Safaga

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.

Guests staying at the Menaville Hotel will dive with the Menadive Centre >
 
Guests staying at the Coral Garden Resort will dive with Orca Dive Clubs >

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 / CMAS, and 5 star SDI / TDI accredited and offers a full range of diving services and courses. It is compulsory to dive with a computer at this centre.

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.

Menadive Safaga Diving Prices >

Orca Dive Club

Orca Dive Club at Coral Garden Resort is situated directly on Gassous Bay, 22 km south of Safaga. The centre has its own compressor room, and two drying rooms with fresh water rinse tanks. 

House reef and shore based diving by jeep are offered. Shore dives usually start at 10.00am, returning to the centre after the first dive with the second dive departing around 14.00. The house reef is open from 6.00am to 21.00. The centre offers a range of dive courses and further training, and there is a selection of rental equipment available to hire. FREE Nitrox is available (32%) for qualified Nitrox divers.

Please note that it is compulsory at Orca Dive Club to dive with a dive computer.  All divers with fewer than 30 logged dives must be guided. Guided dives cost €5 per person per dive.

Diving Offers
Book your dive pack or course with Regaldive prior to departure, our prices are lower than those in resort.

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.

HALF PRICE Diving Offer
Book a 5 or 6 day dive pack and your buddy gets the same HALF PRICE (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.  See table for special offer prices in red. Valid for departure dates:

15 November – 15 December 2013
1 January – 28 March 2014
30 April – 4 July 2014
14 November – 14 December 2014

Group Offer
Book 11 dive packs and get one FREE.

Orca Dive Club Safaga Diving Prices until 31 October 2013 >

Orca Dive Club Safaga Diving Prices from 1 November 2013 >

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 ºC. The coolest time is January with the temperature at around 20 ºC. 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 = 9LE

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
•  Local beer: 25-35LE
•  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

Find out more about Regaldive's Top Three Safaga Excursions >

Flight Information

From London Gatwick and Manchester airports direct to Hurghada every Friday. Regional departures are also available from the following airports:

Flight duration: Approx 5 - 5½ hours

Transfer: Approx. 1 hour

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.

Menaville Hotel