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> My wife and I went to Zabargad for two weeks from 23rd April 2008 for a
> diving holiday. The Orca Dive Centre was very professionally run with a
> system going that meant maximum enjoyment with minimum effort, whether
> diving the house reef or on day boats. We took our own gear but the hire
> equipment available was in a good condition and well maintained.
> ie: Sign in for a house reef dive give them a time, check your Nitrox
> in the air station and by the allotted time the resident donkey Prince
> Ali will have transported your gear and air to the end of the jetty. He
> brings the gear back after as well.
> There were two dive boats operating when we were there, but there can be
> four or more. Good standard of boats with clean toilets and the boat
> lunch is very good . The chef Ali is an Ace! The Dive guides were
> Egyptian, Belgian, English and German, and all were very good. One
> immediately felt confident in them. Dive briefings very informative but
> laid back. On the reefs we dived on, you can follow a dive leader or
> with sufficient experience go with your buddy. I believe it depends on
> the reefs, which are awesome! The boat crew could not be more helpful
> getting you into your kit and into the water and help you on the way
> out.
> OK now the resort:
> We were accommodated not far from the dive centre which suited us. The
> room was basic but cleaned well, beds made, and towels replaced every
> day. As in all hot climates we adopt a regime of wiping over surfaces
> that will be touched by us with an antiseptic wipe after the cleaner has
> been through. After you use the toilet use an antiseptic hand jell. One
> star or five star hotels we treat the same.
> On days we didn't dive we had the pool and all the sun beds to
> ourselves. The same with the beach areas (out of season?)
> Food: Breakfast was basic and the same as the two Egyptian hotels I
> stayed at last year, so use your imagination. A mid-day meal could be
> bought at the dive centre for from 3.5 to 8 euros and was good value.
> The evening meal is possibly best described as predictable. Beef and
> chicken and on other days chicken and beef with the occasional fish
> dish. The usual things accompanied this. No one was ill from the food.
> Though a couple were ill I had the impression it was not from the food.
> If you feel adventurous try eating in a hut in down town Hamata (twelve
> huts together). Good fish caught that day and cheap. Plus no problems
> afterwards.
> There were no children and no mosquitoes, but on occasions it was Fly
> Central. People were not waving at you, as you arrived for breakfast,
> they were clearing the flies away.
> Would we go again? Very much yes. Maybe in the Autumn this year. But I
> would take a fly swot. Try Google Earth.
> 24 15 19 N 35 24 10 E
> --
> Mick Whittingham
> 'and I will make it a felony to drink small beer.'
> William Shakespeare, Henry VI part 2.
