Dahab or Nuweiba?

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maenad
maenad

I lived in Egypt many years ago and used to enjoy diving in Dahab on weekends. Now I'm returning with a friend who wants to do her padi OW and we are trying to decide whether to go to Dahab (Penguin) or Nuweiba.

We live in a country with a very weak currency so - even with the very cheap prices in Dahab - we still have to watch our finances. For this reason, Sharm is definitely OUT. But should we go to Dahab or to Nuweiba?

We are both interested in doing relaxed dives - no strong currents or major surf at entry points. The Islands and Canyon are my best memories of Dahab.

Would Nuweiba be better? I liked Dahab 10 years ago but lots of people are saying that it is like a mini-Sharm now.

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elubs
elubs

We just spent 6 nights in Dahab and had a great time. It was our first time there, and it seemed pretty quiet and laid-back to me. But if you were there 10 years ago, it might be too built-up for you... I met a guy who was visiting again after 5 years and he said the changes were tremendous (but still much better than Sharm, according to him).

We dove with Shams Dive Centre and had a great experience with them. It's a relatively new place (I think about a year old), the owners and dive masters were great, and they had by far the nicest equipment I've ever used (Ive done around 30 dives, by the way). They gave us a great price, too... €18 per dive, including full equipment. I highly recommend them!

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assam
assam

Hello. Dahab is a lot more built up than it was 10 years ago. There is a promenade along the seafront and a lot more hotels/ restaurants/ shops than there will have been last time you were there. It is still a pretty laid back sort of place though, and close to the dive sites you mention (Islands, Canyon and of course, the Blue Hole). I would not describe it as a mini-Sharm.

Nuweiba on the other hand is extremely quiet, and still a bit of 'ghost town'. It is a pleasant place to spend a few days (El Waha or Habiba are nice).

Why don't you split your trip between both places.

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maenad
maenad

thanks assam but I've been and come back now. :) Dahab was nice coz it was low season!

Costs - dive at a cheap place after bargaining - 25 USD.
Dive at a nicer place after bargaining - 30 euros
night in a hotel with attached bathroom mid-low quality - 100 pounds egyptian for two
night in a cheapie hotel - 60 pounds per couple
bus to Cairo - 90 pounds
hotel for two in cairo - 100 pounds

2012 prices

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