Marsa Shagra with Oonas

[Beeblebum]

When I phoned Oonas and asked where I should take my 8 year old son for a diving holiday, Suzann suggested The Red Sea Diving Safari camp at Marsa Shargra. It was to be a holiday primarily for my son and for him to appreciate the Red Sea in a safe and controlled environment. Anyway, we took a two week slot and stayed in one of the top of the range en-suite 'Madyafa' huts.

For the first few days Christopher enjoyed some terrific snorkelling including the outer house reef, which remains in good condition. He then completed a SEAL Team course with Mahmoud, who is one of the most charming and child friendly instructors you could wish to meet. Afterwards, my son was able to continue with some confined, shallow water diving within the bubblemaker program. and enjoyed some wonderful underwater encounters.

The camp was extremely friendly at all levels; management, instructors, guides and staff and a single parent and young son were made to feel very welcome. While this was a holiday for my son, I still manged a handful of adult dives as it was very easy to have complete confidence in the camp to accomodate my (mature, independent and very sensible) son in my absence.

The holiday fulfilled our expectations precisely, so much so that my son asked me if I would buy a Madyafa in which we could live forever...

I have no hesitation in recommending Shagra as an excellent family venue, so long as there are no expecations for managed enterainment and your children will be entertained by the great snorkelling, young diver programs, hermit crab racing, RIB rides, the best little beach bar that side of Alex and the charming staff.

Thanks Oonas. CJ and I will be back as soon as he is old enough to enrole in the junior open water program. Meanwhile, I rather fancy a sneaky week at Wadi Lahami and some concentrated diving on the Fury...

[cornishdiver]

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