Discover Scuba Diving

Discover Scuba Diving is an introductory programme that lets non-certified visitors try breathing underwater in Naama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, in Egypt's South Sinai Governorate. The experience is run by PADI and SSI centres in the bay, including Red Sea Diving College and Oonas Dive Club, and typically lasts three to four hours from check-in to return. It begins with a short briefing on equipment, hand signals, equalising and basic safety, followed by confined-water practice in a pool or sheltered shallows. A one-to-one or small-group instructor then guides participants to the house reef, usually to a maximum of about 12 metres, where the Red Sea's clear, warm water and abundant fish life make for an easy first dive. Typical sightings include anthemis, parrotfish, butterflyfish, lionfish, moray eels and sometimes turtles. No prior experience or certification is needed. Participants should be comfortable in water, usually aged 10 or older, and must complete a medical questionnaire; conditions such as asthma, ear problems, pregnancy or heart conditions may require a doctor's clearance. All equipment, including wetsuit, mask, fins, BCD, regulator and tank, is supplied by the centre. Prices are typically EGP 1,500 to 2,500 (about $30 to 50), and some centres credit the fee towards a full Open Water course if the participant continues. The dive takes place from the shore or a short boat ride, so it avoids the long transfers of day-boat trips. Safety is handled through instructor supervision at all times, shallow depth limits, surface support, and oxygen and first-aid kits on site, with the Sharm El Sheikh hyperbaric chamber as the evacuation point for emergencies. The experience can be done all year, with water temperatures from about 22 C in winter to 29 C in summer. Participants cannot fly for 18 to 24 hours after diving, so it should not be scheduled just before a departure flight.