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Scuba Diving in El-Gouna - Egypt
1st July 07
Egypt - Diving with Dive Tribe
by :Sarah Lee
 El Gouna is a self contained, purpose built resort about 22 km north of Hurghada. The low rise, Nubian style resort is built on clusters of islands interlinked with salt water lagoons. There is no natural reef, possibly something to do with the natural mangrove swamp being removed to make way for the resort, so diving is all by day boat. It is also a kite surfer's paradise with shallow beach areas especially for them. I chose El Gouna for 2 reasons - access to Abu Nuhas and its wrecks (with a fair wind) and Golf. I chose the Steigenberger Golf and Spa resort because of the on site golf course, the aim was to get to the golf course as soon as possible after the diving, which was going to be tight as we would not be returning from the diving until 16.30 - 17.00hrs each day. The Steigenberger is described as an "exclusive hotel" by Longwoods holidays and it was certainly very nice, we had a spacious room overlooking the golf course and lagoon. Anyone staying in El Gouna can play the course for the same price.
We were booked on a half board package through a Cypriot tour operator (as that's where we currently live) and to get to El Gouna we flew Larnaca to Cairo (1 hr 15) then got a connecting flight Cairo to Hurghada (1hr 10) and had a pre arranged transfer to El Gouna (40 mins). We arrived at the unsociable hour of 00.30 finally reaching the hotel at about 02.00. Breakfast and dinner was all buffet style with a variety of evening entertainment each night from belly dancers to snake charmers. There is also the option to have a set menu dinner at one of the other restaurants if you don't want the buffet or for an extra few pounds you can have the a la carte dinner. El Gouna has a dine around the resort scheme where by guests staying on half board or All Inclusive deals can take their "credit" with them on 3 separate nights and eat at other locations around the resort. We didn't bother as it was easier to eat at the hotel but it certainly seemed like a good idea. I chose to dive with Dive Tribe based at the Movenpick hotel, it had an excellent informative website and all the main dive holiday operators seemed to use them. I booked two 5 day dive packs (10 dives) through Regal Dive @ £140 each. This was cheaper than booking it direct with Dive Tribe on the internet which worked about £160 each. I was pleasantly surprised that Regal Dive were happy to sell me the dive packs on their own and they also sorted it all out only the week before our arrival without any problems at all.
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