In July 2023, following our booking of a Maldives liveaboard, we decided to go diving in Egypt and do the Padi DSMB (Delayed Surface Marker Buoy) specialty.
Arrival and Check-In
We booked our trip through Diving World and went diving with Circle Divers in Sharm el Sheikh. Our journey began at Eindhoven Airport in the morning, and we arrived in Sharm el Sheikh around 6 PM after a brief stop in Hurghada.
After passing countless immigration and security checks, we left Sharm el Sheikh Airport and were greeted by TUI representatives who shuttled us to our respective hotels.
In the shuttle, we were about 10 passengers, and it dropped each of us off at our respective hotels. Mathijs and I were among the last to arrive at our hotel. Check-in was smooth, and we spent the evening relaxing and enjoying the sunset over the bay from our room.
DSMB Specialty and Boat Diving
The next day, the diving center collected us early for our DSMB specialty course. We covered theory and practical exercises at Naama Bay, dedicating the entire day to mastering the skills.
Following the DSMB specialty, we embarked on four days of boat diving, exploring either the Straits of Tiran or Ras Mohammad:
- Boat Diving Day 1: Two morning dives.
- Boat Diving Day 2: Mathijs and I did three dives — two in the morning and one in the afternoon.
- Boat Diving Day 3: Two morning dives.
- Boat Diving Day 4: I did three dives — two in the morning and one in the afternoon. Mathijs completed two dives.
Shore Diving and Departure
On our final day, we chose shore diving at Naama Bay. This allowed us to continue diving while adhering to the 24-hour no-fly rule. Our flight the next day was scheduled for around 5 PM. For the rest of our time there, we relaxed and enjoyed the all-inclusive hotel.
During our time in Sharm, we didn’t venture into the city and remained within the hotel grounds, focusing solely on diving.
Homeward Bound
For our return journey, TUI brought us back to the airport. With a direct flight, the travel time was significantly shorter — definitely a win!
Overall, our diving experience in Sharm el Sheikh was delightful. The vibrant corals were a highlight, even though we didn’t encounter larger marine creatures like sharks or dolphins, we definitely want to go back.