I recently spent 10 days at Elite Diving. I have been diving for over 20 years and I have dived in over 25 countries all around the world with probably 100 different establishments, and I can honestly say I have never encountered such warmth of welcome, hospitality, professionalism, fun and keen eye for safety. I literally cannot fault them. I was immediately made to feel welcome, invited to join in all sorts of extra curricular social events with the family, and every possible diving need was taken care of by the amazing team.
The boat was first class and the food is the stuff of legend!! Kerrie Edge Baisningstoke England.
0 Comments
Well here is a strange review!
I have never personally dived with Elite divers. I have dived with Oonas divers in Sharm for 26 years, I probably always will. I have however had the pleasure of neutrally observing Elite divers staff and guests in action on boats and in the sea. Their instructors are totally very professional and friendly.(You only have to review their comments page on their facebook and Trip Adviser) The reputation of their boat, crew and organisation is exemplary. I would have no reservation in recommending them...should i recommend another diving team ? Well when they are this good why not? Robert Carl Langley I've been diving with Elite for a few years now, without doubt the best dive centre that I’ve used, it is more like diving with another club rather than a centre. Over the years I have got to know both the dive team and office staff well and I am always treated exceptionally well. Nothing is too much trouble and on many occasions I have been the only guest just diving and not undertaking any courses, this has not affected the service offered and have been fortunate to dive with some of the most friendly and professional guides/instructors in the business. They are all a credit to the profession and each has their own passion be it underwater wildlife, photography, wrecks etc. They do not force their own likes/dislikes on you but tailor the dives to try to offer something to please all members of the group. Personally I just love diving and marine life so am happy to let the guide share their enthusiasm with me, so far I have never been disappointed and have never had a dive with Elite that has been anything less than impressive.
I initially started diving with Elite as the owner, Alun, was the only instructor in Sharm who was willing to deliver a selection BSAC modules for me to complete my Sports Diver Qualification, others wanted to sell me a complete course which was unnecessary. This gave me an indication that they were more interested in delivering an exemplary customer service than just offering fixed packages. I loved my two days on the boat and was impressed with how everyone was treated, banter and the comradery between dive professionals and guests was something else. When it was time visit Sharm again, as a lone diver, the choice of centre was a no brainer. I have since returned many times, my last visit was in July 2018 and I have just booked to return in October. I am a fairly experienced diver that is more used to the UK than the warm waters of the Red Sea so I always look forward to visiting my friends in Sharm and leaving the bulky dry suit behind. To be honest I have not undertaken any further formal training in Sharm as most of my diving in the UK is either teaching, acting as a rescue diver or working towards advanced BSAC qualifications so I come to Sharm to chill out and just enjoy a few days of easy relaxed diving. I have observed G, Valeria, Mark, Jamie and Hassan teach and they all deliver training to the highest possible standard with great emphasis on safety. Having been lucky to dive with some of the most experienced instructors in the UK I can honestly say the team at Elite are up there at the top of their game, if I had children I would not hesitate in letting them learn with Elite. If, like me, you go on a diving holiday on your own don’t worry about being Billy no mates, guests and staff visit one or more local bars each night for a drink, food and some good banter. They are one of the few centres in Sharm to own their own boat and it is a really impressive vessel. Alun has spared no expense, and used his years of experience, turning into one the best Day boats on the Red Sea. He has hand picked his crew to deliver the level of service he expects. The Captain can place the dive deck over the dive site with precision that puts many others to shame, the cook feeds us all very well and the crew constantly take care of all divers. My only gripe is that they can be to attentive at times, I know they are only trying to help but i like to set my kit up myself and have my own system for getting ready to dive. On the other hand if you are a new diver this assistance would be very much appreciated. Getting to Sharm from the UK can be a bit of a pain at the moment but I usually travel with Turkish Airlines via Istanbul as they fly from Birmingham and give a great luggage allowance, the included wine and beer on the flight is a bonus. The return layover in Istanbul seems a long time but if you get a visa you can have a city tour (free with Turkish) or make your own way into the city. Some guests from the South fly with Egypt Air from London via Cairo and the transfer time is less, but for me the flights from Birmingham are more convenient. Insurance can be arranged through Westfield and they are happy to put in writing that they cover travel via Sharm airport unlike some companies. Hotels are available to suit all tastes and pockets, me, having some Welsh blood in me, chooses a cheap but clean establishment. If you have any questions Moyra, Alun’s wife and Boss , or Angie in the office will give unbiased advice, just email them and you will receive a very prompt reply Look forward to seeing you all again soon Dave ‘Dai’ Jones Telford U.K. My kids (14 and 22) and I had two wonderful days with Elite Diving. From the very first email inquiry over five great dives to the sad farewell at the dive centre these guys 'n girls totally lived up to their company name. It goes without saying that they know, what they're doing and that both gear and boat is of high standard. And while diving in the Red Sea is incredible in itself, Angie, Valeria, Mark, G and the boat crew totally lifted our experience from good to great. Even the normally rather boring dive site briefings was very fun and interesting. We will most definitely go diving with Elite again, and I can only recommend all other divers, beginners or pros, to do the same. See you again, guys - next time for courses (and hopefully a whale shark).
