Safaga

Guests staying at the Shams Safaga Lodge will dive with the Shams Safaga Dive Centre

Guests staying at the Coral Garden Resort will dive with Orca Dive Club

Guests staying at the Coral Sun Beach will dive with Orca Dive Club

Shams Safaga Dive Centre

Shams Safaga Dive Centre is conveniently located onsite, offering a comprehensive range of recreational diving courses for all abilities, from absolute beginners to experienced professionals. Whether you’re looking to take your first plunge into the underwater world or to advance your skills, the centre’s expert instructors and well-equipped facilities ensure a safe and enjoyable experience. 

The Shams Safaga Dive Centre explores incredible dive sites effortlessly with dedicated day boats, fully equipped for comfort and convenience. These boats whisk divers off to some of the area’s most iconic locations, including the fascinating Shaab Claude, a shallow reef where intricate swim-throughs and sunlight streaming through cracks create a mesmerising underwater display. Whether you’re diving from shore or joining a boat trip, Safaga promises unforgettable underwater adventures in one of the Red Sea’s most outstanding areas. 

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.

An Environmental Fee is applicable to all trips with Orca Divers. Fees are paid locally and are non-refundable. The fee is made up of national park fees and tax and permissions.

Typically, 10 unguided house reef dives with Orca Dive Club Safaga starts from £200 per person excluding equipment rental.

Dive Prices

We recommend booking your diving package in advance to avoid disappointment. You can also take advantage of our great value dive pack offers.  Please discuss your requirements with the Regaldive team, who will prepare a quotation suited to your needs.

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 1 or 2 hours ahead of GMT depending on the season as Egypt does not operate Daylight Saving Time.

Currency

Egyptian pounds or LE

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.

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

Flight Information

Flights are available to Hurghada (HRG) from a number of UK airports. Please note that flight schedules may be subject to change by the airlines at any time. Full and up-to-date flight details will be provided with any holiday quotation.

Flight duration: Approx 5 - 5½ hours

Transfer times: These vary  according to the hotel choice. Minimum transfer time is approx. 20 minutes, certain more remote destinations require longer transfers. 

Departure tax:  N/A

Extensions

Combine with a Luxor extension and experience the world's great open-air museum.

Visas

Entry requirements vary from country to country, and it’s important to check the latest visa information well before you travel. Some destinations may allow visa-free entry for a limited period, while others require an eVisa or a visa obtained in advance. To ensure you have the correct documentation for your trip, we recommend checking the official advice from the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) or contacting the relevant country’s embassy or consulate. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

Passports

Before you travel, make sure your passport is valid for the full duration of your trip and meets the entry requirements of your destination. Many countries require at least six months’ validity beyond your planned return date, while others may have different rules. For the most reliable and up-to-date information, visit the UK Government’s passport guidance or the official travel advice pages for your destination. Other nationalities should check with their own consulate/embassy.

If you’re planning to travel to or via an EU country (with certain exceptions) your UK passport must meet two key requirements, it must be less than 10 years old on the day you enter the country and it must be valid for at least three months after your planned departure date.

Vaccinations & Health Advice

Health and vaccination requirements differ depending on where you're travelling. Some destinations may require proof of specific vaccinations or recommend certain precautions to protect your wellbeing.

We’re not qualified to provide you with specific advice on vaccinations and strongly recommend that you contact your healthcare professional before you travel to discuss the inoculations you may need to consider.

For trusted guidance on health and vaccination advice, refer to the NHS Travel Vaccination Advice, Masta Travel Health or Travel Health Pro websites.