Gap Year Egypt

Programmes in Egypt

Red Sea - full range of learn-to-dive programmes

If you’ve always wanted to try scuba diving – then jump in! Here’s your chance to learn-to-dive and breathe underwater in a fun & safe environment. Dahab is the perfect place for beginners to learn to dive and it offers some fabulous dive sites that are very accessible. Some of the best reefs in Dahab are just 20 metres from the dive centre. A quick walk to the shore and then you’re diving in a giant tropical fish tank!

 

Red Sea Divemaster Traineeship

The traineeship incorporates a full array of PADI courses from National Geographic Open Water to Divemaster as well excursions and additional learning modules. Aside from being trained up to Divemaster, you will receive hands on experience with compressor operations, kit maintenance, leading dives, safety procedures, front office and customer liaison, boat management, professional procedures (including attitude, insurance, sales and CV writing) and dive chamber treatment. Many of these skills are only available on our traineeship in Dahab.

Red Sea - Dive Management and Instructor Traineeships

Our Dive Management and Instructor traineeships include a full range of PADI courses as well as custom-designed modules to ensure you receive the best all-round learning experience. Depending on the traineeship you choose (determined by your current diving level), your traineeship includes professional PADI tuition, enhanced learning modules, work experience, unlimited diving and plenty of time to absorb what you learn. You need not look any further - these are highly rewarding, enjoyable and fun. We guarantee not to disappoint!

Advanced Red Sea Research Diver

This course covers the aspects of marine research data collection and surveying techniques vital to becoming a competent marine sciences volunteer. It increases your environmental awareness while promoting organisational skills, problem solving abilities, self confidence, and the social and technical skills needed to allow a student to work as part of a Marine scientific research team.

 

Destination Guide

Location

About 90km north of Sharm el Sheikh lies the town of Dahab. Dahab means ‘gold’ in Arabic. In the Sinai, however, it actually means golden sands, turquoise sea and off-beat cafe life. The town itself is basically two villages; the Bedouin village of Assalah in the southern half, with the business and administrative center of Dahab to the north. Dahab should be experienced for what it currently has to offer; Egyptian and Bedouin culture, exquisite diving and its beautiful setting with swaying palms, fine sand and wonderful snorkeling and diving opportunities.

Dive Centre

The dive centre was the first Career Development Centre in Dahab. It is a long established European owned dive school which prides itself on its reputation for thoroughness and friendliness. It is based right in the heart of the main bay area in Dahab called Mashraba, which basically means that it's a stones throw from the water and the main restaurants, including one of the main bars in Dahab. It is in a great location! For pictures of the dive centre, please see the photo gallery.

Diving in the area

Dahab has a huge variety of dive sites, from shallow coral gardens to deep drop offs and canyons. This is what makes Dahab so special, you can explore one type of topography on your morning dive and then see something completely different in the afternoon. Most of these sites are also easily accessible and are just a short journey from the dive centre. Almost all the coastline both north and south of Dahab has fringing reef, so you can dive virtually anywhere, in fact if you find somewhere easy to enter just jump in and explore! Our dive guides are familiar with all the best spots, but there’s always something new to find.

Social Scene

There is a pretty good social scene in Dahab. There are loads of bars and restaurants with themed nights most of the week. Totas Bar is one of the most popular bars, with music till late, a large screen showing films and a pub quiz every Tuesday night. Around town there are also a number of nightclubs, cafes and local bars which offer cheap drinks and a pleasant atmosphere. We also host a number of BBQ's at the dive centre, these prove to be a great social event when divers get together and have some steak and a few beers.

Accommodation

Located in the heart of the Bedouin village of Assalah, you live in private self-catered accommodation. We use a number of houses (which have all been vetted for security and safety) which sleep up to 10 people. You share a room with a maximum of one other person and there are communal washroom facilties. The houses also boats TV rooms with satellite TV, an outside chill out area with a palm tree shaded areas, a BBQ so you can have your own social events and a kitchen which is fully equipped.

Having your own accommodation enables you to escape from the dive centre each day and live an independent life during your time in Dahab. The grounds of the houses are also big enough to find your own secluded spots but they're social places too as we put all divers together in the houses.

Hotel accommodation is also available on request (additional cost)

Things to do other than diving

Although the Sinai is a fairly baron place you will find plenty of things to do. Horse treks into the desert visiting Nomadic tribes and the coloured Canyon are popular. You can also take quad bikes into the desert which is a fun and dusty adventure! The Red Sea is obviously the main attraction and you will find windsurfing and kite surfing are very popular in the area.

If you've got time after your diving programme, why not bolt-on a trip through Egypt? The Pyramids and Giza Plateau are simply amazing and Luxor offers some of the best World Heritage you will ever find!

Great reasons to go to Egypt / Dahab

1. Great weather and great diving all year round. This means you can go diving everyday without having to worry about the weather being bad!

2. It's a cheap destination. Eating out, shopping and general day-to-day items are substantially cheaper than back home. Your money goes a long way!

3. The Red Sea is always in the TOP TEN dive sites in the world! Clear turquoise blue water, stunning reefs and a real diversity of life make the Red Sea a gem of a destination for divers of all levels.

4. The social scene is great - lots of young people who are interested in windsurfing and diving.

5. It's a 5* PADI Career Development Centre out there - the best accolade for any dive centre. The tuition is second to none and we guarantee not to disappoint.

6. There is real culture and real heritage. A short bus ride and you can be standing in front of the Great Pyramid at Giza!

7. Learn to haggle - Egyptians are natural batterers!

8. We have been sending people here for over 4 years! We know what you want and how to deliver it! All programmes are tried, tested and approved by your piers!

Country Fact File