Peter S. I just returned from a trip to New York (hang on the relevance will be clear shortly.. .the review is about Diving with Elite in Sharm el Sheikh I promise!)...and what a fab trip it was, the reason I was lucky enough to go to N.Y. as well as Cordoba and Bali (to name a few over the last couple of years) is because of Elite Diving!!
I have met some of my now very close friends on the Elite boat. I started diving with Elite over 7 years ago as a solo traveller/diver, I have made so many friends through diving with Elite and now rarely go there alone (but I would highly recommend you do if you are a solo diver). You'll be matched with suitable buddy and I'm sure before long you'll have a new friend! I used to work in Sharm at another very good dive center where I met the owners Alun and Moyra when they visited Sharm on a diving holiday themselves. After I left Sharm I went travelling, when I eventually settled down and came back to Sharm on holiday, I preferred diving with Alun and Moyra's elite diving due to the relax family atmosphere they produce. The staff in the small family run centre (all English speaking, with the occasional spatter of Welsh) make you feel part of the family, the briefings are fun, the diving is awesome, the boat crew are so helpful, friendly and cook up tasty food in the valley. The prices are extremely competitive. You'll get loads of free abuse but compliments are extra ...elite joke! I have now dived as a super hero, a clown, a pirate and in psychedelic 60's outfits with the Elite divers, this is always a giggle and makes for memorable post dive party eves too. On a more serious note, Elite take safety very seriously, you'll be fully briefed and you will get to see some beautiful dive sites. They explain all the costs upfront so there are no surprises when you get your bill at the end of your trip...and your kit will be all clean, dry & ready to pack too I've been twice in 2017 and am about to book again, it's easy to get there via Cairo with Egypt Air, swift transfer and then only 45 mins to Sharm. Easy and you get comfy seats, free movies, free food and you get a huge baggage allowance! Don't wait for the UK to resume flights direct, aside from Cairo there are other route options and all take around 6-7 hours...its easy Cindy - Southampton. UK.
“Great first diving experience”
![]()
We had a fantastic experience with Elite. I felt safe and really supported as I prepared for my first dive. I felt that safety and comfort level were the top priorities. I really enjoyed the experience and I felt calm and well taken care of during my first dive. The guys, Gwyn and Shun were so positive and thorough. They were really accommodating and structured the diving day around our family needs and requests. I will definitely recommend them to my friends and will use them again when I return to Sharm.
Visited March 2016
Helpful?
![]() ![]() ![]()
Ask johannacena about Elite Diving
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
“Knowledgeable, fun friendly & conscientious guides and dive masters- excellent banter”
![]()
I was referred to Elite by a friend who had a wonderful experience with them years ago. Apparently nothing has changed.
A really fun and friendly group of dive masters and guides who go out of their way to tailor every dive to the desires and experience level of the groups. The equipment was in great nick, and appeared to be well looked after. We hired everything through Elite from wetsuits (you will only need a shorty in October) to BCDs/ fins and goggles. I did a review course as I haven't dived in a couple of years and the dive master who took me through it was thorough and conscientious and gave me a huge amount of confidence. We did five days of diving and were pleased to dive with a school who seemed as interested in conservation of the marine life as they were in making sure that we had a brilliant experience. We did 2 dives, each at a different site, every day, with an optional third at a further site, which we did or did not do depending on how we were feeling. The sites are phenomenal, and Sharm certainly deserves it reputation as being one of the best in the world. The boats we used were also in great condition and the crew were very helpful and accommodating. Lunch on the boat (Verdi) is a real treat in particular and excellent value for money. Everything about my experience with Elite was top class. The guys on the admin team respond promptly and thoroughly to enquiries and everything is well organised. After the days' diving, a bunch of folks from Elite as well as divers gather in Stella Bar and swap dive stories and great banter. We met wonderful people and made great friends with divers with over 40 years experience as well as other newbies doing their first ever course. The personal touch and the great comradely really made the holiday for us, and although the diving on its own would have been brilliant enough, when we go back out again (soon I hope) it feels like we'd be visiting friends.
