The Red Sea & Egypt - Diving Holidays in Paradise

MID SOUTH - SAFAGA & EL QUESIR

SAFAGA

As you head south from the busy resort of Hurghada the first place you will reach is the informal resort of Safaga. This is small town dominated by the nearby busy trading port. It is an excellent base for those wanting to experience the wonders of the Red Sea whilst staying in a smaller, quieter resort. This is the gateway to the south.

Shams Safaga Resort and Beach Hotel ****

Based on a private sandy beach in a sheltered bay – this hotel is well known for its friendliness and high standards. You have a choice of staying in the main hotel complex or upgrading to one of the bungalows surrounded by beautifully maintained gardens. All rooms have a balcony or terrace. This hotel has a wide range of sporting activities including tennis, squash, swimming pool, mini golf, horse-riding and a world class diving and Club Mistral windsurfing centre.

Diving with Shams Dive Centre

Safaga is an excellent base from which to explore famous sites such as Panorama Reef, Middle Reef and Shaab Sheer. There are sheltered reefs and coral gardens, hosting a wide range of marine life and drop offs which attract some of the more predatory fish such as barracuda, tuna and jacks.
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EL QUESIR

El Quesir is a remote coastal, un-commercialised resort, approximately 2 hours south of Hurghada. Treasured for its peaceful location it has become popular among holiday makers keen to experience the historical charm of the area yet relish in its slow pace. It used to be a Phenitian Port and you may therefore still find Roman Ruins in the town and out in the desert.

Movenpick Hotel *****

This fabulous 5 star resort hotel is set in a dramatic location in a beautiful bay on the beach approximately 5 km from the town of El Quesir. The rooms are all set within Nubian style bungalows with either a balcony or terrace. A choice of restaurants and bars and nightly entertainment. Swimming pool with children’s section, floodlit tennis courts, horse riding stables and health centre.
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The extremely experienced Swiss run Subex Dive Centre is based at the Movenpick Hotel. As well as boasting an amazing house reef teeming with life they will take you to the largely untouched sites of this fascinating region. The quality of coral and marine life is outstanding. They have a very strict environmental programme which limits the number of divers they accept, so it is worth getting your diving booked well in advance to avoid disappointment.

Mangrove Bay

Away from telephones, the peaceful Mangrove Bay Resort is situated 29 km south of El Quesir on the way to Marsa Alam. This simple yet delightful hotel overlooks a beautiful bay full of mangrove Trees. There are 3 white sandy beaches – perfect for strolling along after dinner in the main restaurant or at the Barbeque grill. The hotel has a swimming pool and offers billiards, fishing, beach volleyball, camel and horseback riding and desert safaris.
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The friendly, welcoming Ducks Dive Centre is based at the hotel. They have a spectacular house reef in front of the hotel perfect for underwater photographers who need time to get that perfect shot. They also have a fleet of boats that can take you to various sites along the 20 km reef which runs north and south of the hotel. The area is a kaleidoscope of fish and magnificent coral growth. You may want to embark on one of their over-night safaris to Elphinstone Reef.