Dahab travel essentials

What to consider and bring on your Dahab diving vacation!

Planning a holiday in Dahab cant be easier as with short flights from Europe and few easy logistics you will find yourself in the sunshine town of Dahab.

We have spread a huge amount of information all over our site about Dahab travelling and diving, here are some of the essentials and dont forget to check our FAQs page.

• Packing for your Dahab scuba diving trip:

  Diving equipment: Please check the PADI checklist here

  Diving certifications and logbook: we accept any valid certificates from all international recognised dive organisations. Please check for more info. here

  Medical certificate: from a specialist doctor (You can get it done in Dahab too).

  Paperwork: Passport (valid for at least 6 months after end of your stay in Egypt)

  Money: cash, credit or debit card

  Diving insurance: Make sure that you have a suitable diving insurance – a lot of travel insurances do not cover diving. Dive insurances are also available at Mirage Divers.

  Protection: Hat or other covering Sunblock (you may buy them here or bring your own favorite brand)

  Medication: Prescription medicine (no problem with bringing them into Egypt)
  
  Anti-seasickness medication: Aspirin, coral cut medication and insect repellent etc...

  Personal belongings: such as beach towel and your swimming suit (!)
• Travel timing
  Mirage Divers is open all year round (except on the first of January). Diving has its special highlights throughout the year.
  
  From December until March water temperature is dropping a bit. You will most probably be still comfortable in a full 5mm suit. A swimming suit will be fine during your lunch in sheltered areas; you better bring your jogging suit for the rest of the day and warm clothes for the evening.
  
  Visibility is getting spectacular in December/January. From June until September you will definitely appreciate air-conditioned hotel rooms. It is getting really hot and diving is a pleasure as only a 3mm wet suit is required. Because of the blooming plankton the chances of seeing Whale sharks or Mantas are bigger.

• Passport and Visa

  For tourists visiting Egypt, it is required to be in possession of a passport valid for at least 6 months after the end of the stay in Egypt.

  Most Nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at the Sharm el Sheikh International Airport or any of the major ports of entry. It is advisable to purchase the stamps required for a full Egyptian Visa which allows you to travel throughout all of Egypt.

  Visas obtained without the stamp or from the border crossing at Taba are the Sinai visa, which does not permit you to travel to Ras Mohamed or the West coast of Sinai, or the rest of Egypt. The visa is normally valid for one month.

  Please check with your nearest Egyptian Embassy for more details concerning visa regulations applying to your citizenship.
• Climate
  
  It is an arid desert climate. Summer highs of over 40 degrees Celsius are cooled by the north wind, whilst in the winter months find a sunny spot out of the wind for perfect tanning. Even on the chilliest winter day it rarely drops below 17 degrees Celsius, making this the perfect winter sun holiday destination. There is more than enough sun during the whole year; rain is very rare and limited to a few hours on a few days during the winter period. Don’t underestimate the cold during winter nights. More information on average and current temperatures can be found on the weather page.
• Clothing

  Dress in Dahab is extremely casual, bikinis, sarongs, shorts and t-shirts are the order of the day, and shoes are optional :) In Dahab, Sharm-el-Sheikh or Cairo, it is advised to cover up slightly when venturing outside the hotel.

  Cool cotton clothing is advised for the summer months during the day, although light sweaters and heavier clothing is recommended in the winter for early morning and evening.
• Local Time: Egyptian local time is GMT+2 hours.
• Language: Although the official language is Arabic, English is often spoken in prime tourist locations in Egypt. The staff in the diving center speak many languages.
• Electricity: The electricity system in Egypt runs on 220V with a 2-pin socket outlet system. The 2-pin socket outlet system is suitable for most cell phone chargers without the need for an adaptor but check before you go!
• Currency, tips, gratuities and spending money: the Egyptian Pound (EGP) is made up of 100 piaster's. Tipping is customary in Egypt and gratuities will be appreciated but are not mandatory and should be given only if it is felt that the service warrants it. It is difficult to suggest a budget for spending money in Dahab as you will find Dahab prices suit all budgets from very very cheap to relatively expensive.
• Luggage allowance

  In general, weight allowances and costs vary depending upon carrier and destination. For typical scuba equipment needed for Red Sea warm water it’s not hard to stay within the weight limit. Normal weight limit is 20kg and 5kg extra for hand luggage. Check with your airline, some give additional 10-30kg for dive gear.

  An extra piece of baggage will cost extra regardless of what it weighs. Remember, you can equally distribute the weight of your gear among your bags to stay within limits, and then redistribute everything once at the diving center.

  A dive knife or cutting tool must be in your checked baggage and not in any baggage you take into the cabin and remember that some airlines do not allow pony bottles onboard, while others insist that the tanks are empty or the valves removed.

• Photography: Be sure to declare any photographic/video equipment when departing your home country in order to avoid customs tax on re-entry – please ensure that you are at the airport in good time in order to do so. All types of film can be purchased in Cairo, Sharm-el-Sheikh and Dahab.
  Caution: Please note that it is forbidden to photograph harbors', airports, military installations, check-points and military personnel in Egypt.
  
  
• Vaccinations
  Please check with your foreign office for official advise, normally no vaccinations required.