Safaga offers some exceptional diving and is still relatively undiscovered. Tucked in just south of Hurghada, most diving is conducted by boat to reach the spectacular offshore reefs and wall dives of sites like Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Abu Kafan.
Learning to Dive
Despite the area’s reputation for exciting wall diving, Safaga is also a good choice for novice divers. Several reefs are situated just 30 minutes boat ride away and offer several sheltered spots ideal for beginners to get their sea legs.
The Tobia reefs, or the Seven Pinnacles as they are often known, are particularly stunning and boast beautifully coloured corals and a huge variety of fish including schooling juvenile barracuda, stingrays, trigger fish, puffers and groupers. Shallow coral gardens such as Gamul Soghira and Gamul Kebira are also superb for spotting myriad reef fish in kaleidoscope colours.
Qualified Divers
As you head further away from the coast, Safaga offers more challenging and breathtaking sites where the diving is concentrated primarily on three areas.
Panorama Reef is the most northerly and it is situated around a 60-90 minute boat ride from Safaga. Due to the currents, this site is one of the highlights of the area and best dived as a drift dive. There are huge coral formations with walls dropping to over 200m and numerous grottos and overhangs, gorgonians and soft corals. Jacks, barracudas and reef sharks often visit the area and a well-known family of napoleon wrasse are frequently sighted.
Middle Reef is best known for its colourful and dramatic hard coral gardens, including spectacular brain corals, which are rated as some of the best in the Red Sea.
Abu Kafan, or ‘the deep one’, is probably the most spectacular dive site in Safaga with stunning, sheer walls plummeting towards the seafloor hundreds of metres below. Luxuriant soft corals, gorgonians and black corals abound and this is a regular haunt of schooling barracuda, reef sharks and turtles.
Wreck enthusiasts are often drawn to Safaga to visit the Salem Express, an Egyptian passenger ferry that sank on its return journey from Mecca in 1991. 300 victims perished in one of the greatest marine tragedies of all time. This is a stunning site but a dive that is generally considered one for reflection rather than pleasure.
MENADIVE CENTRE
This popular and well-run dive centre has been operating for over 15 years. It is located on the beach at the Menaville Hotel, with its own jetty and small bar.
The centre is PADI and CMAS accredited and offers a full range of diving services and courses. It is compulsory to dive with a computer at this centre.
General Information
Learn to Dive Courses >
Advanced Dive Courses >
Technical Dive Courses >
Dive Packs
Book your dive pack or course with Regaldive prior to departure. Our prices are lower than those in resort. You can also take advantage of our great value dive pack offers.
Any dive packs offers listed below are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings, there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.
Group Offer
Book 10 dive packs and get one FREE. Go to the Regaldive Groups page>
| Standard Prices | |
| Boat Dive Pack Prices | |
| 1 day | £46 |
| 2 days | £91 |
| 3 days | £114 |
| 4 days | £143 |
| 5 days | £168 |
| 6 days | £198 |
| Learn to Dive Courses | |
| PADI Scuba Diver | £169 |
| PADI Open Water | £247 |
| Advanced Courses | |
| PADI Advanced | £188 |
| PADI Rescue Diver | £205 |
| Technical Diving Courses (TDI) | |
| TDI Advanced Nitrox | £238 |
| TDI Decompression Procedures | £238 |
| TDI Entry Level Trimix | £331 |
| TDI Advanced Trimix | £331 |
| TECH Course Packages | |
| TDI Advanced Nitrox and TDI Decompression Procedures | £441 |
| TDI Entry Level Trimix and TDI Advanced Trimix | £620 |
| Groups Policy: Book 10 get 1 FREE. Click here to visit the Regaldive Groups Page | |
Please note:
- Packages for qualified divers include two unguided boat dives per day, including tanks and weights. If the dive centre conclude after the check dive that a dive guide is needed or requested, a local charge of €12 per dive applies, paid locally. It is compulsory to dive with a computer. For 'Special Trips' and 'Extras payable locally in resort', please see below.
- Check Dive / Scuba Review: Most dive governing bodies recommend a scuba / skills review if no diving has taken place for 6 months. A Scuba Review can be prebooked at a cost of £70. A check dive will be carried out in resort for all divers.
- All 'Learn to Dive Courses' listed include equipment rental. Advanced courses do not include equipment.
- All technical courses do not include dives, equipment, gases, manuals and certification. Technical diving packages - 5 days: without equipment €220, with equipment €340, 6 days: without equipment €260, with equipment €370.
- Additional costs for courses: PADI Open Water manual: £28, PADI Advanced Open Water Manual: £26, Rescue Diver Course: £28, PADI Certification fee €35 (paid locally).
- Extras payable locally in resort:-
- Nitrox per 12L tank: 32% FREE
- Dive Guide per dive: €12
- Night dive: €23 (subject to availability)
- Equipment hire pppd: €25 / 5+ days: €23
- Environmental government fee pppd: €3
- Lunch on boat (including drinks): €5
- Sales tax in resort: 10%
Getting Around
An excellent destination for world-class windsurfing and first-rate diving, Safaga is an old port where you can see traditional Egyptian daily life. Its hotels are situated along a splendid sandy beach with a variety of restaurants and bars.
Climate
The hottest time of the year is July and August with air temperature of over 30 degrees C. The coolest time is January with the temperature at around 20 degrees C. Rainfall is negligable and it is invariably sunny but breezes can be cool.
