Excerpts from a lone diver’s journal. You too can tell a similar tale if you join us for the August 2023 Egypt diving trip.

Egypt is a dream destination for scuba divers, with its crystal-clear waters, stunning coral reefs, and an incredible array of marine life. I recently had the opportunity to take a scuba diving trip to Egypt with Sandton Scuba & Swim and it was truly an unforgettable experience.

We started our trip by flying into Hurghada, a popular resort town on the Red Sea coast. From there, we traveled by boat to some of the most breathtaking dive sites in the region.

Our first dive site was the legendary SS Thistlegorm, a British merchant navy ship that was sunk by German bombers during World War II. The wreck now lies at a depth of 30 meters and is one of the most popular dive sites in the world. As we descended to the wreck, we were immediately greeted by a school of curious batfish. Swimming around the wreckage, we saw Mercury radial engines and around twenty Bristol Mercury engine cowlings. Tons of munitions – from sea mines measuring 5 feet in length to massive 15-inch shells weighing almost 2,000 pounds. It was a surreal experience to be swimming through history and exploring this underwater museum.

Our next dive site was the famous dolphin reef, located at the South-eastern tip of the Fury Shoal diving area off Marsa Alam which was definitely worth the hype! The crystal-clear waters allowed unparalleled visibility, and the vibrant colours of the coral and marine life were breathtaking. As we descended to the depths of the reef, we saw schools of Barracuda, Trevally, and Snapper swimming past. We even saw a giant moray eel hiding in the rocks!

Another unforgettable dive site was Abu Nuhas, a reef that is also known as the “ship graveyard” due to the large number of shipwrecks in the area. Here we explored the wreckage of the Carnatic, a British steamship that sank in 1869. As we swam through the ship’s twisted metal and exposed boiler, we were surrounded by schools of fish, including Bannerfish, Angelfish, and Triggerfish.

Throughout the trip, we had the pleasure of diving with some of the most experienced and warm hearted dive masters around. Their knowledge of the dive sites and the marine life was truly impressive, and they were always happy to share interesting facts and stories about the underwater world.

One of the highlights of the trip was seeing the stunning marine life up close. We saw a wide range of fish, including giant trevally, lionfish, clownfish, and pufferfish. We even had a close encounter with a curious dolphin, who swam around us for several minutes before disappearing into the depths.

Aside from the diving, we also had the opportunity to experience the local culture and cuisine. We visited traditional markets and sampled local delicacies such as falafel, kofta, and shawarma. We also had the chance to visit historic sites such as the Karnak Temple Complex and Luxor Temple, which gave us a deeper appreciation for Egypt’s rich history and culture.

Overall, my diving trip to Egypt was truly an unforgettable experience. The stunning dive sites, incredible marine life, and rich culture and history made for an adventure that I will always cherish. Besides all this, it was an experience and privilege to be accommodated by the Lyra! Take a look at this boat.