Kahramana Hotel, Marsa Alam

[Whistler]

Have just booked a 2 week holiday from 26 July. Hope to use Pioneer divers on site and would welcome any comments on both the hotel and this dive centre.

What dives site can I expect to go to, i take it Elphinstone is a must. What about early morning / night dives? Can I expect it to be heaving with divers at this time of year? But I suppose this goes with the territory.

BTW I dived Nuweiba in march 05 and found it really hot kitting up on beach with a full 3mm wet suit, what is the minimum i could get away with in July.

Any info appreciated, Thanks

[Fiona]

Don't expect a house reef, they ripped it up last year.

[Sakara Drinker]

I dived at Marsa Shagra next door to the Kaharama. It is the same company as Pioneeer divers. I found them to be a good, organised operation. I had a look around the hotel as my LDC were going a few months later. It looked really nice and they said they had a great time there. The main comment was that there was nowhere to change money so take plenty of LE with you.
I went August and was quite happy in a 2.5mm shorty and I am a wimp when it comes to the cold. I don't know about the house reef infront of the hotel but the south reef next door at Marsa Shagra is really good. Obviously Elphinstone but other dives to do are Marsa Abu Dabbab where there is often a Dugong to be found and possibly go snorkeling at Shaa'b Samadai (Dolphinhouse) where as the name suggests, there is a chance to snorkel with Dolphins. None there when I went though. Hope this is of some use.

Phil

[John Gulliver]

I've only spent a day at the hotel, waiting for a late evening flight to the UK, but the rooms, facilities and grounds are really nice.

[Rod]

Originally Posted by Whistler

Have just booked a 2 week holiday from 26 July. .

Any info appreciated, Thanks

Have a read of this and maybe you could re-book somewhere else?


Divernet News, dateline 2 September 2005
Reef excavation sounds alarms
Concern has been expressed by divers, conservationists and tour operators in several European countries about the recent removal of shoreline reef at a hotel in southern Egypt.

The excavation at Marsa Alam, in contravention of Egyptian regulations, was carried out by a hotelier who wants to improve sea access for his guests.

Critics fear that other hoteliers may follow suit, on the basis that any fines which could be imposed by the authorities will simply be absorbed through tweaked business costings and charges.

Nigel Jarvis, a respected diver who has worked in the Red Sea scuba business for more than a decade, said: "We have heard from recent visitors to the Kahramana Hotel that the owner has destroyed some 7000sq m of the shoreline reef, using large construction-site diggers and trucks.

"The destruction was halted by the concerted efforts of the Egyptian Marine Park Rangers and the situation is being investigated by the Egyptian authorities.

"We understand that the Governor of the Red Sea, His Excellency General Saad Abou Rida, who has been a major champion for Red Sea conservation projects in the recent past, is looking to seriously reprimand the owner."

Observers will follow with interest the degree to which the hotel owner is punished. "The Egyptian authorities have to deal with the investors over this issue," said Jarvis. "They can be assisted by knowing how much concern there is in the diving and environmental communities."

PADI's influential Project AWARE conservation arm has backed Jarvis's comments. "Today's travellers choose their destinations not only for their amenities or price but also the operator's commitment to environmental protection...As with many PADI dive centres/resorts, Project AWARE is very concerned about any negative impact the development plans may have," it said.

Project AWARE's 'Go ECO: Explore, Conserve, Observe' guidelines advise diving tourists on how to "travel responsibly" and persuade operators to "implement best business practices". It has also produced guidelines for operators - along with a carrot, the Project AWARE Environmental Achievement Award.

Project AWARE has written a letter of concern to the Egyptian authorities regarding the Kahramana excavation. It urges those with something to say on the matter to email the Governor of the Red Sea, His Excellency General Saad Abou Rida, at info@redsea.gov.eg; or Mr Elkhadem Ahmed, responsible for tourism development, at chairman@egypttreasures.gov.eg

[Red Sea Shadow]

Kahramana hotel is a good one. Elphinstone is a must do dive. The house reef between Kahramana and Marsa Sahgra is not bad either.
Diving in Samadai (Dolphin House) is not so good. IMO it is just a marketing hype.

[Fiji Dave]

We stayed at the Amaraya hotel, which is on the same site as the Kahramana, a few years ago, before they hacked away at the house reef. The hotel facilities were excellent it has to be said, with really good restaurants. We used the onsite dive operation and found them to be friendly, courteous, knowledgeable and pretty well equipped. We dived at elphinstone twice and had the joy of seeing hammerhead sharks, as well as diving at Marsa Shagra, which was nice and Marsa Abu Dhabab where we spent 20 minutes sitting on a seagrass bed not more than a metre away from two turtles feeding on the seagrass, every so often they'd surface to breathe and then come back to where we were sitting. A magical dive, just myself, my partner and two turtles!
We did go to Sha'ab Samedi and we did have the pleasure of seeing the resident pod of dolphins. It was quite busy when we were there, probably 10 or so day boats all dropping 20-30 snorkellers in at once, and despite being told DON'T try to swim after the dolphins and DON'T try to touch them, that's exactly what they all seemed to try to do with the consequence that many people got back on board saying they'd hardly seen anything, just a few fins in the distance. My partner and I swam away from the thrashing crowd and floated quietly on our own and were treated to the pod of dophins swimming close enough for some stunning photos. I gather not long after they started restricting the number of visiting boats, which can only be a good thing.

We booked with Tony Backhurst, but I believe that due to the actions of the Kahramana and their destruction of the reef, TB have severed ties with the hotel and now use a nearby hotel instead. An action that I fully support.

Our trip to Marsa Alam was our first in the Red Sea and we loved it. Both of us took 3mm shorties with us and neither of us was cold on any dive ( we went in August). I don't know how busy it will be now, but when we went, with the exception of dolphin house, our group (of about 10-12 divers) was the only one on a site at any one time.

[Fiona]

Originally Posted by Red Sea Shadow

IMO it is just a marketing hype.

Not marketing hype at all, or do you condone the wholesale ripping up of reefs.

This hotel was fined for their actions unfortunately this was too late for the reef.

As Dave said Toney Backhurst changed hotels because of this action.

[Red Sea Shadow]

Originally Posted by Fiona

Not marketing hype at all, or do you condone the wholesale ripping up of reefs.

This hotel was fined for their actions unfortunately this was too late for the reef.

As Dave said Toney Backhurst changed hotels because of this action.

Don't get you. What I said is that, IMO, Samadai is not a good dive. It's the marketing built its name and reputation. This has nothing to do with the ripping up of the reef!

[Whistler]

Thanks for all the feed back. We were not aware of the house reef issue when we booked. Not something they mentioned in the brochure !!!!!