Frequently asked questions

Yes, toddlers are welcome. One parent must supervise at all times. Children under 7 travel for free.

The climate is pleasant year-round. From December to April it can be windy, so we recommend warmer clothes, a windbreaker, and headwear.

We accept EUR, USD and EGP, as well as Mastercard and Visa. Please make sure your card is enabled for international payments.

The driving distance is about 32 km and typically takes around 30–45 minutes, depending on traffic.

If your travel company does not provide a transfer, we can organize a shuttle service. A taxi transfer is also possible, but we recommend arranging it in advance.

Except during pregnancy: No.

Because doctors know very little about the effects of diving on the fetus, the recommendation to date has been that women should avoid diving if they are pregnant or trying to become pregnant. During menstruation, diving is normally not a problem.

The “weightlessness” you experience while scuba diving underwater is considered by many people to be very liberating. Modern diving masks are available as transparent models, which may be more suitable for you if you feel constricted by the mask. During your dive training, your instructor will give you plenty of time and practice opportunities so that you feel confident in every step and learning process. Your instructor will work with you at your own pace, making sure you master every skill necessary to become a good diver who enjoys diving regularly.

This case will most likely never happen to you because you have a gauge that tells you how much air you have left throughout the dive. This way you can get back to the surface in time and with a safe air reserve. But to answer the question anyway, if you do run out of air, use your dive buddy’s second mouthpiece to breathe from their tank while you surface together. There are other ways you will learn during your dive training.

With the proper training and experience, the limit for recreational diving is 40 meters. Beginner divers should not dive deeper than 18 meters. Although these are the usual limits, the most popular dive sites are often in shallower water, no deeper than 12 meters, where the water is warmer and the colors are more vibrant.

With a bit of luck, you may see a shark while diving. Even though there are incidents with sharks from time to time, it is very, very rare that anything happens. Shark accidents while diving are mostly cases of harpoon fishing or shark feeding, both of which arouse the sharks’ feeding instinct. Most of the time you will only see sharks swimming by and it is a rather rare sight to enjoy.

Sunburn and seasickness, both of which are easily prevented with over-the-counter remedies. The most common injuries from underwater creatures are scratches and stings, which in most cases can be easily avoided by wearing a wetsuit, maintaining good buoyancy control without touching the bottom, and being careful when touching the underwater world with your hands or feet.

You can dive almost anywhere there is water. Oceans, lakes, quarries, and more. Where you should dive depends on your training, experience, site access, and conditions. Always dive within your limits and with a buddy.

There is no single “best” set. What matters is what fits your preferences, size, and budget. We can help you choose equipment that suits you.

Generally no. We ask divers not to use gloves so nothing is touched underwater. Exceptions may apply in cooler winter conditions and on wreck dives.

Yes. El Gouna Hospital has a modern hyperbaric chamber and physicians on 24-hour standby. It is about 5 minutes from the dive center.

Unfortunately, night dives are not permitted on our day trips.

El Gouna’s lagoons are artificial and hotels do not have house reefs. We therefore visit different reefs and dive sites in the area.

Yes, no problem. We will always find you a suitable buddy.

Visibility is often very good. Commonly around 25-30 m, but it can vary with conditions (currents, wind, plankton).

Water temperature varies by season. Expect roughly ~21–22°C in winter (Jan–Feb) and around ~28°C in summer (Aug).

In winter we recommend a 5–7 mm wetsuit and a hood if needed. In summer a 3–5 mm suit is usually enough. In midsummer some divers are comfortable in a shorty.

Please bring your diving certification and logbook. If you answer “Yes” to any medical questions, we will need a doctor’s certificate of fitness to dive. Bring your own gear if you have it, or rent equipment from us.

Yes, you are welcome to bring your own equipment if you prefer. However, we provide full snorkeling equipment, including mask, fins, snorkel, and wetsuit.

Yes, our experienced team will accompany you during the trip and make sure you feel safe and comfortable. We are happy to help you in the water and point out interesting marine life.

You should feel comfortable in the water, but you do not need to be an expert swimmer. Our team is always there to support you, and life jackets are available if needed.

Our snorkeling trips usually last either half a day or a full day, depending on the trip you choose. Exact timings will be shared with you when booking.

We recommend bringing swimwear, a towel, sunscreen, sunglasses, and a hat. If you like, you can also bring your own snorkeling equipment, although everything you need is available at our dive center.

Depending on the snorkeling spot and sea conditions, you can discover beautiful coral reefs, colorful reef fish, and sometimes even dolphins or turtles. Every trip is different, but the Red Sea is famous for its rich marine life and clear water.

Yes, full snorkeling equipment is included in our trips. You will receive a mask, fins, snorkel, and wetsuit. If needed, we can also provide a life jacket for extra comfort and safety.

No, previous experience is not required. Our snorkeling trips are suitable for beginners as well as experienced snorkelers. Our team will give you a short briefing before the trip and help you feel comfortable in the water.

Yes. Non-divers can join and are charged as snorkeling guests. Snorkeling equipment, including a wetsuit, is included.

No, as long as you don’t have any injuries in your ears and sinuses. The uncomfortable feeling is the very normal effect of the water pressure pressing on your ears. Fortunately, the human body is capable of adapting to pressure fluctuations in the ears, you just have to learn how. If you have no trouble adjusting to air pressure when flying in a passenger plane, you probably won’t have any trouble adjusting to water pressure when diving.

