Makadi Bay, Egypt

[Whistler]

Got back early hours of this morning so thought I would write a quick trip report whilst unpacking and much washing machine action is happening. Apparently I’m more help when not helping . I’ll just keep to the basics about the hotel and dive centre as the Red Sea marine life is well documented in other trip reports.

Anyway, stayed at Fort Arabesque Makadi Bay, just south of Hurghada. It was planned as quick week away maximum diving for me and some beach/sun for her. I decided to book a 6 day boat diving package with Aquarius Dive Centre. The deal was all taxes and nitrox for 210 Euros This was only because I had heard on YD that they were quite efficient. They picked me up on time from the hotel the first day and we did the paperwork at the centre and got my equipment crate together. We then proceeded to the marina to pick up the boat only to find it 10 min walk from my hotel. Needless to say from then on I met them at the boat for 9.00 whilst they took my crate to and from the marina to the centre everyday.

The first dive was the obligatory check dive with mask clearing and reg removal. After this we went on a nice shallow dive, max 15m. After lunch on the boat we were off to the second site to dive again then back to the marina for about 4.00. This happened almost every day with only the second dive site changing. Basically this was because they were making most of their money out of discover scuba clients from the hotels and the first dive site was the safest one for them. Now this could have been a bad thing but as it turned out they felt so guilty about going to the same site first they gave me my own Egyptian dive guide (the German instructors were busy doing the DSD’s) and they ensured every dive was 1hour+with the longest being 78min. And to be honest the first site was so big and he knew it so well it felt different every time. I got a good rapport going with him over that week so it turned out to be a good thing.

The diving was typical Red Sea with most of the usual suspects making an appearance at least once. So overall impressions: - hotel was totally adequate for the price we paid and would use again. Aquarius were very professional and in my opinion made up for the repetetive first site (Ras Disha btw) in other ways and would definitely use again/recommend. All in all a good weeks diving for me and hot, sunny, clear blue sky, if a little windy for her, but it is January after all.

[steveharriss]

Thanks for the report. I'd have been a bit pissed off with the same first dive every day but as you point out they obviously tried to make up for it.