February Holiday Deals to Sharm

After Booking your holiday don't forget to book your diving before you travel on http://www.elite-diving.com/ for the best deals around.

Falcon Inn Viva 4* Hotel
GATWICK
23rd February – 7 Nights
£270 Bed and Breakfast
Creative Mexicana 3* Hotel
GATWICK
23rd February – 7 Nights
£243 Bed and Breakfast
Amar Sinai 3* Hotel
BRISTOL
4th March 2010 – 7 Nights
£261 Bed and Breakfast
Creative Mexicana 3* Hotel
GATWICK
9th March – 7 Nights
£251 Bed and Breakfast
Creative Badawia 3*Hotel
GATWICK
9th March – 7 Nights
£255 Bed and Breakfast
Domina Coral Bay 5* Hotel
GATWICK
9th March – 7 Nights
£331 Bed and Breakfast
Luna Sharm 3* Hotel
EAST MIDLANDS
24th March – 7 Nights
£284 Bed and Breakfast
Coral Hills 4* Hotel
EAST MIDLANDS
24th March – 7 Nights
£285 Bed and Breakfast
Amar Sinai 3* Hotel
MANCHESTER
11th April – 7 Nights
£371 Bed and Breakfast
Cleopatra Tskoks 3* Hotel
EAST MIDLANDS
28th April – 7 Nights
£242 Bed and Breakfast

For details on holidays and diving e.mail: info@elite-diving.com

Tropical storm and floods in Sharm El Sheikh Red Sea Egypt

Fork Lightening hits Sharm


Multiple Strikes

Wading through the aftermath in Old Market

Water Taxi?

With the foundations washed away the steps down to Ras Katy area collapse.

It was on Sunday evening 17 January 2010 a tropical storm hit Sharm El Shiekh. There was thunder and lightening which lasted for several hours and with it very heavy rainfall that caused destructive flooding.

The storm and the rain took out much of Sharm's power and phone lines.

As this amount of rain fall is very unusual, it disabled Sharm just like a heavy snow fall disables the UK.

This photo was taken two days after the storm and shows some of the aftermath. There are reports of differing degrees of damage and hardship in the Sharm area.

With no drains in the gutters, flood water is still held in parts making passing very difficult.

A taxi passes very carefully at the shallow end!

The authorities cancelled all diving activities on Monday as there were still high winds forecast.

I remember heavy rain in October 2002. Perhaps the thunder and lightning wasn't so dramatic but the flooding then was very bad in places but things got back to normal very quickly.

Since the phone lines are back on we have had reports that the new road to Dahab has been washed away.

A big clean up is underway and its now business as usual in Sharm.

There will be further reports on how the reefs have been affected by the run off.

Look on Red Sea News http://www.elite-diving.com/

Ex Explorers and Ocean College staff set up their own dive center.

Alun and Moyra, a couple who previously worked for Explorers and Ocean College when the both companies were at the height of their popularity, have formed their own dive center in Sharm El Sheikh, Red Sea, and have kept the traditional family atmosphere that they helped to create while working for Explorers and Ocean College. Their set up has a very warm and friendly club like feeling and they employ staff to help their divers find some of the best holiday deals available on the Internet and through ATOL and ABTA bonded travel agents


Moyra (left) pictured with her Explorers colleagues.




Alun seen far right pictured giving one of his famous briefings while working for Ocean College.

Alun and Moyra have been working independently since 2005 and their dive center which is called Divers United has been awarded a 5 star rating by PADI, a seal of approval form the Egyption Ministry of Tourism and glowing reports form The Chamber of Diving and Water Sports of Egypt along with their ISO rating.

They have built up a reputation for providing what the diving public wants, individuals and groups alike, which is good diving, good service and good prices.

To view their packages for diving and accommodation look on http://www.elite-diving.com/
For ABTA and ATOL bonded agent e-mail info@elite-diving.com

Back to Normal on the surface. Woodhouse Reef Sharm El Sheikh Red Sea

The CSCL Hamburg has finally been pulled off Woodhouse reef.

