Last Updated on July 25, 2022
Are you a diving fan? Are you looking for a travel destination for this summer? Egypt, the divers’ paradise, is only a 5-hour flight from the UK. There are various coastal towns on the Red Sea that are perfect for a diving holiday. In this article, you will find an overview of the best ones. Take into account, though, that if you want to travel to Egypt, you have to apply for an Egypt visa.
Discover Egypt’s fascinating underwater world
The land of the Pharaohs is also known as the promised land for divers. There are numerous diving locations in Egypt, both in the Red Sea and in the Gulf of Aqaba. Popular diving spots on the Red Sea are Hurghada, El Gouna, Marsa Alam and Sharm-el-Sheikh. Dahab and Nuweiba are the best known diving locations in the Gulf of Aqaba. Because Egypt has sunshine all year round and very little water currents, the Red Sea is one of the clearest seas in the world, giving divers a fantastic view of the coral reefs.
The most popular diving sites in the Red Sea
One of the most popular diving locations in Egypt is Hurghada, where there are more than 40 registered diving centres. In the Red Sea near Hurghada you can spot turtles, mantas and rays, amongst other animals. The dive spots near Hurghada are suitable for both beginners and advanced divers. Other dive spots near Hurghada are Safaga (Soma Bay) and El Gouna, where you will find several shipwrecks. Marsa Alam is a slightly less touristy location on the Red Sea, where you can see sharks, turtles, manatees and dolphins. The famous coral reef Elphinstone can be reached within a day trip from Marsa Alam.
For many travellers, the most beautiful diving spot in Egypt is Sharm el Sheikh. There are more than 220 types of coral and more than 1,000 species of fish can be seen. The area is very popular among tourists, and can therefore be very busy. A quieter dive site in the north of Egypt is Dahab, located on the Gulf of Aqaba, north of the Red Sea. Dive sites can be reached by boat or camel from Dahab.
Apply for an Egypt visa before departure
You can apply online for your Egypt visa before departure. That way, you can arrange all the necessary travel documents before your holiday, and you will not have to worry about them during your trip. You can easily apply for your Egypt visa with a digital application form. You will have to fill in some data about your trip, about possible previous trips to Egypt and about your accommodation in Egypt. Besides that, you have to fill in your contact and passport data. After paying the visa fee, submit a scan or photo of your passport. This is also something that can easily and safely be done online.
If all data and documents are received in good order, the application will be processed. On average, applications are approved after one week. If you have planned a diving trip on short notice, or if you have forgotten to apply for your Egypt visa, you can submit an urgent application. In that case, you will receive your visa by e-mail after 5 working days. Then, you will only need to print out the visa and take it with you on your trip. At the airport, you can directly take your visa to the passport control.
