Hurghada- Diving in the Red Sea – Egypt

November 14, 2022

Egypte

HURGHADA

Located on the shores of the Red Sea, Hurghada is a coastal destination with transparent waters. Its colorful seabed is very suitable for diving, making it one of the main tourist cities in Egypt.

TRANSPORTS

Aswan - Hurghada

10h30 by night bus with Al Khaleejia company for 180 EGP (7 dollars)

David, an Egyptian living in Aswan gave me this tip. You have to go to the main bus station located outside the city. Minibuses take you there for 2 EGP. There, you have to ask for the Al Khaleejia company. They have big air-conditioned buses that leave every day at 7 p.m. for Hurghada. Price: 180 EGP.

The bus departed from Aswan (Article Aswan here on time and arrived earlier, at 5.30am instead of 6am. I slept at the back of the bus lying on the 5 empty seats. A passenger had to wake me up 😂. I found myself standing there in the middle of this huge empty parking lot, half asleep, wondering where I was going to stay because I was counting on the travel time to book something. Except I fell asleep 😂.

Anecdote

Blindfolded, I was sleeping at the back of the bus, lying on the 5 seats, when I felt someone caress my arm to wake me up. I emerge slowly, I lift my blindfold. I see a man leaning over me handing me something. Head misty, I seize the object in question wondering what it is. Well, a yogurt drink. Incredulous, I try to understand the situation. I deduce that a seller had to climb on the bus to sell a whole bunch of products and has the nerve to wake me up. I return the yogurt to the guy telling him I'm not interested. I put my blindfold back on and go back to sleep. Actually, the guy in question was a passenger. As soon as I got on the bus, he kept staring at me. I deduce that he had to look for an excuse to be able to come close to me and at 2am, he thought: oh what if I offer her a yogurt ! 😂.

A little rock while diving ?!

Diving in the Red Sea

Optimist Diving Center. 35 euros for 2 dives all inclusive.

Mohamed, the owner of the apartment I rent offered me this offer. Considering the price, I am not even trying to negotiate. They pick me up at the apartment in the morning at 8:30 am and drop me off at the boat. Equipment and lunch are included. Return on average at 4:30-5 p.m. They take me back to the apartment. At this price, I chain the days. Every day we go to different spots. Top !

Only downside, you have to have a good number of hours of diving on the clock because they do not really take care of beginners. I have an advanced level in PADI but little experience because I passed my certificates one after the other in Honduras. It has already been 10 months. It goes fast, you have to keep up, which can be stressful at first. But hey, we get used to it. I have made good progress and I am delighted.

Click on a photo to start the slideshow

Housing

- Porto Hill -

Pour réserver, cliquez ici

Residence comprising several apartments. T3 reserved on Booking for 20 dollars the 1st night. Then negotiated on the spot at 400 EGP a night (16 dollars).

Mohamed and Hosny, 2 brothers who run the establishment, are very attentive, adorable, and really helpful. They made my stay very pleasant. I will come back with pleasure.

Strengths of the establishment

Weaknesses of the establishment

Bars & Restos

Here are some addresses on which I had a crush

MOBY DICK

Restaurant with international and Egyptian cuisine. Specializing in camel meat: that is what we all ordered. A delight ! The meat is juicy, tasty and very tender. I prefer it to beef.

Speciality

Kunafa is a pastry made from kadaif, cheese, butter and pistachios or nuts and on which syrup is added. According to a common story, the dish was created and prescribed by doctors to satisfy the hunger of the Caliphs during Ramadan. The story is said to have taken place in Fatimid Egypt.

Clearly, it is to die for. Not diet certainly but to taste absolutely 😋.

Encounters

I meet Butcher on the boat. He enjoys taking 360 photos while I meditate. Thirty-year-old Englishman on vacation with his 10-year-old son Mason. He has been coming for years to dive in Egypt. Fun loving, business owner, super dad, we will share restaurants and shisha on certain evenings. A great meeting that I will undoubtedly see again on my return to England.

Assessment

Kingdom of diving, Hurghada is the ideal place for those who like to visit the seabed. Its world-renowned spots have a lot to offer: corals, lagoons of all kinds, very rich marine life. For the rest, this city remains nice but quite ordinary. Namely, all the beaches here are barricaded. You must pay to access it unless you live in establishments on the seafront.

I send pictures of the pyramids in Egypt to my buddy Dan, who lives in Israel. Knowing me near his home, he invites me to his apartment. Enthusiastic at the idea of seeing him again, I immediately accept. Well yes, let's do that! 😁.

Next destination: Haifa– Israel