Hamata - Zabargad December 2007

[Ahoy]

Went to the above a fortnight prior to Christmas. I'll keep the report concise and positives first!

Hamata is a very small resort about 150 miles south of Marsa Alam airport. There was nowt there apart from some goats, local residents, some geologists living in tents and the hotel.

1) Arranged with Crystal Dive (at the dive show) and the flights, transfers, 7nights B&B at Zabargad & 6 days boat diving cost £445 each. No complaints... Crystal look like a good outfit to me, so a recommendation there.

2) Orca Divers. Based at the hotel, this is a German run outfit (they have other branches in Egypt) and the staff are very nice, very laid back and helpful. We had a British guide, a nice guy called Geoff.

My only criticism, and I was a bit put out by this, was that they would only drop divers from a mooring on the land-facing side of the reefs. This, in my opinion, limited the likelihood of encounters with pelagics. But, aside from the steering failing twice on the last day on the dive boats, no major problems. The house reef was very nice with a resident 6foot grouper.

3) The Fury Shoals reefs. Beautifully intact coral reefs with a predominance of porites and other large-polyped stony corals creating some stunning scenery. The best dive was shaab claude, which consisted of a series of interconnected 'labyrinths' through which one could swim. One of my favourite dives to date. As far as Red Sea sites go (and i've been to a fair few now), the Fury Shoals system is up there with the best.

4) Weather. Clear skies for most of the time, a few clouds rolling in towards the end of the week. There was a swell of about 2 - 3 metres that developed during the week and it was about a force 4 the whole time.

5) Zabargad hotel. Basic but the rooms were perfectly adequate and the staff were really very nice. There is a resident medical centre which was well equipped for all but serious problems (I had a good nosey around) and there is a German doctor who is resident (well, he actually runs the Kite surfing school). There was mobile phone coverage but no internet. No TVs either, other than the bar and in some of the staff rooms.

6) Flights: Thomas Cook airlines. My mate and I got a free upgrade to the exit seats due to being first in the queue. Not so lucky on the way back and felt the legroom was appalling and the seats too narrow.

7) Food standards. Food on the boat was the typical, satisfactory Red Sea dive boat grub. The hotel, however, was not up to scratch. This, i'm afraid to say, was due to one simple factor. The meals are served as buffets and although they keep the trays covered up when not being used, they leave the serving spoons on the front of the tables and at the mercy of the (numerous) flies and dreaded cockroaches. You may know, cockroaches produce some of the largest bacteria infested faeces of the insect kingdom. For some reason, it is generally accepeted by the staff there that most visitors will get some sort of gut upset during their stay at Zabargad. I did - about 24h of unpleasantness.

All in all, it was a good trip. The Red Sea is great for it's closeness and warm, clear waters and stunning reefs. I would have no problem going back to the Fury Shoals on a liveaboard but would give Zabargad a miss.

Hope it was of interest,
S.

[steveharriss]

It was of interest. Thanks for the post.

[jorawley]

Any pics to share with the masses??

Thanks for the report - certainly an option of the red sea i'd never heard of before.