SULTAN GARDENS HOTEL , SHARM

[Whistler]

Hello, Mrs W here.

Just booked a week from 19 December at this hotel & was wondering if any of you can put my mind at rest that I will be able to have some peace & quiet by "allowing" Mr W to go diving during this Xmas week. Know any centres open Xmas Day!?!

Anyone used the dive centre on site? Believe its called Shamandura and heard mixed reviews.

Any recommendations on neighbouring dive centres too as going with non-diving extended family + their children (12 & 17) who are considering taking OW course & their parents would prefer they were on site or at least close by to return easily to family at hotel.

[turbanator]

Mrs W. not sure if you're a diver or not, but if the parents are a bit worried about the kids, they could do a referral - all of the theory and pool work is done here and only the open water is done abroad.

It would cut down on the time away from the parents while away and from the kids' point of view, they'd not be in a classroom for a day while on holiday.

Can't help with the hotel tho' sorry, never been to Egypt

r
P

[Druid]

I spent a few days there in January. Hotel was fine, good food (we were all inclusive). There were lots of Russians there.

The dive centres will be open every day. Dunno about Sharm, but the ones in Dahab had a late start on Christmas day and only did one dive instead of 2.

I wasn't too impressed with the Shamandura, but I only did one day's diving and it was too much hassle to arrange diving with someone else. It's a 20 minute dive into Naama Bay where most of the dive centres are located, but they'll arrange pick up/drop off. Umbi Divers are just around the corner in Sharks Bay, I've heard good reports about them.

This was the view from our room, you can just see Tiran in the distance. It was raining when I took this

[Paulus]

I don't know your hotel but from what Druid says it must be in the Sharks Bay area.
I stayed at the Pyramisa which is next door to the Umbi Village at sharks bay which Druid mentioned. I had intended booking some diving with Oonas Divers who use one of the dive outfits based at Umbi. But As I didn't pre-book I had no details of which dive outfit they used and none of them (that I found) had any knowledge of Oonas.

So I reverted back to plan B which was to use Mr. Diver who have a base in the Pyramisa. I believe that they welcome people from outside the hotel. The centre is clearly visible from the Sharks Bay jetty, which is where all the Umbi opperators sail from.

If you don't like the look of the diving at your hotel just pop down to Umbi. You are free to wonder round. There were quite a few dive outfits. Some looked busy and popular (good?) and some I would not touch with a barge pole (tatty).

I was there over Christmas just gone and there was limited diving available on Christmas day and new years day with full iteneries every other day.

I was very happy with the diving at Mr. Diver though the eastern european girl who manages the front counter is frostier than a frosty thing on a frosty day in a frosty place. It took my cutest smile to break her resolve.

Paul