Middle East - Anthony Ham [158]
Orientation
There are two parts to Dahab: the purpose-built Dahab City is home to several five-star hotels and the bus station, while Assalah, once a Bedouin village, is about 2.5km north of here. Assalah now has more budget travellers and Egyptian entrepreneurs than Bedouin in residence and is divided into two sections, Masbat and Mashraba. Note that, confusingly, ‘Assalah’ is used to refer both to the tourist area and to the separate, original town to the north.
Information
Internet Access
Download.Net (per hr E£8; 24hr) Next to the Nesima Resort in Mashraba.
Aladdin Internet (per hr E£8; 24hr) On the main strip, next to Nirvana.
Seven Heaven Internet Café (per hr E£8; 8am-midnight) In the camp of the same name.
Medical Services
Dr Sherif Salah ( 012 220 8484) A recommended local doctor. His office is at the Hilton Dahab Resort.
Money
Banque du Caire ( 9am-2pm & 6-9pm Sat-Thu, 9-11am & 6-9pm Fri) Near Inmo Diver’s home.
National Bank of Egypt ( 9am-10pm) Has a branch in Dahab City and two on the promenade in Masbat, all with ATMs and forex services.
Post & telephone
The post office ( 8.30am-2.30pm) and telephone centrale ( 24hr) are both in Dahab City. There are a number of cardphones and a postbox near Ghazala Market in Masbat.
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CHOOSING A DIVE SCHOOL
With hundreds of dive outfits around the Red Sea, choosing a diving school can be overwhelming. Here’s some advice you might find useful when considering donning flippers for the first time.
Even though you’re on holiday, do your homework. You are probably about to spend a chunk of money and put your life in a stranger’s hands, so it pays to take your time to walk around and visit several outfits.
Have a look at the equipment. New equipment is great, but old equipment can be just as good if well maintained. Though you may have no idea what to look for, check to see how well the equipment is treated and stored. Stay away from shops with BCDs and regulators left out in the sun or strewn about their equipment room.
While big schools have the reputation, lots of instructors and shiny equipment, they can be crowded and feel like impersonal diving factories. Some smaller outfits, without all the glitzy goodies, can offer a more personal touch.
Choosing a good instructor is paramount: here’s where asking other travellers for their experiences comes in handy. If possible, try to find someone who speaks your native language – it will definitely help when you’re trying to understand dive tables for the 3rd time. Talk to several instructors and go with the one you feel most comfortable with. Since they will be your new best friend, you should at least get along with them.
Check to see if your travel insurance covers diving accidents. If not, see what sort of insurance the school provides. Find the location of the nearest hyperbaric chamber – it’s always a good idea know where to go for help should the need arise.
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Activities
Without a doubt the most popular activity in Dahab is loafing, though developing a serious sheesha addiction is purely optional. Those who manage to drag themselves away from those comfy beachside couches, however, will also find some of the best and most accessible dive sites in the Red Sea. Nearly a hundred dive shops in Dahab offer all manner of diving possibilities: from boat/car/camel diving safaris to beginner scuba diving courses. Picking a shop to dive with is not always easy, particularly if you’re a first-timer who’s new to the game. Our box, Choosing a Dive School, (opposite) should help you get started.
For above-the-water adventures, there are loads of options for camel and car safaris around Sinai, including day trips to the heavily touristed Coloured Canyon (from E£160), the fascinating Abu Gallum desert protectorate (around E£180), or to nearby St Katherine’s Monastery (E£60 to E£120). All-inclusive three-day trips into the interior will set you back about E£600 to E£900. Any hotel can help arrange