On the surface all is back to normal, but underwater it leaves its mark. A very deep gouge in the reef and the debris falling downwards also causing much damage further down the reef.

After we had been stopped from diving in the area by a police boat earlier on in the week a diver managed to make a video of the ship from underwater and you can visibly see the damage to the reef. Click on the following link to see the footage. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=20FW-wuGwTI

Update 3. Ship Crash. Hits Woodhouse Reef

The inevitable is happening. The wind is picking up from the North. These pictures were taken approx 2.00pm on 6th Jan 2010, seven days after the initial colision, and shows CSCL Hamburg has turned 90 degrees to the west and getting closer to Thomas reef.

Above, you can see the ship moving broadside to Thomas reef. The wind can get much stronger and its hoped that it holds off until politics are resolved.

Two tugs are stopping the ship from turning any further and hitting Thomas Reef.

A local journalist tells us that there are four companies bidding for salvage rights of the wreck. As soon as this is finalised the ship will be taken away. Conservationist all over will be holding their breath. As divers, it’s always nice diving on a new wreck but if the weather gets much worse, there will be tremendous devastation of these magnificent coral reefs.

Keep updated on http://www.elite-diving.com/redsea/redsea.html

Update on Ship Chrashed on Woodhouse Reef Sharm El Sheikh Red Sea

It has been fortunate for CSCL Hamburg after running aground on Woodhouse reef, that the weather in the Straits of Tiran has been kind to it.

Regular diving visitors to Sharm will know how the sea can be rough in that area. Being at the mouth of the Gulf of Aqaba and exposed to approx 600 KM of open sea where the Northerly wind predominantly bears down, causing waves to crash over Woodhouse reef.

As you can see fro the photo above, this week the sea has been calm, minimising the damaged being caused to the bow section while the ship awaits repairs so it can be pull off the reef.
We will be visiting Woodhouse tomorrow and post our findings and current photos.
To keep up to date with events look on http://www.elite-diving.com/redsea/redsea.html

Ship hits Woodhouse reef in Sharm El Sheikh.

On 31st of December 2009 The CSCL Hamburg hit Woodhous reef in The Straits of Tiran Nr Sharm El Sheikh.


The ship is in excess of 250m-long. Tat the moment the damage is limited to the bow section. The ship has been grounded on the reef for a few days, and awaits repairs before attempts are made to move it off the reef. The diving industry that made Sharm the busy resort it is today, is very relived that the damage to the reef will be kept to one small area. As there is no evidence of leakage it is hoped there will be not be any contamination to the water which would have a massive adverse effect on the corals and marine life in this underwater area of outstanding natural beauty. However you can imagine the comments about having a nice new wreck on the doorstep!!!!

It is reported that boats in the area overheard VHF radio conversations between the ship’s captain and the authorities. The captain reportedly said that it appears there is no fuel or oil leakages and bilge pumps were coping with the intake of water as the damage was only limited to the bow section and its watertight compartments.

Keep up to date with these events on http://www.elite-diving.com/

Emperor and Divers Sharm El Sheikh Red Sea

There are a veriaty of Emperor fish in the Red Sea.Below are a few expamles.

The Very colourfull adult Emperor Angelfish. When a juvenile its mostly blue and white rings.


A Yellow lipped Emperor fish. Fairly shy of divers.


Bigeye emperor with divers in the backround. Adults group together in the day.


Mahsena emperor with diver swimming by.
Come Emperor watching while diving with us in Sharm El Sheikh, Red Sea

Look at our dive packs on http://www.elite-diving.com/

Free Nitrox Diving in Sharm El Sheikh Red Sea

Look on www.elite-diving.com for dive packages.

Red Sea Diving at Sharm El Sheik, Egypt

The Red Sea has the closest coral Reef to the U.K. and is among the "Elite" dive locations of the world, with its warm crystal clear water and its diversity of life, different coral and over a thousand species of fish living and feeding amongst it.