Choosing and using scuba equipment is part of the fun of learning to dive, but you do not need to worry about buying anything when you start. We provide and rent out all required diving equipment, so you can fully focus on learning and enjoying the experience. In our basic courses, all high-quality rental equipment is included.

For scuba diving, you typically need the following equipment:

• Diving mask
• Diving fins
• Snorkel
• Regulator
• BCD (buoyancy control device)
• Dive computer
• Tank (diving cylinder)
• Exposure protection (wetsuit)
• Weight system and weights

Compared to other popular recreational sports or activities that take place outdoors, learning to scuba dive is not expensive at all. You’ll pay about the same in the beginning as you would spend on, say, the following:

• one full day of surf lessons
• a weekend rock climbing
• one weekend of kayak lessons
• a weekend of fly-fishing lessons
• about three individual hours of golf lessons
• about three hours of private lessons in water skiing

Learning to dive is even really affordable when you consider that your instructor is highly trained, experienced and highly professional – your PADI Instructor. Diving will change your life from day one. You’ll share your new experiences with your friends, and you can pursue your new hobby virtually anywhere there’s water. Start your diving course online and get ready for your first breath underwater!

Learning to dive is an indescribable adventure! With PADI as your dive training organization, your journey to breathing underwater is broken down into three exciting phases:

1. Knowledge development (theory) – PADI eLearning only
2. Practical training in confined water (pool or pool-like conditions)
3. Open water dives

1) Knowledge development (theory) – PADI eLearning only

In the first phase of your PADI Open Water Diver training, you learn the key terminology and build a solid understanding of the fundamentals of diving. For example, you will learn how water pressure affects your body, how to choose the right diving equipment, and what to consider when planning your dives.

You complete the entire theory section online with PADI eLearning, at your own pace — whenever and wherever you want. The course content is divided into chapters with knowledge checks along the way. At the end, you review any open questions with your instructor and complete the required knowledge assessment(s). If anything is unclear, you go through it together until everything makes sense.

Important: We offer the theory exclusively via PADI eLearning. We do not provide or require printed manuals, DVDs, or other offline learning materials.

2) Confined water training – practicing diving skills

Now it is all about diving. In your first sessions in the pool (or pool-like conditions), you develop the basic skills you need for safe diving. You learn how to set up your equipment, how to clear water from your mask underwater, and how to control your buoyancy.

You also practice essential safety and emergency skills, such as sharing air with another diver. The training includes five confined-water sessions that build on each other and prepare you for the open water dives.

3) Open water dives – using your skills in the sea

After the confined-water sessions, you head into the “real” water with your PADI Instructor for four open water dives. This is where the real underwater adventure begins. You will repeat and apply some of the skills you practiced in confined water — now in open water conditions.

For the open water dives, we go out to the Red Sea with our dive boat over two days.

If you are up for a challenge and adventure, chances are you will become an avid PADI diver. Please keep the following requirements in mind:

Age Requirements

• The minimum age is 10 years.
• Students under 15 who successfully complete the course earn the PADI Junior Open Water Diver certification. This can be upgraded to PADI Open Water Diver at age 15.
• To use PADI eLearning, you must be at least 13 years old due to international internet regulations.
• If the student is under 13, please contact us so we can advise you on the available options.

Health Requirements

For safety reasons, all students must complete a short medical questionnaire about conditions that could affect diving.

• If you can answer “No” to all questions, you simply sign the form and can start the course.
• If you answer “Yes” to any question, you will need a doctor’s clearance for diving before the course begins.

Water Skills

Before completing the PADI Open Water Diver course, your instructor will ask you to demonstrate basic water skills:

• Swim 200 m (or 300 m using mask, snorkel, and fins) — no time limit, any stroke is fine.
• Float or tread water for 10 minutes — any method is fine.

Physical Limitations

Anyone who meets the course performance requirements can earn the certification. Many techniques and adaptations can help divers with physical limitations meet these requirements. Divers with paraplegia, amputations, and other physical disabilities are regularly certified as PADI Open Water Divers. If you have questions, please contact us in advance.

Learning Materials (PADI eLearning Only)

We offer the theory portion exclusively through PADI eLearning. No printed manuals or DVDs are provided or required. You will need:

• A phone, tablet, or computer to complete the online theory
• Internet access to work through the modules

You can complete the theory in advance via eLearning. The confined-water (pool) and open-water dives usually take 3 days. However, if you do not feel confident after three days, we will add a 4th day.

Yes. We take part in cleanups underwater and on land. We see this as part of our responsibility as a dive centre that works with the Red Sea every day.

Vienna is fitted with a wastewater tank. This helps ensure wastewater is not released at reef sites or sensitive dive and snorkel spots. It is emptied offshore in open sea, away from the reef.

On our day boat, we use reusable 19-litre PET water bottles instead of relying on many small single-use bottles. Guests are also welcome to bring their own reusable bottle.

Yes. We focus on responsible dive trips rather than big claims. Our approach combines careful boat routines, less avoidable single-use waste, cleanups and clear guest communication about keeping the Red Sea clean.

For us, responsible diving means practical choices in our daily operation: selected boat operations are offset, we use reusable 19-litre water bottles on the day boat, Vienna has a wastewater tank to keep wastewater away from reef sites, and we take part in cleanups underwater and on land.