Learning to Dive in Egypt or UK

Hi, I'm backpacking through the Middle East and North Africa this summer and am planning to dive in the Red Sea. However, I've never scuba dived before and was wondering whether to learn while I'm out there or learn here in Wales before I go. My lonely planet egypt guide (2004) says the average price for a 5-day PADI open-water course is around £150. One of my dad's mates is a scuba diving instructor and reckons that I can get the same course in Wales for £300.

I don't really want to book ahead in Egypt with a particular dive company because I like to travel flexible but I'll be getting to Egypt sometime in August and I'm not sure if it'll be too busy to just sign up to a course when I get to Dahab.

Also, my guide book is a few years old and was wondering if anyone could give me a rough price for a 5-day PADI course in Egypt.

Would it be better to learn before I went or just turn up in Dahab and find a diving company there?

Thanks

I would recommend Fantasea - I did fun dives with them, not a course, but they were very friendly and professional. The conditions in Dahab in the summer will be great for learning to dive and you could probably just turn up and arrange it when you get there. Don't forget to ask about group sizes and try to speak to the instructor before you commit yoursef to see if you like him/her. If you want to check prices etc in advance, I think they have a website.

Check online with a few different websites to get an idea about prices there. You will be ok by just showing up and arranging things on the spot.

In general the quality of the courses taught there is quite good. If you would like to go diving back home in the UK as well, you could also consider doing the course back home, that will prepare you better for the different environment there.
What you can consider anyway, is doing the theory and confined water back home already, and finishing the course in Egypt with just the open water dives (a socalled referral). That option will be more expensive than doing the whole course in one place, but it will save you some valuable vacation time and studying while on vacation.

Have fun.

I did my Open Water and Advancd courses in Dahab last October with Seven Heaven and I had a great instructor called Sandra. My boyfriend is working out in Dahab as a Dive Master at the moment so I go there frequently. August will be very hot and quite busy but you still find places on courses as there are so many dive schools. I've heard good things about Penguin Dives and Big Blue but shop around when you get there to fine the best deal. I wouldn't book in advance. If you do the course then you usually get a free fun dive after as well and there are so many great sites out there and you dive from the shore too. Snorkelling in dahab isn't too bad either.

I would def do the course in Egypt as not only is it cheaper but you get to do you confined water part of the course in the sea with the fish rather than in the pool. Also I have been diving in England and the water is freezing!! It makes all the difference diving in 25 degrees rather than 10 degrees!!

http://www.penguindivers.com/index2.html - gives you an idea of prices.