Visited October 2015
Helpful?
![]() ![]() ![]()
Ask CarolFreep about Elite Diving
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
“Excellent Dving Experience with Elite Diving”
![]()
My wife and I had a wonderful time with Elite Diving. We original booked for 5 days diving but had such a great time we dived a further 2 days. Alun and the team did an excellent job in organising different dive sites even when the boats were grounded because of a sand storm. The pick-ups were always on time and they made each day fun and there is always lots of banter with everyone. The hotel Il Mercato they recommended was very good and we enjoyed meeting up with them most evenings at the local bar.
I would recommend them to anyone considering diving in Sharm. We are already considering going back next year and are just waiting for BA to release their timetable for September.
Visited September 2015
Helpful?
![]() ![]() ![]()
Ask Smeagol101 about Elite Diving
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
“Best in the Red Sea...!”
![]()
My husband and I had a fantastic time diving with Elite. The whole experience was faultless and we would absolutely recommend them to friends and family – we ourselves definitely won’t dive with anyone else in Egypt and in fact we are hoping to be able to come back out again in April next year.
We had a few days fun diving with you, but also completed our advanced open water while we were there. Our instructor Gwyn was really brilliant. Calm, patient and very funny, he really made the whole experience a pleasure. We’re both relatively new divers and I have been a bit of a nervous diver before but his approach calmed me down completely and he really taught me to just chill and enjoy the experience. Thanks for a brilliant time, and we really hope to see you again next year...!!
Visited September 2015
Helpful?
![]() ![]() ![]()
Ask Tanyavni about Elite Diving
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
“BSAC diving”
![]()
Arrived at my hotel in Sharm with 2 dives to complete my Ocean Diver BSAC course. Moyra and the staff at the office were really helpful with correspondence and details needed to help me to finish the course I had began in Britain.
After completing the 2 shore dives with Karen I went on to carry out a further 5 boat dives with Sean and Hossan, both of whom were excellent guides with great knowledge of the reefs we dived. I cannot recommend Elite Divers enough, they are a very professional outfit with a family feel whilst in their company. When visiting the Red Sea they are the ones to contact first, I will certainly be diving with them again. Jeff - Coventry
Visited September 2015
Helpful?
![]() ![]() ![]()
Ask Jeff N about Elite Diving
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
“Fantastic company, fantastic staff, fantastic diving with a personal, friendly touch!!!”
![]()
From the moment I made contact with Moyra I was put at ease, instant response to my inquiry, prices, descriptions of what was included and not included. Booked within minutes, great prices and fantastic value. From the first day I was picked up in the bus to take me to the boat I was reassured by Joey that I had made the correct decision to select Elite out of the 100's of Companies in the Red Sea. All the staff spoke perfect English, had a love of diving and were able to pass on that passion to all those who dived with them. I personally dived with Hossam, Dave & Hassan but everybody involved with the company, the office staff the boat staff and other instructors were so accommodating to make my diving special.
Going back again very soon!!!
Visited September 2015
Kelly Nash is from USA but now lives in Barcelona.
This is her Trip Advisor Review ![]()
Gwyn, Moira, and Alun were very accommodating through every part of the experience. We had Gwyn all to ourselves for two days, which was perfect for a new diver and a refresher course. You can tell the whole family LOVES what they do, and it is contagious. We felt like part of the family!
Visited February 2016
Helpful?
![]() ![]()
Ask KellyJNash about Elite Diving
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
Buzby2015, Owner at Elite Diving, responded to this review, 20 February 2016
We also enjoyed having you dive with us Kelly. Your enjoyment was very apparent from the big smile on your face.
We would love to see you back so we can show you a lot more than you saw in the two days you dived in Sharm. There's so much more to see and experience. Fingers crossed it's soon. ![]()
This was my first diving experience and it was truly a positive one. We had a lot of personalized attention and everything felt safe and professional. I will recommend Elite to all my friends and colleagues. I will be back for sure!
Visited February 2016
Helpful?
![]() ![]()
Ask Kristin H about Elite Diving
This review is the subjective opinion of a TripAdvisor member and not of TripAdvisor LLC
|
TestimonialsSee what our guests say about Elite Diving. Archives
April 2025
|