Imported post
Bren suggested you might be interested in diving in Taba and Kenya, so here goes....
Taba is just over the border (Isreal and Egypt) from Eilat and, from what I saw, consists of a very large, classy Hotel (the Taba Hilton) and not much more. The diving is controlled by Aquasport and they have the only boat in the area. (although this could have changed, I was there in September 2000). The monoploy makes this area very quiet compared to Eilat and there are some stunning dive sites, warm water and excellent coral and marine life; stone fish, frogfish, blue spotted rays, ..all the usual Red Sea fish. Most of the dives are 20 mtrs max and easy, that is, very little current ... great lazy diving!
Kenya is totally different! We spent most of our holiday on Diani beach, south of Mombasa...a paradise!. The diving is great fun, if a little limited. I saw only six different sites in eleven dives, but still they were all great dives! The Indian Ocean is warm but, at the time, November, the vis was not great,maybe 10 - 15 mts.and a bit silty. The dive sites are all coral reefs and most are deep, 25 - 30 mtrs, but we were getting between 45 and 55 mins bottom time. The marine life is amazing, guitar sharks, groupers as big as office desks and more green turtles than you can shake a stick at. A large pod of dolphins appeared around the boat after every dive ! Good diving but not a wrekkies place!
Diani Beach has a barrier reef so the trip out to dive sites is an experience on its own! We dived with an outfit called Barracuda who had a base at our Hotel. Great guys (all locals)
if a little easy on the dive plans.There is another company in this area called 'Diving the Crab' who are well respected.
Kenya is a fantastic place to visit and dive, but anyone who goes MUST do the safari thing though ..amazing!
Bren suggested you might be interested in diving in Taba and Kenya, so here goes....
Taba is just over the border (Isreal and Egypt) from Eilat and, from what I saw, consists of a very large, classy Hotel (the Taba Hilton) and not much more. The diving is controlled by Aquasport and they have the only boat in the area. (although this could have changed, I was there in September 2000). The monoploy makes this area very quiet compared to Eilat and there are some stunning dive sites, warm water and excellent coral and marine life; stone fish, frogfish, blue spotted rays, ..all the usual Red Sea fish. Most of the dives are 20 mtrs max and easy, that is, very little current ... great lazy diving!
Kenya is totally different! We spent most of our holiday on Diani beach, south of Mombasa...a paradise!. The diving is great fun, if a little limited. I saw only six different sites in eleven dives, but still they were all great dives! The Indian Ocean is warm but, at the time, November, the vis was not great,maybe 10 - 15 mts.and a bit silty. The dive sites are all coral reefs and most are deep, 25 - 30 mtrs, but we were getting between 45 and 55 mins bottom time. The marine life is amazing, guitar sharks, groupers as big as office desks and more green turtles than you can shake a stick at. A large pod of dolphins appeared around the boat after every dive ! Good diving but not a wrekkies place!
Diani Beach has a barrier reef so the trip out to dive sites is an experience on its own! We dived with an outfit called Barracuda who had a base at our Hotel. Great guys (all locals)
if a little easy on the dive plans.There is another company in this area called 'Diving the Crab' who are well respected.
Kenya is a fantastic place to visit and dive, but anyone who goes MUST do the safari thing though ..amazing!