General Travel Information

Temperature
Dahab is surrounded by mountains and desert therefore the climate is dry, except for the occasional downpour in the winter months which often proves to be more of a novelty than an inconvenience! The temperatures during the summer months can reach as high as 45C!

Dahab is blessed with a cool onshore breeze, which makes the temperature much more bearable than other Sinai towns like Sharm-el-Sheikh.

The water temperature is constantly 20-26*C, and very seldom drops below 22*C, with February being the lowest and August the highest months. When wondering what wet suit to bring out with you we suggest about a 3mm wetsuits in the summer months and up to 5mm wetsuit in the winter. It is the wind following the dives that can cool people rapidly so it is recommended you bring a warm fleece or top for after the dive.

Whatever the time of year remember to pack the essentials - sunglasses, sun block (high factor) and lip salve, mosquito repellent, re-hydration tablets, small torch, light casual clothing, warm clothing for winter evenings and a small first aid kit.

Please remember that the predominant religion is Muslim and therefore remember to dress conservatively away from the beach areas and despite soaring temperatures it is advisable to keep covered to prevent harmful sunburn.

Visas
An Egyptian visa is required for entry into Egypt and for visiting Ras Mohammed and the Thistlegorm wreck or any other destinations outside of the Sinai. This can be obtained at Sharm el Sheikh and Cairo airport on disembarkation for USD15.00, or one bought in London at the Egyptian Embassy in Chelsea, it is issued in one day by dropping your passport off in the morning and picking it up that afternoon (be warned they do not issue change, so take the correct money).

Currency
The currency in Egypt is the Egyptian pound (LE); however the Euro, US dollar and Sterling are still widely accepted. There are now many banks and ATM’s in Dahab for withdrawing cash as credit cards are not accepted in the majority of places yet!

Communication with the outside world
There are numerous shops offering international fax and telephone services and mobile networks are readily picked up in the Sinai, most tourists staying longer than a week or two opt to buy a ‘pay as you go’, Sim card from one of the many mobile phone shops in town. Top up cards can be bought in all the local supermarkets and Phone cards can also be bought for use in the public phones at 20, 30, and 50 L.E. each. There are many internet cafes in town and the majority have broadband connections. Satellite TV is available in many hotels and the major sporting events are shown in a couple of the bars in town (no missing out on the World Cup games, Six Nation’s rugby or British league games.)
International newspapers are widely available but can be a couple of days out of date and a little more expensive than you would pay at home.

Health
When learning to dive for the first time it can be advisable to check with your doctor that there are no medical conditions preventing you from diving and some courses can require a signed medical statement from your GP. We are sorry but any YES responses on the medical form will mean we cannot start a course for you. We have a doctor that will visit you in the dive centre, if required. It is always advisable to have diving and travel Insurance.

The cost of healthcare in Egypt is very little compared to Europe and in town we have a couple of clinics run by local doctors and two clinics at the two Hyperbaric Chambers in Dahab. We also have a well respected dentist if the need should arise. There are many well stocked pharmacies in Dahab and medication is a fraction of the cost here in Egypt.
We also have medically trained staff at Poseidon if first aid or advice is required.

Although no specific vaccinations are required when visiting Egypt please check with your GP in case the situation should change.
It is advisable to drink plenty of water whilst in a hot climate and bottled water is cheap and readily available, it is advisable not to drink the tap water and to use bottled water when cleaning your teeth. Ice cubes are made from potable water in town so don’t worry when you are given them in drinks. Food hygiene levels have improved greatly in recent years and the majority of food is safe to eat including salads, but when in doubt don’t eat it. The majority of people visiting Dahab will experience a change in bowel action whilst here, but please don’t mistake this for food poisoning as many people do, it does happen occasionally but is not as common as people envisage.