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Frequently Asked Questions

Diving
Do I need to make a check dive?
What type of tanks do you have?
Do I have to dive with a guide?

What thickness wetsuit do I need?
I have lost my diving license. What should I do?
I have a diving license but haven’t dived in over a year. What should I do?
Must I dive on consecutive days?
What about diving insurance?
How long must I leave between flying and diving?
Do I have to dive locally on my first day?
Can we do some shore diving?
What time of year is best to dive in Sharm?
Do you go to the wreck of the Thistlegorm?
What are the boats like?
What happens to my equipment during the week?
I am with someone who doesn’t dive. Is it okay for them to come on the boat?
How many people are on the boats?
Can you pick me up from my hotel?

Courses
If I don't have a diving license, can I dive?

How long does it take to learn to dive?
Will I actually get to dive during the open water course?

I’m not a very good swimmer – can I still learn to dive?
Do I need to see a doctor before diving?
Does the price of the course included everything or are there any additional charges?
Are the courses only done in English?
Is a PADI license recognised worldwide?
I have already done my open water course. What courses can I do next?

Non-Diving
Other than diving what else is there to do in Sharm?
What’s the best way to book?
What payment methods do you accept?
Is the tap water alright to drink?
Where can I check my emails?
Can you collect me from the airport?
Check in and check out times?
How far from Naama Bay are you?

Diving
Q - Do I need to make a check dive?
A – We ask all divers who have not dived in the past 6 to 12 months and have logged less than 100 dives to complete a check dive. During the dive we make sure you are properly weighted and then run through some of the basic scuba skills. This is also a great way to start your holiday if you’re feeling a little nervous. The check dive costs an additional €22 on top of your diving package.

Q – What type of tanks do you have?
A – We mainly have 12 litre aluminium tanks with international fittings although we do have DIN tanks available. We can also provide 8 and 15 litre tanks as well as Nitrox tanks for a small additional charge. Please let us know your requirements at the time of booking.

Q – Do I have to dive with a guide?
A - Yes, all our dives are guided. Your safety is the responsibility of the guide on the boat so the final decision is left with them, but usually the more experienced divers can hang at the back at of the group.

Q – What thickness wetsuit do I need?
A - In the summer (May to October) usually a 3 or 5mm suit is thick enough but during the winter months when the water temperature drops must divers use a 5 to 7 mm wetsuit or semi-dry suit. It is also a good idea to bring a sweatshirt, or something similar, to take on the boat during the winter in case of windy days.

Q – I have lost my diving license. What should I do?
A – Contact PADI, or which ever diving organisation you trained with, and they should be able to issue you with a replacement card.

Q – I have a diving license but haven’t dived in over a year. What should I do?
A – Any diver who hasn’t dived in a year or more must complete the PADI Scuba Review. This is a one day refresher course and covers a review of the theory as well as a run through all of the diving skills.

Q – Must I dive on consecutive days?
A – No, if you want to take some time off in the middle of your diving it is not a problem. Just let us know.

Q – What about diving insurance?
A – Most general travel insurance policies do not cover individuals for diving so make sure that you check to see if you are covered or not. If not you will need to take out additional insurance for recreational diving.

Q – How long must I leave between flying and diving?
A - Due to the fact that you will be doing daily, multiple diving we ask all divers leave a minimum of 18 hours before flying or going to altitude.

Q - Do I have to dive locally on my first day?
 A – We ask everyone to do a gentle first days diving as this allows you to get back in the water in relatively calm conditions to make sure your weight is correct before doing some of the more difficult dive sites. If you have been out of the water for a while you may need to do either a check dive or Scuba Review – see previous questions.

Q – Can we do some shore diving?
A – Yes, we can arrange dives our house reef if you don’t want to go on the boat for the day. We also have a RIB that gets you to Tiran in less than 10 minutes allowing you to do a single dive in a relatively short amount of time.

Q – What time of year is best to dive in Sharm?
A – The diving is great here all year. In the summer months you get the big schools of fish but it can be too hot and too busy for some people. The rest of the year is cooler and quieter.

Q - Do you go to the wreck of the Thistlegorm?
A – Yes! We don’t have any fixed days to go there so just let your guide or the dive centre staff know that you’re interested and we’ll look at getting a boat together. If we don’t have enough guests interested then we will phone around and find you a space on a boat with another centre.

Q - What are the boats like?
A – All our daily diving boats have a salon, toilet, sun and shaded areas and are equipped with oxygen and first aid.  The back deck is the wet area for divers and their equipment and has ladders for exiting the water. There is also a kitchen where the crew prepare a delicious buffet style lunch daily. Lunch, including unlimited soft drinks, tea and coffee, cost 40Le and is payable direct to the crew on the boat.