In the South Sinai, Elite Diving operates from Sharm El Sheikh where it is among the best places for beginners and experienced alike with sheltered dives in local sites and the more adventurous Ras Mohamed, Straits of Tiran and Dahab dive sites not to mention the word famous world war two ship wreck S.S Thistlegorm.

Oceanic White Tip - a visitor to Jackson Reef, Tiran

It is also home to big pelagic creatures that cruise past on a regular basis. Creatures such as whale sharks, hammerheads, leopard, guitar, white tip Oceanic, black tip Oceanic, grey reef, white tip reef and tiger sharks, turtles, blue spotted, feather tail, eagle and manta rays and several types of dolphins are regularly spotted by our clients and guides.

Unfortunately these creatures are very shy. It is alleged that for every one we see ten of them have seen us first!

Your Elite hosts in The Red Sea will be Alun and Moyra Evans.
Elite Diving can arrange to pick you up from the airport and when you want to start diving we will pick you up from your hotel and transfer you straight to your boat or training facility to commence diving or training.

All guides and Instructors are English speaking and hand picked for their ability in effective teaching of SCUBA diving and extensive knowledge of the dive sites and marine life in the South Sinai area which include reef, wall, night, boat, drift, shore and wreck diving.
Our Instructors teach PADI, BSAC and TDI courses.

One of the policies that our guests appreciate is that we have a maximum rule of six divers per group so not to overcrowd you on your dive. This will make your diving far more pleasant and enjoyable.

We will make up bigger groups at a groups request. We are here to provide a personal service for our guests so we are as flexible as we can possibly be.

Fast Boat Trips to S.S. Thistlegorm Wreck

Look At this!! Fast Boat Trips to...

S.S. Thistlegorm trip (World War 11 Wreck)

This has to be among the greatest wreck dives in the world S.S. Thistlegorm was a British merchant ship on secondment during world war two and was sunk by the Luftwaffe near Sha’ab Ali in the North Western area of The Red Sea in The Gulf of Suez.

It’s cargo of guns, Bedford trucks, BSA motor bikes, aeroplane wings, steam engine and tenders and so much more is still there to be seenOne of the complaints in the past of this trip was it as so far away you had to get up at 4.00 a.m. to make the long journey. Or live on a boat for a week to get out to it.

Now we use a fast ex safari boat working on daily trips, that only takesapproximately two hours so we leave harbour at 7.00 am and get you back at the normal time. A far more civilised trip when you’re on your holiday.

£60 supplement

To book or for more information contact us >

The Viking Club Hotel Naama Bay, Sharm El Sheikh, Red Sea

Hotel Bargain Deal!!!!
£10 per night!!!!*

*When booking your diving with us we can arrange accommodation for you in the Viking Club Hotel, a 4 star hotel from £10 per night B&B per person for two sharing a room. Subject to pre paying in the UK before your holiday.

Click here for information about the Viking Club Hotel

Elite Diving - Red Sea TV debut

Elite Diving on TV ...

Alun and Moyra your Elite Diving hosts at Sharm El Sheikh have been featured in a TV reality programme.

The programme was featured on S4C which is the Welsh channel 4 (Has Alun ever told you he’s Welsh?) over Christmas 2007 and an Omnibus version were shown on New Years day 2008.
The programme was about a well known (in Wales) Welsh TV presenter Dai Jones trying to overcome his fear of water and learning to swim. His good friend Wil accompanied him on the trip.

The programme is called Dai Yn Y Dwr (David in the water) and Alun was called on to teach Dai as the programme was for Welsh speakers and Alun in his distant past had an education in Welsh.

The film crew were in Sharm for a whole week and were filming all day every day with a gruelling schedule. If not in the pool or a beach where the swimming lessons took place, they also were filming Dai and his side kick Wil out and about in and around Sharm. They even took a trip up to Dahab to experience the vast contrast of the surroundings there.

The finished programme itself was charged with emotions, ups and downs, and it made compelling viewing.

Alun and Moyra said they had great fun being a part of this production and would be very happy to do a similar venture again.

Here are some photos on locations while filming.

Click here to see pictures >