Time
Egypt is 2 hours ahead of GMT.
Currency
Egyptian pounds or LE. Approximately £1 = 8LE
We recommend that you take some money in Cash to Egypt. There is a currency exchange desk available at the hotel. Please note that Scottish notes and Australian Travellers Cheques are not accepted in Egypt.
Tipping
Although entirely voluntary, tipping is a recognised part of life in this region of the world. Some local staff will look to travellers for personal recognition of the services offered. We would advise that you allow approx. £10 for gratuities for local staff for the duration of your stay.
Rough Price Guide
- Local beer 20LE
- Foreign imported beer c.20LE
- Snack meal (pizza/sandwich) 20LE
- Bottle of mineral water 5LE
- Soft drink 8LE
Activities
Safaga has been used for World Championship windsurfing because the wind and water conditions are ideal. Other outdoor pursuits available include:
- Water sports
- Island boat trips
- Camel & jeep safaris
- Horse riding
- Bedouin camps
- Trips to Luxor & Hurghada
Egypt Factbox
| Area: | 1, 001, 450 sq. km |
| Population: | 67 million |
| Language: | Arabic, English |
| Time: | GMT + 2 |
| Electricity: | 220v. Round pin adaptors |
Flight Information
From London Gatwick and Manchester airports direct to Hurghada every Friday. Regional departures are also available,. Please call Regaldive for details.
Flight duration: 5 hours
Transfer: Approx. 45 mins
Departure tax: n/a
Passports
Passengers travelling to Egypt must have six months valid on their passport from the date of departure from Egypt.
Visas
A single entry tourist visa for Egypt is required for all nationalities. For British passport holders with British citizenship, Egyptian visas can be obtained conveniently and inexpensively on arrival at Hurghada airport.
Other nationalities should check with consular office.
Vaccinations
There are no compulsory vaccinations for travel to Egypt, but we recommend protection against typhoid, tetanus, hepatitis A and polio. Though malaria does exist in Egypt, it is generally not present in the coastal resorts.
Vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed before departure. For the most up to date advice please consult your travel clinic.
Further information regarding vaccinations for travel to this country can be found at www.fitfortravel.nhs.uk and from your local healthcare provider.
Red Sea Offers
Red Sea Dive Pack Offers
Various dates available
Regaldive are committed to saving you money on your dive holiday!
Book your dive pack or course before you go to save money. Our prices are lower than those you will pay in resort. You can also save £££'s with our great value special offers and discounts.
All special offers have limited availability, so book early to avoid disappointment!
Emperor Divers, Red Sea
€20 OFF SPECIAL DIVE TRIPS, DIVE COURSES & EQUIPMENT RENTAL - 2010 Voucher Offer
This voucher entitles the holder to €20 off special dive trips, dive courses and equipment rental. Valid until 31st December 2010.
Available at Sharm, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Nuweiba.
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Learn to Dive HALF PRICE Diving Offer!
Book a PADI Open Water course and your buddy can book the same at HALF PRICE! Saving based on standard diving prices. Valid for new bookings from 26 August 2010.
Valid for departure dates:
1 September - 24 December 2010
Available at Sharm, Hurghada, Marsa Alam and Nuweiba.
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HALF PRICE Diving Offer 2010 & 2011
Book a 4, 5 or 6 day dive pack and your buddy gets the same HALF PRICE! *
Book a PADI Open Water, Fastrack* Open Water or Advanced course and your buddy can book the same at HALF PRICE! * Saving based on standard diving prices. Valid for new bookings from 18 May 2010.
Valid for departure dates:
18 November - 14 December 2010
31 December 2010 - 15 March 2011
1 June - 12 July 2011
*Fastrack materials £45 extra for concessionary place.
Available at Sharm, Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa Alam and Nuweiba.
All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.
Divers' Lodge, Hurghada - FREE Diving
Book a 5 or 6 day dive pack or a PADI Open Water, Open Water Fastrack* or Advanced Course and your buddy can book the same FREE! Valid for departure dates:
19 November -17 December 2010
7 January - 1 April 2011
6 May - 8 July 2011
*Fastrack materials £45 extra for concessionary place.
All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.
Orca Dive Club - HALF PRICE Diving
Book a 5 or 6 day dive pack and your buddy gets the same HALF PRICE (boat, or boat & house reef, or house reef only).
Book a PADI Open Water or Advanced course and your buddy can book the same at HALF PRICE! Saving based on standard diving prices. Valid for new bookings from 25 May 2010.
Valid for departure dates:
17 November - 16 December 2010
5 January - 8 April 2011
1 June - 8 July 2011
Available at Soma Bay, Abu Dabab & Hamata.
All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.
Sinai Divers, Dahab - HALF PRICE Diving
Book a 5 or 6 day dive pack (shore dives only or shore + boat dives) and your buddy gets the same HALF PRICE!
Book a PADI Open Water or Advanced course and your buddy can book the same at HALF PRICE!
Valid for departure dates:
20 November - 17 December 2010
8 January - 13 March 2011
7 May - 19 June 2011
19 November - 17 December 2011
Valid for new bookings from 28 May 2010.
All offers are subject to availability and can be withdrawn without notice. For diving only bookings there is an additional admin fee of £15 per person.
