Scuba Diving for gap year and career break divers

Programme Details

This programme operates alongside our main diver training programmes in Dahab, Egypt. All trips are tailormade to your exact requirements and can include Arabic lessons, PADI courses, marine conservation and land-based activities. Trips must be over 2 weeks in duration.

Arabic Lessons
The language school is known internationally for its engaging teaching methods and enthusiastic teachers. Classroom work takes place in the mornings which leaves your afternoons free for self study, relaxation and diving. Learning Arabic in this environment has proved to be a very effective way of grasping the language, allowing you to communicate eloquently with the locals either around town or in the desert learning the history of The Bedouin.

All lessons are conducted near the diving school and the accommodation - you can walk beween all three locations. Classes are held in air-conditoned classrooms in small group sizes of around 4 to 6 people. You receive up to 20 hours Arabic per week and the diving is scheduled around your lessons.

Diving
You have a choice of PADI courses from National Geographic Open Water to Open Water Scuba Instructor and beyond! Recreational diving is quite literally no more than 20m from the dive centre and anything can be arranged to suit your requirements and budget.

Activities
Camel safaris, wreck safaris, desert safaris and Bedouin tours can be arranged at a drop of a hat! Just let us know what you're after and we'll put it together

The nice thing...
You do all the training with customers who are on our learn-to-dive, Divemaster and Instructor programmes in Dahab. This means that you all live together, dive together and socialise together!

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Flights

Flights are not included and they need to be arranged by you. Flights to Sharm el Sheikh operate throughout the year from many International Airports. A return flight typically costs between £200 and £400. Full details of flight options are sent to you after booking. We recommend the British Airways flight on Mondays. It leaves at 11pm and gets in on Tuesday morning at around 6am.

Transfers

All customers are met at Sharm el Sheikh Airport and transferred to Dahab by minibus (approx 1 hour). You are also taken back to Sharm el Sheikh Airport at the end of the programme.

Accommodation

We have two self-catered houses which have been specifically designed for our customers. There's a maximum of 8 people per house with a maximum of two people per room i.e. twin room. Each house is equipped with a TV room, satellite TV, a fully equipped kitchen, 3 bathrooms, 3 showers, private gardens and a BBQ area.

Meals

It is self-catered accommodation. We do not provide meals but you will find that eating out and shopping for food is cheap in Dahab.

Course prerequisite

- Minimum of 20 logged dives and 20m qualification - hence the dive training in weeks 1 and 2.

Certification

A Red Sea Research diploma will be awarded for each module successfully completed with a log book is to record the modules, specialised courses completed and any surveys or research projects on which they have actively participated. A Red Sea Research ID card will be awarded to all students upon completing the basic skills practised in modules 1-4. The certification fee is applicable once only as courses are recorded in the logbook and updated in the Red Sea Research member’s database.

Membership

A membership number is given is given to all students upon enrolment and is printed on all further documentation. The membership fee is included in the initial course fee and will be deducted from future courses. An annual renewal fee of €15.00 is required to retain membership. Members will be invited to join research projects and specialised courses as well as receive an on-line monthly newsletter, internet updates and receive discounts on further education and accommodation expenses. Membership is available to non-divers allowing them to participate in shore- or boat-based projects.

Requirements

1. You must be able to swim 400m
2. You cannot do this programme if you are under 18
3. Please remember to bring your PIC cards & logbook with you if you have dived before

PADI Materials

All PADI materials have been included in this programme. Materials are despatched to your home address before you leave so that you can start preparing for your diving trip!

Money / Living costs

Egypt is cheap and you will find that your money goes a long way! ATM's are widely available and foreign currency can also be exchanged. We recommend you budget around £50 to £70 per week for food, water, soft drinks and alcohol. Some people manage to get by on less than £50 whilst other may spend over £100 in a week. Everyone has different eating, drinking and spending habits!

Standard Prices

Start Dates - Custom dates

You choose the start dates, however, there might be specific start dates if you decide to combine Arabic with Instructor courses, the Divemaster Traineeship or marine conservation.