Q - What happens to my equipment during the week?
A – On the first morning we will get you to pack it into a dive box and then the diving staff will transfer it to the boat for you. If you dive every day then the equipment stays on the boat for the whole week. If you take a day or two off then the staff will bring your box back to the centre for you.

Q – I am with someone who doesn’t dive. Is it okay for them to come on the boat?
A – Non-divers are more then welcome on the boat. The cost for them is €20 a day excluding snorkelling equipment which can be rented from the dive centre if required.

Q – How many people are on the boats?
We keep small groups on the boats so that everyone can enjoy a better days diving or snorkelling

Q – Can you pick me up from my hotel?
A - Yes, we offer free transfers to and from all hotels in the Sharm, Naama and Nabq areas.

 

Courses
Q - If I don't have a diving license, can I dive?
A – Yes! You can try diving with PADI’s Discover Scuba Diving programme which allows you to take your first breaths underwater in a very safe and controlled environment. Alternatively, you can sign up for the PADI Open Water or PADI Scuba Diver course and become a qualified diver.

Q - How long does it take to learn to dive?

A – Your best entry level option is the PADI Open Water Course which takes between 4 and 5 days to complete depending on the size of the group and how comfortable everyone is in the water. If you don’t have enough time to do the full course then you do the PADI Scuba Diver Course which takes 2 or 3 days and certifies you to dive to 12 meters.

Q – Will I actually get to dive during the open water course?
A – Yes! The PADI Open Water Course consist of 5 confined water dives which we do in the pool-like conditions of our house reef and also 4 open water dives. The final 2 open water dives are to a maximum of 18 meters

Q – I’m not a very good swimmer – can I still learn to dive?
A - As long as you can swim 200 metres and to tread water for 10 minutes, or swim 300 metres with mask, snorkel and fins and to tread water for ten minutes, then you can do the can do the open water course.

Q – Do I need to see a doctor before diving?
A – It is a good idea for everyone to at least have a look at the PADI medical questionnaire before diving. Anyone doing a PADI course has to fill it in before we can take you in the water. If you answer ‘yes’ to any of the questions then you must be signed off by a doctor trained in diving medicine before the start of the course.

Q – Does the price of the course included everything or are there any additional charges?
A – The only additional charges are the license fee to PADI of €30 plus you will also need a log book (you can buy or we will give you one free of charge) and a PADI dive manual which you can either buy before you arrive (and start reading it) or purchase from the dive centre for around €40 – depending on which course and language.

Q – Are the courses only done in English?
A - No, we can offer courses in most languages. Please let us know at the time of booking

Q – Is a PADI license recognised worldwide?
A – Yes, PADI is the largest diving training organisation and is recognised everywhere.

Q - I have already done my open water course. What courses can I do next?
A – The PADI Advanced Course is designed to follow on from the Open Water Course but can also be adapted for divers who have gained more experience. Alternatively if you have specific areas of interest then you can choose from our list of specialty courses.

 

Non-Diving
Q – Other than diving what else is there to do in Sharm?
A – Plenty! Other than all the water based activities such as snorkelling and wake boarding there is the entire desert area to explore by camel, car, quad bikes or on horse back. We can arrange daily excursions to places such as the Coloured Canyon and St Katherine’s monastery or try sleeping under the stars in the desert for a night or two.

Q – What’s the best way to book?
The easiest way to book is through one of out agents as they can book flight, accommodation and diving as one package. Alternatively you can contact us direct on reservation@sharksbay.com although we are not able to book flights for you.

Q – What payment methods do you accept?
A - We accept cash payments in US Dollars, British pounds, Euros and Egyptian pounds. You can also pay with Visa or MasterCard although a 3% surcharge will be added to your bill. We do not accept travellers’ cheques but you can change them at one of the local banks.

Q – Is the tap water alright to drink?
A – No, in general it is not a good idea to drink the tap water. Bottled water is inexpensive and ready available and you should drink plenty of it.

Q – Where can I check my emails?
A – We have an internet shop at Sharks Bay which is open every day.

Q – Can you collect me from the airport?
A - Yes, if you send as the date and time that you arrive then one of our drivers will be at the airport to meet you. The cost of the transfer, each way, varies between €2 and €5 depending on the size of your group. 

Q – Check in and check out times?
A- The check-in time is 14.00. Check-out time is midday although there is the possibility of a late check out if the hotel is not too busy, for a charge of €10. If you would like a late check out please check with reception the day before you leave.

Q – How far from Naama Bay are you?
A- We are only about 10 minutes away by taxi from Naama Bay and a few minutes from the airport. If you want to go into Naama Bay then the hotel reception can call a taxi for you. When returning ask the taxi driver to take you to Sharks Bay Jetty and then it’s just a short walk along the beach to the hotel or dive centre.

 


 
   

 
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