The Red Sea – Diving Sites

[Blue Sea Diver]

The Red Sea – Diving Sites
I include the below link which explain each site individual give the readers more details about the diving site it's name, maximum depth, reef and current..etc.

Almost boat diving and you can plan for 3 dives in a single day, boats are moving from Jeddah city.

http://www.desertseadivers.com/divesites.htm

[critter-hunter]

Need help on diving Red Sea vs. The Maldives. I've been to Maldives, but not The Red Sea. Friends have asked me to join them in Jan of 2011, but understand that is a cold time of year and not sure the UWP is as good as Maldives ???

[Blue Sea Diver]

The temperature in Jeddah today for example is 37 degree at the day time, and 35 at the night. This will remain for 2-3 month. All diving boats here moves to dive sites at week end normally on Thursday and Friday unless you rent the whole boat yourself. If the weather is not good the boat trip will be canceled accordingly (same situation will be for shore diving). Boat moves at 7:30 am. local time and return on 5:30 pm. On the same day so you can plan for 2-3 dives , you can check local diving resorts how provide boat diving trips and schedule with them. No idea about diving in the Maldives.

[adambmi]

Need help on diving Red Sea vs. The Maldives. I've been to Maldives, but not The Red Sea. Friends have asked me to join them in Jan of 2011, but understand that is a cold time of year and not sure the UWP is as good as Maldives ???

Hey Critter Hunter,

Having been to both places, I can say that both are great for both diving and photography. The diving is in some ways very similar. There can be big currents, there are many species, viz is great. Both offer profuse fish life. If it were me, wouldn't hesitate for a second to join your friends -- you will definitely have some awesome shooting opportunities. Depending on what kind of photography you like, it could actually be better than the Maldives!

The Red Sea is probably one of the best places in the world to do wreck photography. There are hundreds of photogenic wrecks in the Red Sea that are easily accesible from resort or liveaboard. If that's not your thing, many of the sites in Southern Egypt feature great opportunities for shark encounters, including some species that are not terribly commonly seen in other popular dive sites, like Thresher sharks, Oceanic Whitetips, and guitar sharks. In general, the coral is also in better condition than in the Maldives. There are also opportunities to do some offbeat things like cave diving, diving with dolphins and dugongs (manatee relatives), or shore diving from a dive camp that consists of tents on the beach! (see Wilfried Niedermayr's writeup on the camp, Marsa Shagra, in the Dive Destination section of the site.)

That said, if macro is your thing, the Red Sea might be less appealing. Don't get me wrong, there are some good possibilites for shooting all the usual reef fish; however if you are going specifically to search out crazy small critters, the Philippines or Indonesia might be a better bet. Also, the water temp in the Red Sea in Jan will definitely be a lot more chilly than the Maldives - abuot 20C / 68F, give or take, depending on where you are in the Red Sea (the Maldives, by contrast, is about 29 degrees / 83F year-round). Would recommend a 7mm + hood (or better, a drysuit). On the upside - going at this time of year, you will avoid a lot of the European holidaymakers (and divers!) that flock to the Red Sea for most of the rest of the year.

Good luck with your decision making - let us know what you decide!

Adam

[Blue Sea Diver]

here is the diving rsesort in Jeddah, the Red sea...in fact, there are many resorts for diving from shore...

[Blue Sea Diver]

Here is the boat diving, the photo refer to boat parking area, marina in Jeddah …

[scottg]

Larry,

The red sea looks like it has some good opportunities for wrecks, reef, fish, and some other interesting subjects that are mention on the red sea diving guide.

Maldives are known for mantas, and have some areas with healthy reefs, fish, corals, etc. read my maldives page, although it doesn't go into details.

I'm not sure if either spot will satisfy your critter-hunting desire

[Willie]

I strongly suggest to you to go to the red sea. Underwater visibility is very good. Even december is still very warm, water & air, but january, february and march the water temp. is around 20 to 23 degrees depending where you go, north or south. I havent been to the maldives yet, but you wont be disapointed from the red sea. My favourate is the south, Marsa Shagra Dive Camp near Marsa Alam. Read my article in the uwguide here.
Willie

[Toronto7]

Hello,
Ultimate Diving is a leading scuba diving trave specialist and first-class tour operator. We arrange top quality diving holidays to over 35 destinations around the globe and offer a wide range of shore-based diving holidays, liveaboards and tailor-made dive trips including excursions. We are all experienced divers ourselves and understand what makes a supreme diving holiday.


red sea diving