly so out of the two I'd take the 7mm (and the 3mm as well if I had space for it).

Other random advice:
Don't let anyone take your bag when leaving the airport, take DIN regs if you have them, use a Bedouin taxi instead of an Egyptian driven one whenever you can (more chilled out - less likely to get you killed) and take lots of Immodium.

HTH

[Lou]

Well, I would go with a 3mm shortie out of the two - start of Nov last year we did with shorts and t-shirt for the 2 middle dives on a liveaboard. Only used a long suit for the early morning one and the night dive - neither of which you would do on a day boat. I really think that you would hate the 7mm by the end of the week, but if your luggage allowance will handle it then take both.

Avoid being bullied into paying "bakshish" to blokes who do nothing, or do jobs they aren't asked to, but do pay it when it is deserved,

Take lots and lots of Immodium-type medication, rehydration salts and drink water like it is going out of fashion - but only sealed bottled water.

Don't get dragged into shops....they will feed you tea and sweets and try to force you into a purchase - it is very hard to leave.

Do visit old Sharm if you can for a more authentic taste of the area.....

The quad biking is quite good fun

Don't visit Dolphinella and if your rep suggests it at your welcome meeting squash them like the S***-eating fly they are

[D.D.J]

hi, it really does depend on how cold you get, if you do have a 5mm then take that, as that is what i'll be taking to Sharm next sunday...woohoo less than a week till i go now, but i'll not go on about that, so back to you. If you haven't got a 5mm then i'd probably say take the 7mm as you can always cool youself down by flushing the water through, but you can't always find it that easy to warm yourself up.

i hope that you both have a great time in Sharm, enjoy yourselves.

[Ivon]

Thanks for the advice so far, what are the best wrecks to do and how early are the early starts?

Thanks
Ivon

[aquayle]

Just come back - the sea temp was 28C! I dived in a 5mm semi-dry - far too hot (but I bought it , so I wear it). There were mixed dress - 5mm shortie seemed to be the most worn suit. I would personnaly go for a 3mm full suit and take a vest (3mm) in case that's cold- but one of the guides dives in shorts & T shirt.

It depends who you dive with what reefs you go to. The wrecks are all a long way from Naama Bay, so its an early start (5am for the Thistlegorm). The wrecks are all special trips (i.e. more money!!!). The mains reefs are either in Ras Mohammed or the Straits of Tiran. (Each about 1.5 hours on a day boat). They do take non-diving passengers - yes they charge! And - you will probably find whoever you dive with will insist on a 'check' dive (more money!!!)

Have a look at the Red Sea section of my web site for some pictures.

www.andyquayle.com

Andy

[D.D.J]

best wrecks that i have dived in the sharm area are
the dunraven
the carnatic
the thistlegorm

classic wrecks that are just completely mind blowning, if i had to choose one then go for the thistlegorm as its fantastic, nothing else needs to be said.

but the reefs out there are really nice, i think there way cool but to be fair i love reef diving more then wrecks, theres always lots to see.

any thoughts on what you'll do when your out there?

[Ivon]

Originally Posted by D.D.J

best wrecks that i have dived in the sharm area are
the dunraven
the carnatic
the thistlegorm

classic wrecks that are just completely mind blowning, if i had to choose one then go for the thistlegorm as its fantastic, nothing else needs to be said.

but the reefs out there are really nice, i think there way cool but to be fair i love reef diving more then wrecks, theres always lots to see.

any thoughts on what you'll do when your out there?

Im thinking The Thistlegorm is a definet but ill look at the other two and no doubt do them too. Im a bit of a wreck junkey but will do the reefs as well. Cant wait now

[Rob Dobson]

Originally Posted by D.D.J

best wrecks that i have dived in the sharm area are
the dunraven
the carnatic
the thistlegorm

classic wrecks that are just completely mind blowning, if i had to choose one then go for the thistlegorm as its fantastic, nothing else needs to be said.

Agree with that - but add the following to the wreck list:

Ghiannis D
Rosalie Moller
Sarah H
Million Hope
Chrisoula K